By Michael Letendre
Before the postseason begins for the Junior American Legion Baseball squads in Connecticut, Bristol had a little work to do to complete its regular season.
Four games are on the slate with two big doubleheaders this weekend and coach Bill Mason has his troops ready for the challenge.
Post 2 is currently 7-8 overall entering Saturday after splitting two games against Newington on Wednesday.
Bristol fell in game one by a 6-2 final while the locals picked up a huge 3-2 victory in the nightcap from Riley Field in Bristol.
Both contests were five inning affairs with the first a make-up due to a rainout.
Bristol’s Ryan Maglio threw 43 pitches the previous day against Newington but the contest was not completed due to the weather.
In the restart, Bristol turned to Elliot Norris, throwing 2.1 innings of solid ball, but drew the loss as Newington overcame a 2-1 deficit.
Down by a run, the visiting outfit scored two runs in the third and three in the fourth to take the showdown in the end.
But in the immediate rematch, Post 2 got to the pay window over the 3-2 win.
Over another five inning challenge, Norris was called upon again – earning the win in a 15-pitch stint over 1.1 innings.
In a strange scoring quirk, Bristol scored runs in the odd innings while Newington added its runs over the even frames.
That meant Bristol won out in the end as Post 2 broke a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the fifth to seal the victory despite just generating two hits.
And for Norris, it was his first win of the season (1-2) as the pitcher had a strange dual decision day, going 1-1 on Thursday against Newington.
Double dips on Saturday and Sunday
The squad has four big games to finish out its regular season campaign.
And while no one can catch Zone 1 champion West Hartford, Post 2 can send the squad into the postseason on a losing note.
All games this weekend commence from Riley Field.
Saturday’s games see Bristol take on Torrington at 2 and 4:15 p.m.
On Sunday, the champs are in town – starting at 11 a.m. – as West Hartford invades Bristol.
And in the second contest, Post 2 wraps up the regular season against Simsbury at 1:30 p.m.
