The Bristol Central Rams have hit the ground running as they open the season on 5-0 winning streak. The Rams recently defeated Pomperaug 8-0 Friday afternoon, handing the Panthers just their second loss of the season.
While the Rams are continuing to develop into their peak form, they have out-scored their opponents by a combined score of 55-4.
Bristol Central coach Monica Hayes said despite the success there are still things to work on, however, during their bout with Pomperaug the team stayed disciplined at the plate and forced the pitchers to throw something hittable.
She said the team was also aggressive on the bases, but it’s specifically been the pitching duo of Sophia Torreso and Alexandra Sciarretto.
“Did I think that all week long between Sophia and Alex, they would give up one hit, no, but they impress me everyday and sometimes I catch myself watching the two of them and not really coaching,” Hayes said. “They’re just phenomenal.”
Torreso and Sciarretto have been pitching lights out to start the season. Against Plainville, Torresso threw a perfect game with 18 strikes. She then followed it up with throwing a no-hitter against Pomperaug.
Sciarretto has only let up one hit in the last three games.
“A lot has to go wrong for us to lose a lot of games with pitching like that,” Hayes said. “It’s a good problem to have putting those two out there and I’m so proud at how they work together and how our whole team backs them up by playing good defense.”
Hayes said as a team they've been focusing on how they play opposed to the results of a win or loss. She said they have been consistently talking about effort and communication.
“We’re really nitpicking as coaches because we know this team is talented and can execute at a high level and they showed that last year,” she said. “We’re not going to be something and zero forever so win or lose we have to take something out of it from each game.”
The next step for the Rams is producing at home plate during the earlier innings.
Bristol Central has been a team that gets better as the game goes on, however, Hayes said what has surprised her early in the season is the production from the freshmen that are batting at the bottom of the order.
She said the production from seven through nine has not only been helpful on the scoreboard, but has been helpful to the top of the lineup.
“They were definitely ready to play today,” she said. “I’m just really proud of them. They're fun to coach and they’re fun to watch run bases.”
