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C.B. East rolls past Abington in softball

The softball took one bounce and Brady Tillotson calmly grabbed it and fired to first base. Other times, the ball rolled to her instead. Sometimes it reached the Central Bucks East third baseman on a short hop.

Central Bucks East's Nicole Tracy (35) and Maddie Bittiny (1) fist-bump after Tracy scored.
Central Bucks East's Nicole Tracy (35) and Maddie Bittiny (1) fist-bump after Tracy scored.Read more(For the Inquirer/ Joseph Kaczmarek)

The softball took one bounce and Brady Tillotson calmly grabbed it and fired to first base.

Other times, the ball rolled to her instead. Sometimes it reached the Central Bucks East third baseman on a short hop.

It didn't matter how the ball got to Tillotson, the pace at which it reached her, or how far she had to move from her position to get to it. The senior always reacted the same way: without hesitation. The result was the same, too: an out.

Tillotson, a Bryant recruit who has been a fixture in the Patriots lineup since her freshman season, recorded six putouts Monday against Abington as C.B. East defeated the Ghosts, 6-1.

"I actually think that was the most balls I've gotten in a game this entire season," Tillotson said with a laugh.

Her steady performance in the field was a highlight in a solid defensive game by the Patriots (8-3), who committed no errors and have allowed only 16 runs in 81 innings.

That statistic is largely due to the work of their two senior pitchers: Theresa Haug and Kayla Ventura, who have split time in the circle since their first year.

Together against Abington (3-6), the pair allowed only three hits and walked two.

"We have so much confidence in our pitchers," leftfielder Nicole Tracy said. "We want to back them because we know that they are doing so well. That boosts our confidence, too. We know that they are pitching so well and then we have to step up our game."

Against the Ghosts, stepping up their game meant smart baserunning and taking advantage of Abington's miscues, as the Patriots registered only five hits. Tracy had two, including a triple.

"That sets a good team apart from a great team," Tillotson said. "A good team comes out and plays your competition well but you don't capitalize on the other team's mistakes. But on a great team, you play your best and whatever the other team does you react and add on to it."

C.B. East 320 100 0 - 6 5 0

Abington 010 000 0 - 1 3 2

WP: Theresa Haug LP: Nikki Ray 3B: CBE- Nicole Tracy