Bears batter Bulldogs ace in title game.

Byline: John McGuirk

FITCHBURG - Greater New Bedford Vocational Tech, which faces perennial powers Dighton-Rehoboth and Case twice a year, didn't look the least bit intimidated against powerful Monty Tech in yesterday's championship of the Large Division State Vocational Softball Tournament.

The Bears came out and swung the bats from the get-go against Bulldog ace Alyssa Babineau, coming away with 16 hits en route to an easy 5-1 victory.

"We play in a real tough conference (South Coast Conference), where we are the only vocational school in the league," 13-year GNB coach Frank Gracia said. "That helps us when we play other competition (like today) because you get used to it. We're used to this level of competition."

For the Bears (14-8), the title marks the first in school history. Sophomore pitcher Jessica Collins allowed just four hits (two by Babineau) while striking out 10. The only run she allowed was unearned.

"I definitely had a good game today," Collins said. "I managed to get all of my pitches to work. I was able to hit all my spots."

GNB jumped on Babineau for two runs in the third. A single by Amanda Pedro (three hits) and a walk to Lindsey Shurtleff (three hits) were followed by an RBI single from Collins and a run-scoring ground out by Cortney Rebello. The Bears added a solo run the following inning on a Pedro single to left.

The Bulldogs (20-2) never seemed to get comfortable against Collins, who displayed a bevy of pitches including a riser, drop ball and change up. They did manage to cut into the deficit in the fourth when Kelly Lacroix made it to third thanks to consecutive errors. The junior came home on a wild pitch to make it 3-1.

But the Bears added a pair of runs in the sixth. An RBI single by Jen Grota and a fielding miscue plated the Bears' final run.

"Playing these (tournament) games is much better than a practice," said Monty Tech coach Dave Reid, whose club is the top seed in the Central Mass. Division 3 Tournament.

"I don't think Alyssa was tired today, they just hit the ball," Reid said. "They're the best-hitting team I've seen next to Murdock. That team was not coming to the plate looking to walk and (Collins) is a very tough pitcher and she pitched an excellent game. She was on more than she was off."

NAME: MONTACHUSETT REGIONAL VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL SCHOOL