Bay View successfully completed its impressive climb out of the losers’ bracket, defeating Lincoln, 5-2, to capture the Division I crown of the Amica Insurance R.I. Interscholastic League Division I Fast-pitch Softball Championships at Rhode Island College.

``Ever since March, we’ve been in the gym every single day, just working so hard,’’ said the Bengals sophomore second baseman and leading hitter Kristen Mitchell, who was 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored in the title game, played before a crowd of about 400 at Dayna A. Bazar Memorial Field. ``It really came down to who wanted it more, and we wanted it so bad. You could definitely tell. Like, oh my gosh, it’s so overwhelming.’’

Bay View received another stellar performance from pitcher Marian Long. Working the ball inside and out and hitting her corners, the junior scattered five hits and struck out seven en route to the victory. She also came up big at the plate, driving in three runs on a pair of hits.