BRISTOLVILLE - Normally a no-hitter is a cause for celebration.
But Bristol senior Katie Patchin was a bit downtrodden after striking out 12 John F. Kennedy batters during Thursday's Division IV sectional semifinal at Bristol High School.
She walked five as the Panthers beat the Eagles in six innings, 10-0.
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Reaction from pitcher and coach
"Honestly, I didn't feel like I had a good game," Patchin said. "I had a walk every inning and that shouldn't have happened, especially at this age."
Actually, she didn't walk anyone in the top of the fifth inning.
Bristol coach Debbie Rowles said this was the Panthers' first game in five days.
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Tribune Chronicle / John Vargo
Bristol’s Katie Patchin pitches against John?F. Kennedy in a Division?IV sectional semifinal Thursday.
"I think that got her off her mark a little bit, but she held her own," Rowles said. "She thought she wasn't getting the calls she should get, but she came back, hung tough and got the job done and pitched a no-hitter."
Kennedy's Megan Ashdown reached second on a fielder's choice in the third, while Cara Moten took second on a wild pitch - both after reaching on a walk for Kennedy (4-12). The Eagles didn't get a runner past second.
"She's a great ball player," Kennedy coach Jack Pico said. "I know her from the Valley Extreme organization when my daughter played. Her dad is a real devoted coach. She did a great job."
So did Kennedy pitcher Kayla Powell, who was injured last week.
"She got hit over her left knee," said Pico of Powell, who had 10 strikeouts and no walks. "We were worried about that, but she came through it. She's a tough girl."
However, Bristol (20-3) scattered 10 hits through six innings.
"Kayla was throwing the ball well," Pico said. "That was a good hitting team. They were free swingers."
In the bottom of the first inning, Bristol's Lindsey Elza blooped a single between the Kennedy center fielder and right fielder to score Patchin.
Lauren Elza's single to the third-base side scored Lauren Slusher. Then, Megan Adams' single scored Lindsey Elza to cap a 3-0 lead after one.
Steffanlee Markowitz's double led off the bottom of the second. Lindsey Elza drove in Markowitz.
Then, Kylie Stoneman stepped up to the plate and blasted a 200-foot shot to deep left field. Since there isn't an outfield fence at Bristol, Stoneman got a two-run, inside-the-park home run.
"With the wind blowing in, I was actually surprised if it got out that far," Rowles said. "I could just imagine where it would've went if the wind was not blowing today."
Stoneman's shot gave Bristol a 6-0 advantage after two innings.
"She set school record with eight home runs in a season and we're not done yet," Rowles said.
Bristol scored three more in the bottom of the fourth and Stoneman hit a shot to right field that was misplayed, scoring Slusher for the game-ending run in the bottom of the sixth.
"We have a wonderful group of girls," Rowles said. "They play well together. They all get along. If you told us at the beginning of the season, we probably would've guessed we would've won 75 percent of our games. They work hard every day."
"It's by far the best season I've ever had, even with travel ball," Patchin said. "I think I've had more fun this year, my senior year. I couldn't ask for more, honestly."
Right now, Patchin is hoping to get her array of pitches going when Bristol hosts Southington in a Division IV sectional final on Saturday.
"I definitely need to get my junk working again," Patchin said. "It's been about a week since I pitched last, so hopefully I get my screwball and curveballs."
"As long as it comes Saturday, we'll be good," Rowles said.
