By Michael Letendre

MERIDEN – A very windy day played havoc with the Bristol Eastern softball squad on Friday afternoon as the team competed against a very good Maloney program on the road.

The Lancers nabbed an early lead then saw the Spartans tie things up before going ahead in the fray again.

But Maloney scored a combined eight runs over the fourth, fifth and sixth innings to take control of the showdown as Eastern absorbed a tough 11-6 loss over a ‘blustery’ game from the Dunn Sports Complex in Meriden.

Maloney improved to 8-2 overall off the win – qualifying for the state tournament – while Eastern evened its ledger to 3-3.

The Lancers managed 11 hits off Spartans’ pitching which included six extra-base hits.

Ashley Serafin, Janessa Gonzalez, Ali Tellier, and Riley Giblin all hit doubles while Jasmine Perez flipped in a triple to lead the offensive charge for the Lancers.

Eastern chucker Ali Tellier allowed just eight hits and battled in the circle but mistakes on both offensive and defensive fronts doomed the visitors.

“The wind proved to be quite challenging today as fly balls were moving all over the place,” said Eastern coach Scott Redman. “Defense and poor base-running for the Lancers proved costly as they outhit the Spartans but gave up six unearned runs and, in the end, didn’t have enough to outlast a pesky Maloney team.” 

Eastern committed five errors while Maloney had four.

Mel Perez earned the win for Maloney but had to survive all the elements to do it.

Perez helped her own cause with a double while Morgan Pelletier and Avery Benigni added three-base hits for the victors.

Eastern led 2-0 through two-and-a-half innings of play before a three run third by Maloney propelled the home squad to a 3-2 edge.

And after five innings of action, the Lancers trailed 9-3 and never got back into the mix.

Eastern is in the thick of things to open the month of May which included a city series showdown against Bristol Central plus two contests on the road in Farmington.

It all starts next Monday, May 3 as the Eastern squares off against Edwin O. Smith high school from Storrs at 3:45 from the softball field on King Street (I hope coach Redman gives the Panthers some gas money for their long ride down to Bristol, especially if E.O. Smith loses…).

And then on Wednesday, it’s the rivalry that never disappoints as Eastern tangles with Bristol Central.

Both those games commence at 3:45 p.m.

And next Friday, it’s a double dip in Farmington as Eastern has two games against the River Hawks from Tunxis Mead Park.

Game times are set for 4 and 6 p.m. 

CCC South Softball

MALONEY 11, BRISTOL EASTERN 6 

from the Dunn Sports Complex, Meriden

Bristol Eastern (3-3) 011 103 0 – 6 13 5

Maloney (8-2) 003 242 X – 11 8 4

WP: Mel Perez (M); LP: Ali Tellier (BE, 3-3)

Bristol Eastern Batting

2B – Ashley Serafin, Janessa Gonzalez, Ali Tellier, Riley Giblin

3B – Jasmine Perez

HR – None

Maloney Batting

2B – Mel Perez

3B – Morgan Pelletier, Avery Benigni

HR – None

Records: Bristol Eastern 3-3 overall; Maloney 8-2