Youthful Bristol-Plymouth softball utilizing its hot bats for MAC Large title run

TAUNTON— In a city known for its softball prowess, Bristol-Plymouth has been no exception.

Traditionally one of the stronger programs in the Mayflower Athletic Conference, the Craftsmen went through a bit of a lull the past few years, hovering at or below .500 and not having a season at all in 2020. While still making the tournament, the program didn't have a win in the postseason from 2017 until last year's 13-4 Division 3 Preliminary Round win over Saugus.

Since last season, things have been turning around for B-P as a combination of strong hitting, varied pitching and a determination to never give up sees the Craftsmen sitting at 8-4 just over halfway through the season and in contention for the MAC Large title, trailing leaders Tri-County by two games.

"(We're feeling) confident," B-P coach Paul Westner said. "Even the games that we’ve lost, we’ve been in them for the most part and a break here and there and things could’ve been different, so we’re very confident with every opponent we have left that we’re going to be in the games and have a chance."

After having beaten MAC Large rivals Diman last season for the first time since 2018, the Craftsmen have now won their last three games against their foes from Fall River, the most recent of which being a 7-2 win last Thursday. B-P then followed it up with a 20-5 win over Blue Hills, marking the third time this season the Craftsmen reached the 20 run mark.

Leading the way at the plate this season has been junior third baseman Izzy Torres, who's batting .561 with a team-best 23 hits and 17 RBIs, as well 10 runs, through the first 12 games.

"I’ve felt pretty good (at the plate)," Torres said. "I’m glad that I can help the team out the best that I can. This team is the best I’ve played for and I feel pretty confident when I step up to bat."

Other key contributors have been sophomore catcher Shelby Estrella, who's batting a team-best .564 with 22 hits, including a home run, four runs and 16 RBIs while recording a team-best 104 putouts behind the plate. Sophomore shortstop Bree Aldrich, the younger sister of Taunton junior shortstop Brooke Aldrich and Providence College junior infielder Hanna Aldrich, has made quite the name for herself batting .333 with a team-best 26 runs and nine stolen bases while flashing the glove with some strong catches.

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Senior outfielder Ari Richards as well as junior first baseman Jessica Slavick, junior second baseman Victoria D'Aiello and junior outfielder Emma Coxall have also made notable contributions at the plate, with the latter going 3-for-3 with a pair of runs and five RBIs against the Warriors Tuesday.

"We’ve got some girls that are putting some good swings on it and we’ve got some younger girls I can pull off the bench that can put the bat on the ball too," Westner said.

That's not even mentioning the dual threat that is senior pitcher Aubrey Mabrouk.

One of only three seniors on the Craftsmen, Mabrouk has been a leader both on and off the field as well as both at the plate and in the circle. In 48 innings of work, she's surrendered 49 runs (31 earned) on 76 hits while striking out 59 and is batting .357 with 15 hits, 12 runs and four RBIs.

She's mainly been paired with freshman Gabrianna Arrighi, who's given up 11 runs (nine earned) on 20 hits while striking out 40 through 21 innings of work. For Westner, the ability to play the pair off each other and throw opposing batters off with their differing styles has been a difference maker, noting each pitched a complete game in both bouts with Diman this spring.

"They're different," Westner said. "Aubrey’s more experienced (and) we’ve been bringing Gabby along slowly."

Arrighi had one of her best outings against the Bengals, going all seven inning giving up two runs (one earned) on 11 hits while striking out 12.

"With Gabby being a freshman, you don’t know what to expect as far as nerves, but she was phenomenal (against Diman)," Westner said. "I have the same confidence in both of them that they’re going to go out and pitch a great game."

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Heading down the final stretch, Westner and his players have their eyes set on qualifying for the tournament and hoping to upend Tri-County for the MAC Large title. Those hopes took a bit of a dent Thursday as the Craftsmen fell 8-6 to the league leading Cougars, but he has confidence in his players and, in turn, they have confidence in each other, both this season and beyond.

"I cannot wait to have another year with them," Torres said. "Everyone’s effort is top notch and I couldn’t ask for a better team."

Taunton Daily Gazette sports reporter Cameron Merritt can be reached at cmerritt@tauntongazette.com. You can follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @CamMerritt_News. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to the Taunton Daily Gazette today.

This article originally appeared on The Taunton Daily Gazette: Hot bats keying young Bristol-Plymouth softball squad this spring