Bellringers Shut Out Westbrook

And on the seventh day … they played softball!

With its quest for first place in the Shoreline Conference abruptly put on hold thanks to the weather, one might have been concerned with how East Hampton would respond to the week-long layoff once play resumed.

No need to worry.

The Bellringers picked up where they left off with a 9-0 victory in Westbrook on Friday for their fifth victory in a row.

“We haven’t had the chance to do anything outside,” coach Matt Warner said. “We had a little bit of practice inside the gym but nothing over the top. We’re late in the season, we don’t have to work on a ton of things. It was nice to have them get that opportunity to relax but the downside is they were becoming antsy.”

Antsy maybe, but not rusty.

The Bellringers (14-4) struck early with Katty Robinson leading off the game with a walk and Ashley Chasse reaching on a bunt. Both later scored for a 2-0 lead. East Hampton added two more in the second after Shannon Law and Madison Reinhard began the inning with singles. They too would come around to score for a 4-0 lead.

In the fourth inning, the Bellringers put the game away with five runs.

Morgan Langenfeld (three hits), Robinson (three hits) and Chasse began the inning with singles. Emily Clausi and Brittany Fiederlein walked and Law singled. All would score except for Langenfeld, who was called out for leaving second base too early.

East Hampton pushed the action, using patience at the plate and aggressiveness on the bases to generate runs. The Bellringers had, unofficially, eight walks and 11 stolen bases.

“They did a good job,” Warner said. “They executed where they had to. They tried some new things, pushed themselves on the basepath and played well. Considering that much time off, they did very well.”

Despite the layoff, Clausi was dominant, striking out seven in four innings and allowing two hits - she also hit a batter - before giving way to Fiederlein, who completed the shut out.

“[Clausi] got four innings here to get that win, to loosen up and she’ll get to rest,” Warner said. “At the same time, there’s that problem of being laid off that long throwing.

“We want to make sure she doesn’t injure herself or get sore because of the layoff and coming back. We’ll try to get her back in rhythm. She’ll probably throw a little bit this weekend, just like doing warmup, and be ready to go next week.”

East Hampton plays at Valley Regional on Monday before hosting Hale-Ray on Wednesday in a game that should decide first place in the Shoreline Conference.