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"This team is definitely as good (as that 2002 team)," she said. "The people that we have (now) definitely have their hearts in it."
Bristol manager Steve Miller said it’s really impossible to try to compare the two teams. Part of the reason is that new Little League regulations this year have prevented Bristol from using any players that also compete with outside teams such as AAU programs.
"That team we had in 2002 is just a once-in-a-lifetime team," Miller said.
Many of the girls on this year’s team have no varsity experience, he noted.
"For this team to get where it is, I’m so proud of them," he said. "They worked so hard."
Bristol got a strong performance from pitcher Sara Bianchi last night, as allowed just three hits over seven innings, striking out four batters, walking none and allowing no earned runs. She retired nine of the final 11 batters.
"She throws hard. She pitched very well tonight," Miller said. "After the fifth inning, she just poured it on."
Haddam-Killingworth managed to score on an RBI single in the first inning -- after the leadoff hitter reached base on an error -- and a wild throw to third after an infield line out in the fourth inning.
"They played better this time," Bianchi said.
But, she added, "I do better with pressure. It’s good to have something to keep you going."
Like a few other members of this year’s Senior League team, Bianchi won a state title before while playing for Bristol’s Junior League (age 13-14) team in 2002. That team advanced to play in the Eastern Regional in Syracuse, N.Y., but did not reach the World Series.
Bianchi says she’s confident heading into this year’s regional.
"My team’s good. I have confidence in them. They back me up," she said.
"We’ll go down there and see what happens," Miller said. "The competition’s going to get very tough now. But we’ve been there before, so we know what to expect at least."
In West Haven, he added, "You’ve got to play your best ball. ... Teams down there will make you pay for your mistakes."
Cleanup hitter Autumn Hetzler did her job for Bristol last night, collecting an RBI every time up on a single in the first inning, a sacrifice fly in the third, another RBI single in the fourth inning and an RBI ground out in the seventh.
Bianchi was 2-for-4 with three runs scored, while Ashley Doucette was 1-for-3 with two runs scored, Rinas was 2-for-3 with two RBI and Sam Rajotte went 2-for-4.
Compared to a 12-0 loss to Bristol last Friday, "It was a much better game. ... We were pleased with our performance," Haddam-Killingworth manager Mike Piscopiello said.
"(It) was nice to see that we actually scored some runs against them," he added. "They’re a strong team. They should do well down in West Haven."
