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BFA-St. Albans powers past 'Toppers, Bound for Championship

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Created on Wednesday, 08 June 2011 10:53

Written by Administrator

6/08/2011 6:25 AM -

By Shawn Corrow

ST. ALBANS - BFA-St. Albans took an early 4-0 lead thanks to a three-run homer by Chelsea Abbott and some uncharacteristically shaky St. Johnsbury defense and the top-seeded and undefeated Comets never looked back in posting an 8-2 win over the fourth-seeded Hilltoppers in the Division I softball semifinals Tuesday.

Abbott struck out 14, walked four - including No. 9 hitter Nicole Larocque - and allowed three hits - two to losing pitcher Rachael Bridges.

Abbott, celebrating her 17th birthday, launched first-pitch fast ball over the centerfield field for a quick 3-0 lead. The lead expanded to 4-0 thanks to back-to-back errors by the usually surehanded Hilltoppers.

“That was just not us today,” said St. Johnsbury coach John Lenzini. “We haven’t done that all year. We played them in a 2-1 game earlier this season I thought we have a little more of that kind of game. Quite frankly, I don’t think we showed up with our best mental approach today. These kids care so much, I just think they let it overwhelm them.”

Bridges helped put the Hilltoppers (16-3) on the scoreboard for the first time in the top of the fourth with a long double to left - the first of three hits allowed by Abbott. She advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on Ashley Barski’s ground out.

BFA (17-0) got that run back in the bottom of the inning when Eli Millman doubled, went third on a wild pitch and scored on a sacrifice fly by Celsey Lumbra.

Larocque walked and later scored on a single by Bridges, who allowed eight hits and three walks while striking out five.

BFA put the game out of reach with a three-run fifth keyed by a two-run double by Hannah Ayers.

Bridges allowed eight hits - five for extra bases - struck out five and walked three.

“I think Rachael threw a pretty good game today,” said Lenzini.

BFA coach Richard ‘Bert’ Berthiaume, whose Comets will seek their eighth state title this weekend against second-seeded Brattleboro (which will be seeking it’s 10th), had high praise for the Hilltoppers.

“St. Johnsbury is an outstanding team,” said Berthiaume. “They are the best hitting team we have faced. They are well-coached. They do all the little things well.”

In addition to two hits by Bridges, Allyson Bruckner also singled for the Hilltoppers.

“I hoped the second time through the lineup we wouldn’t strikeout as much and put the ball in play a little harder, but that’s the way it goes,” said Lenzini. “You always hate having a postseason with a defeat in there, but we are still very, very pleased with the journey we’ve had this season.”