BENSALEM, Pa. — In one sense it was business as usual for the Bristol High softball team (21-1) on Tuesday as it won with ease to capture yet another in a very long line of PIAA District 1 Class 2A titles.
What made their latest championship even more special is the Warriors knew they were up against a pretty good team and they responded with one of their best performances of the season.
In a district final that should give Bristol plenty of momentum heading into the state tournament that gets underway on Monday, Bristol rolled past New Hope/Solebury (15-7) by the score of 10-2 on the Bensalem High field.
Bristol wasted no time taking it to the Suburban One team with four runs in the first inning and then three more in both the second and third innings to make life easy for senior ace Brianna Slack, who finished with a four-hitter and six strikeouts.
“It definitely had us more focused,” said Slack when asked about playing New Hope as opposed to some team it could automatically crush on the run rule. “We definitely came prepared because we knew what was going to come and we played hard in the first inning.”
Said Bristol coach Dave Chiciliitti, whose team is ranked second in the state in Class 2A in one poll: “This isn’t the old New Hope of the Bicentennial Athletic League. All season long we knew we had to beat New Hope. That was the goal. Nothing else before that mattered. Beating New Hope was all I wanted to do.”
The assault started immediately when returning Trentonian All-Area outfielder Amirah Bell led off the bottom of the first with a bullet single to right field. From there, Peyton McClain singled, and Lucianna Snyder and Kylee Perseponko smacked RBI singles.
Following an error, three more runs followed in the second when Slack singled, Snyder ripped an RBI double and catcher Grace Boyle delivered a two-run single.
When New Hope attempted to steal a base in the second inning, Boyle gunned down the runner with a strong and accurate throw.
By the third inning New hope had brought Mabel Klossner into the game in relief. She ended up throwing shutout ball the last three innings, but that was after Bristol tacked on three more in the third. An RBI single by McClain and a booming run scoring triple by Slack were the big blows in that frame.
Bell, McClain, Slack, Snyder and Boyle all had two hits batting in the top five spots in the order. Snyder and Boyle each drove in two runs.
The only negative in this game from a Bristol perspective was the team’s clean-up batter Snyder injured her arm sliding into second on her double, which was also her 99th career hit.
With the New Hope challenge in the rearview mirror, it was time to start looking forward to state tournament play. Obviously, the Warriors look ready.
“I’m not afraid of nobody this year,” said Chicilitti. “I like our chances this year. There’s something about our team this year. Just having fun, hitting the ball. Hopefully we’ll get a good (medical ) report back on our first baseman (Snyder).”
Bristol will open state tournament play on Monday against the District 12 champion.
“I’m very confident about states,” said Slack. “I see a bright future for us.”
New Hope/Solebury (15-7) 002 000 0 — 2 4 2
Bristol (21-1) 433 000 x — 10 11 3
WP-Slack. LP-Mobley. 2B-Snyder (B). 3B-Slack.