Bristol’s Senior Little League team won their second straight State Championship last week in a dominating performance. Below is a report for each of their games en route to the title.

Four RBI Day for Desiree Nickerson Seals the Deal in Senior League’s Victory Over District 10

Monday, 7/10/23

Bristol’s Senior League Softball tournament team defeated the District 10 squad representing a combination of towns from Ledyard, Lyme, Old Lyme and East Lyme, 14-2 on Monday.  Bristol sent Hailey Beebe to the rubber, and she pitched a complete game 3-hitter over five innings in the first game of the Senior League State Tournament.

Lead off hitter Desiree Nickerson singled to the left side to begin the bottom of the first inning for Bristol, and she scored the game’s first run after a successful bunt by Kayla Webber advanced Nickerson to third base. Clean-up hitter Leah Webber doubled to left-center field scoring both Nickerson and her twin sister Kayla.  

Nickerson would go onto drive in four runs of her own on a triple in the third inning and again on a RBI single in the fourth.

Bristol continued to hit well and put up four runs in the fourth inning.  Olivia Gallup, Bella Arborio, Brianna Morin, and Nickerson all contributed that inning with RBIs.

Hailey Beebe surrendered two runs on three hits over five innings, striking out six and walking zero in securing the victory.

Bristol racked up 12 hits in the game.  Nickerson went 3-for-4 at the plate to lead all hitters, while Arborio also posted a multi- hit game.

Whitlock throws one-hitter to bring Bristol within one game of State Championship 

Tuesday, 7/11/23

Bristol’s second game of the Senior League State Tournament started very similarly to the first game of the series.  

Desiree Nickerson had the hot hand on Tuesday, tallying four hits, scoring four runs and leading Bristol’s team to a 16-1 victory over District 11 representarive Norwich with 5 RBI’s.  Nickerson homered in her first at bat, and singled in the second, third and fourth innings to go perfect from the plate on the evening.

Bristol scored eight runs in the third inning.  Brooklynne Whitlock, Brianna Morin, Nickerson, Leah Webber, and Camryn Mastrobattisto all contributed in the big inning with RBIs.

Whitlock was the winning pitcher for Bristol on Tuesday, throwing a dominating one-hit, seven strikeout performance, which sent the team from Bristol to the state championship game for the fourth consecutive year.

Aniela Piaseczny took the loss for Norwich. The young hurler lasted two and a third innings, allowing eight hits and 11 runs while walking zero.

Bristol had ten hits in the game. Whitlock had a multi-hit game, while  Nickerson went 4-for-4 at the plate.

Bristol’s All Stars didn’t commit a single error in the field. Starting Catcher Olivia Gallup had the most chances in the field with six.  

Ava Denomme accounted for Norwich’s sole hit of the evening.  Norwich will play District 10 on Wednesday’s elimination game, for the right to play Bristol for the Senior League State Championship on Thursday.

“I don’t know if I’ve ever witnessed a game where all 15 players reached base safely.  I’ve definitely never seen that in a 4 inning game before.  Kinda incredible.  Complete team effort.” Said Bristol Manager, Adam Whitlock.  “This is a great group of young ballplayers, and it was good to see them all support one and other.  Everyone’s impact was felt.”

Bristol wins Senior League Softball State Championship

Thursday, 7/13/23

Bristol Senior League All Stars left little doubt in their championship run, easily defeating their District 10 opponent from Ledyard, Lyme, Old Lyme and East Lyme on Thursday, 23-3.

Bristol got on the board in the top of the first inning after red-hot-hitting Desiree Nickerson drew a lead off walk, and starting catcher Hailey Beebe singled to centerfield scoring Nickerson.  Kayla Webber, Leah Webber and Bella Arborio drew consecutive walks, scoring one run, and Kayla Czaplicki then singled to centerfield scoring two more runs.  After Brooklynne Whitlock was hit-by-pitch, Sierra Albert singled on a suicide squeeze play with the bases loaded, scoring an additional run.   

“That was the big play right there”, said Coach Adam Whitlock of Albert’s squeeze.  “That ignited the entire team”.

Leadoff hitter Desiree Nickerson returned to the plate for a second time in the first inning and drew another walk, scoring another run to give the young ladies from Bristol a commanding 7-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Bristol never looked back from there.

After a lead off walk to Avery Goiangos, Nadiya Rivera singled her in to give the District 10 team a run of their own in the first inning. But Bella Arborio settled down to retire the side, striking out the final two batters of the inning.  

Bristol’s Seniors continued their offensive onslaught, scoring eight additional runs in the top of the second inning. Third baseman Arianna Rivera singled scoring two runs, Gia Hatcher entered the game and immediately tripled down the right field line, scoring two more runs.  Beebe later singled, making the score 15-1 after two innings.

Bristol went on to score eight insurance runs in the top of the third inning. Kayla and Leah Webber each drew a walk, Arborio tripled, scoring three runs, Brooklynne Whitlock singled, scoring two runs, and Beebe drew a walk, scoring another run.

Arborio earned the win for Bristol, allowing one hit and one run over two innings, striking out two and walking one.  

Whitlock appeared in relief for Bristol allowing one hit to close out the game and capture the Connecticut Senior League State Championship.

Bristol scored 53 runs while allowing four earned runs in the three state tournament games. The team batted .437 with an on-base percentage of .584. Whitlock and Arborio led the team in batting average, both hitting .800 in the state tournament. Nickerson led the team with 10 RBI.

With back-to-back state championships, the team from Bristol returns to the East Regional tournament in Worcester, Massachusetts where they went 3-0 in pool play against New England last year, before being eliminated by eventual regional champion Delaware in a 8-7 ballgame.   

Bristol will begin pool play at the East Regional this weekend.

First game of pool play is Saturday.
Final two games of pool play are on Sunday.
Elimination rounds begin Monday and Tuesday.

Regional championship is on Wednesday.