By Michael Letendre
BROOKFIELD – Before the state tournament commenced, Bristol Eastern softball coach Tyler Catlin made a bold prediction about how his squad was going to be a team no one wanted to face in the Class L playoffs.
And on Tuesday night, that premonition came to pass as No. 21 Bristol Eastern upset No. 12 Brookfield by a 5-2 final on the road.
The victory propelled the Lancers to 11-10 overall on the season and earned the squad another game in the Class L fray.
Eastern advances on to battle No. 5 Jonathan Law (19-2 regular season) today at 3 p.m. in Milford.
The public school team defeated No. 28 Killingly (5-2) on Tuesday in another first round showdown but the program from the SCC is in for a stern challenge against Eastern.
Yesterday’s game at Brookfield (14-7) saw Ali Tellier pitch another complete game gem that included five strikeouts and no walks.
Offensively, Janessa Gonzalez posted a two-RBI double while Alex Shorette added two hits to spur the winning effort.
She also threw out a runner trying to score on a sacrifice fly as Eastern’s defense was sharp over first round play.
And with that victory, the Bristol Eastern softball program gets to compete into the month of June.
If the Kingstreeters can pull off the same type of magic today in Milford, a possible date against No. 4 East Haven is in the mix over quarterfinal play.
The Lancers are one of three teams that pulled off first round upsets in Class L yesterday, joining No. 25 Edwin O. Smith – a 5-3 winner over No. 8 RHAM – in advancing while No. 20 Torrington spun No. 13 Wethersfield by a 5-2 push.
Here are the scores from first round action in Class L on Friday:
CLASS L – First Round Softball Scores
Avon 5, Windsor 3
Berlin 10, Bunnell 1
Bristol Eastern 5, Brookfield 2
E.O. Smith 5, RHAM 3
East Haven 12, Bethel 1
Fitch 2, Daniel Hand 0
Foran 10, Woodstock Academy 3
Jonathan Law 6, Killingly 3
Ledyard 10, East Lyme 3
North Haven 3, Rockville 1(8)
St. Joseph 3, Pomperaug 0
Torrington 5, Wethersfield 2
Waterford 20, Bullard Havens Tech 0 (5)
