Lionetti Pitches A Gem; Brookfield Team Offense Uses Nuclear Option As Bobcat Softball Crushes Terryville

There are some themes to the early season for Brookfield High School softball: wet; very wet; raining; might rain some; close game; way to get out of that jam! Then there is the "nuclear option". That is what happens when this team comes together and is firing on all cylinders. On another wet day in Brookfield at the municipal field, Alyssa Lionetti (3 - 3) steadied herself after a rocky first inning to pitch another gem as the Brookfield lady softball team absolutely crushed the spirit of the Terryville High School visitors, 17 to 1 (unofficial score). Some of the Brookfield youngsters were on fire at the plate, led by Emily Parchinski, while Lionetti and the juniors went nuclear for Brookfield softball's (3 - 3) third win in a row.

In the top of the first inning, Terryville looked like the team on fire, lacing multiple hits all over the field. However, only one run scored and Brookfield stepped up as a team to get out of the bases loaded jam that Lionetti found herself in. The Terryville fire and energy did not last long--bottom of the first inning the entire Brookfield team nuked the opposition:

Cara Lennon (ss) walked. Avery Katz (cf) bunt singled. Emily Parchinski's (1b) bunt sacrifice advanced runners. (But no sacrificing or bunting would really be needed this day, coach!) Alyssa Lionetti (p) followed by lacing a double scoring all runners. Alexandra Fitzgerald (3b) promptly doubled in Lionetti. Erica Morey (lf) got right on base with a Hit By Pitch to keep things going. Another batter for Brookfield got a Hit By Pitch to load the bases. Englund hit a sacrifice grounder to drive in a run, scoring Fitzgerald. Laila Cofone showed grit and speed beating out her infield hit to drive in another run. Lennon hits a two-run double. Avery Katz triples in Lennon. Parchinski hits an inside the park home run. Lionetti hits her second double of the inning. Fitzgerald singles her home. Morey singles. Next batter singles Fitzgerald home. Next batter grounds out mercifully for Terryville--because when the smoke cleared it was 12 - 1, and the top of the first was a distant memory.

Then Lionetti and the defense took over. Ground out. Strike out. Laila Cofone gunning down the lone runner leading off too far and sleeping on the base paths. But the Brookfield offense was not done: Katz got on again and stole second base and went to third on an error. Then she stole home on a passed ball (unofficial). Lionetti and Parchinski get aboard and Alexandra Fitzgerald promptly doubles both of them home for her third base hit in two innings and third RBI. That made the score 15 to 1 and not-so-mercifully knocked the Terryville starting pitcher from the game.

By this time Brookfield's offense still had some damage left to do. Lionetti had settled down very nicely by the second inning and with some nice team defense, did not give up another run to pitch her third gem in three games. In the bottom of the fourth inning Katz got aboard on an error. Parchinski--along with Katz having a monster day for the two youngsters--then hit a ground-rule double. Fitzgerald hit into a fielder's choice with another RBI to make it 17 to 1. Lionetti was lights out in the top of the 5th inning. Brookfield wins by run rule. Nuclear option exercised. All is well at Ground Zero (PTAK).