BRISTOL—The pressure of repeating as Connecticut Junior (14U) Little League state champions was beginning to show.
After dropping the opening game of Wednesday night’s championship series to Glastonbury, 13-4, the Bristol Juniors All-Stars could have tightened up even more as they prepared for a winner-take-all finale.
Instead, they danced.
When the music came over the loudspeakers between games and between innings, the Bristol dugout turned into a dance floor. The Cha-Cha Slide replaced anxious conversations. Warmups gave way to smiles. The weight of defending a state championship suddenly disappeared.
“They started dancing in the middle of the inning when they should have been warming up,” Bristol manager Kyle Wentland said with a laugh.
One parent watching it all unfold later summed it up better than anyone could in a group text message to the team: “They were dancing like nobody was watching, but everyone was watching. It was the most beautiful win I’ve ever seen.”
It wasn’t just a celebration. It was the moment Bristol stopped carrying the weight of trying to repeat as state champions and simply started playing softball again.
The result was a 14-4 victory in the deciding game, a second consecutive Connecticut Junior Little League championship and another trip to the East Region Tournament in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.
The title represented far more than one memorable night.
It was the continuation of a journey that began years ago when this group first came together as 11-year-olds.
“We won the state title last year with basically the same group,” Wentland said. “The girls have put in so much work over the years. They grew together through our travel program, then they went off and played high school softball this spring and came back as completely different players.”
Every player on Bristol’s roster competes for the Bristol Gators travel organization, giving the team chemistry that has been built through hundreds of games and countless practices.
“This team just jives,” Wentland said. “When they do, it’s a beautiful, beautiful sight to see.”
The additions of Tillys Kelly and Dreah LaJoie, who were forced to sit out last summer because of Little League residency rules before becoming eligible this season, only strengthened an already talented roster.
Kelly proved exactly why Wentland considers her the team’s ace.
After Bristol stumbled in the opener, Kelly dominated the circle in the decisive game while the offense erupted around her. She struck out eight and gave up just four hits and two earned runs.
The lineup has plenty of firepower from top to bottom.
Mackenzie Wentland anchors the defense behind the plate while serving as one of the club’s biggest offensive threats. Kylie Nass provides leadership in the middle infield while Alania Lefurgey’s offseason work transformed her into one of the team’s defensive standouts. Victoria Zaldivar gives Bristol a steady presence at first base, Kamdyn Treannie patrols third with a powerful arm, and LaJoie’s speed changes games every time she reaches base.
In the outfield, Layla Annino, Madisyn Daigle and Ava Theriault provide both athleticism and reliability, with Theriault also giving Bristol another option in the pitching circle.
Ellie Hudson, the team’s lead-off hitter and outfielder/catcher, and Zoey Comandini, another pitcher, both have found spots to shine, as well.
The roster’s versatility has become one of its greatest strengths.
“We have four really good pitchers,” Wentland said. “We have girls who can play multiple positions. Everybody contributes.”
Perhaps the biggest difference between this year’s club and the one that reached the East Region quarterfinals a season ago is experience.
Many of Bristol’s players spent the spring competing at the varsity level in high school before returning to the Junior ranks this summer.
“I’ve never seen them play this great,” Wentland said. “Their softball IQ is better. They’re playing better. Coach Brian Theriault has brought a lot of advanced softball to the team and the girls have bought into it.”
That confidence showed after the opening-game loss.
Instead of dwelling on what had happened, Bristol remembered why it loved playing together.
A pregame talk reminded the players there would be no tomorrow if they didn’t respond. The dancing reminded them to have fun.
Everything else took care of itself.
Now, the defending state champions will once again head to Pennsylvania with unfinished business.
Last summer ended in the East Region quarterfinals.
This time, Bristol believes the journey is only getting started.
“We talked about it from the first day we got back together,” Wentland said. “We wanted to win another state championship and make a deeper run at regionals. The girls believe they can do that, and all the hard work they’ve put in is paying off.”
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