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Fairfield softball player Gabriella Natoli is writing a diary on her team's activities in the Eastern Regional in Bristol:
Hey Everyone! Gabby Natoli and the Fairfield Connecticut 12U Girls All-Star Team up in Bristol! On Friday, we went on a tour of ESPN and had a practice and our first game. ESPN was awesome! There we met a bunch of famous people, including Mike Golic and Mike Greenburg of Mike & Mike, Herm Edwards, Takeo Spikes and a couple others. Also, we went to several studios and even went into a studio while they were filming! After our tour, we went back to our dorm and took a nap. When we woke up, we had lunch and went to practice. We had both hitting and fielding practice, and it was really hot! We had to make sure we kept drinking! Then we went back to our dorms to rest, and then we went to dinner.
Then, we finally went to Opening Ceremonies. We were first in the parade that went around the outfield fence and stopped in front of our flag. Then "Dugout," Little League's mascot, led us to the dirt as they introduced us. For the ceremonial first pitch, it was a former Little Leaguer and a girl who was in remission from leukemia and hasn't been sick for several years, so that was really cool. Also, Alice Nelson caught the first pitch and Madison Burress got to read the Little League pledge with a player from Vermont, who we played that night after the ceremony. After Corey and Patrick talked, it was time for our first game!
We were the away team, with Brittany Romero pitching, Alice Nelson catching, me at first, Anna Rasmussen at second, Emma Houghton at shortstop, Mary Rose Finnigan at third, Julia Wilson at left, Sarah Cotto at center and Eliza Elliot and Madison Burress at right. After two innings, I went in to pitch, with Brittany moving to short, and Emma going to first. Lastly, Brittany and I combined for a no-hitter. For hitting, I went one-for-two with a walk and an error, Brittany went three-for-three with a walk, Emma went two-for-three, Mary Rose went one-for-three, Sarah went two-for-four, Alice went one-for-three, and Anna went oh-for-three but reached on a dropped third strike. Eliza went one-for-one, Madison two-for-two, Julia went oh-for-oh with a walk, and Erin went one-for-one with a walk. We ended up beating Vermont, 16-0. After the game, we went to get pizza in the courtyard and then to bed.
On Saturday, we had a game at 4 against Massachusetts. But before that we relaxed, ate good food and had practice. Then our game came. We were home this time. Our starting positions were Alice Nelson pitching, Julia Wilson catching, me at first, Anna at second, Emma at short, Mary Rose at third, Erin/Madison at left, Sarah Cotto in center and Eliza in right. Unfortunately, Mass scored three runs in the first inning. But we came back to score five runs!
We had another great game with everyone getting on! I went two-for-three with a walk, Erin went one-for-two with a walk, Eliza went one-for-two with a walk, Emma went two-for-three with a walk, Madison went one-for-three, Mary Rose went oh-for-one with an error and a sacrifice bunt, Sarah went four-for-four, Julia went one-for-three with a walk, Alice went two-for-three with a walk, and Anna went two-for-two. Halfway through the game, though, Anna got a bloody nose and had to be taken out of the game. Luckily, she came back in the fifth. We won that game, 11-7, but Massachusetts made us fight. They had a great game.
After the game we ate dinner, relaxed and went to the pool and then to bed. Sunday, we had nothing until 6. We kind of slept in and went to breakfast. Then we hung out and went to the Vermont-Rhode Island game for a little while. During the game, it started raining so some of us went to the pavilion to look at some game pictures. The rest of us stayed until the end of the inning. Then we went back to the dorm and most of us went swimming. Our Sunday plans included dinner, batting practice, going to watch the Massachusetts-Maine game and getting Slushies from Coach Jarry! Peace Out!
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