The Bristol Eastern softball team found itself down eight runs entering the bottom of the seventh inning of Tuesday afternoon’s nonleague home game against Sacred Heart Academy-Hamden.
Comebacks aren’t supposed to happen in that kind of situation, but apparently no one told the Lancers. Eastern scored 10 runs, the last four coming on Dez Nickerson’s walk-off grand slam, to stun SHA, 14-12. When Nickerson’s opposite field line drive cleared the right center field fence, the Lancers erupted in celebration. Nickerson was deservedly mobbed at home plate as Eastern celebrated its improbable victory.
Emily Valentine had another big blow in the 10-run seventh when she launched a three-run home run.
Besides the power display from Nickerson and Valentine, Gracie Browne, Hailey Beebe, Makayla Antunes and Corrine Sutula each had multi-hit games. Eastern improved to 6-1 with its sixth straight win, and that victory was by far the most thrilling of all.
Caption: Bristol Eastern’s Emily Valentine may have been bunting during this 2023 game against city rival Bristol Central, but she displayed her power Tuesday with a key three-run home run in a wild 14-12 comeback victory over Sacred Heart Academy-Hamden. (Copyright, Sports on CT-69, file)
