By Michael Letendre

SOUTH WINDSOR — It was an all-Zone 1 Northern semifinal on Thursday in game one of the Connecticut American Legion Baseball Tournament from Rotary Field in South Windsor as No. 3 Bristol and No. 7 Avon were locked in mortal combat.

And the contest, a scoreless affair going into final inning, was grafting out to where the first team to score was going to win the game.

Avon turned that into reality in the top of the seventh as Matt Leopold — the game-winning pitcher  — dropped in a two-out single to score Christian Boudreau as Post 201 defeated Bristol 1-0.

“There are always going to be tight,” said Bristol coach Jerry LaPenta of state tournament games. “Matty [Beaucar] pitched a great game, [Leopold] pitched a great game. It was just going to come down to one little [play].”

Avon (15-7) moved on to the Northern final against Middletown Friday while Bristol ended the campaign at 19-7.

Bristol pitcher Matt Beaucar was simply tremendous, throwing a one-run, two-hitter that included two Ks and was unhittable midway through the affair.

Leopold was nearly as brilliant, allowing two hits, striking out four and walked just one over a complete game effort.

Post 201 had chances to score throughout the showdown, but Beaucar and the Bristol defense simply wouldn’t allow it until late.

But in that fateful seventh inning, Christian Boudreau opened the frame with a full-count walk as LaPenta gathered his troops on the mound to set up a defensive plan.

Emmett Borenstein flew out to right for the first out as a hit-and-run opportunity came and went for Avon.

Boudreau was nearly doubled off as the throw in from right field by Austin Brown was just offline to first base.

Then the runner stole second to get into scoring position for Avon.

Danny Bae, also playing a tough defensive third base that day, flew out to left for the second out and Beaucar was one strike away from getting out of the jam.

But Leopold dropped a single to the gap in right — plating Boudreau — as Post 201 took a 1-0 lead into the bottom of the seventh.

Bristol did not respond as Avon moved on to square off against Middletown Friday for a chance to play for the state title.

“We had the guy doubled-up at first,” said LaPenta. “Austin just made an offline throw. You get that, it was an easy double play [with] two outs and nobody on. Now we come up in the seventh with a chance to win it.”

In the top of the first frame, Avon’s Max Raha walked with one out, stole second, took third on a passed ball but the visitors did not score.

Bristol was sent down in order in the bottom of the tilt while Beaucar returned the favor in the top of the second as the showdown was a scoreless affair.

To open the third, big Nick Amatulia was plunked by a pitch from Beaucar and advanced to second on a groundout from Tyler Nyberg.

And then when Tyler Bonney singled by the bag at first, runners were on the corners with one away.

Bonney was gunned down trying to steal second off a slick throw by catcher Owen Davis and Raha lined out to Trevor Nohilly in left to send Avon packing.

In the bottom of the third, Nohilly cracked the no-hitter with a base hit to right as Post 2 had something brewing.

He then stole second on a 1-1 pitch, but Brown grounded out to Amatulia at first base to end the third frame of a 0-0 stalemate.

Post 201 couldn’t figure out Beaucar through four while Bristol cracked Leopold a bit in the bottom of the stanza.

With one down, Andrew Lozier drew a full-count walk and then a Texas Leaguer by Ryan Fradette to short centerfield put two runners on.

Jack Kozikowski also drew a full count but struck out, as did Davis, to close out the fourth without the benefit of a score.

Beaucar retied seven straight going into the bottom of the fifth as he allowed just the one hit to Bonney.

Leopold held the fort as well, allowing just two hits through five frames.

Zack Rinkavage did an amazing job at third base for Bristol, stabbing at a Tyler Nyberg grounder and throwing him out via a one-hopper to first to open the top of the sixth.

And off a K of Bonney and a groundout by Raha, Beaucar had sat down 10 consecutive batters. 

It was the top of the order for Bristol in the bottom of the sixth but Leopold retired the side in order — throwing just six pitches — as the seventh inning was upon the game.

In the seventh, with Boudreau on second base and two outs, Leopold drove an 0-2 pitch into right-centerfield to notch the go-ahead RBI.

“The 0-2 pitch, I’ll not going to blame Matty because he pitched a great game,” said LaPenta. “It just leaped back over the plate and [Leopold] stuck it and just happened to hit it where nobody was. It wasn’t a great hit. It was just kind of a desperation thing.”

“But you’re not going to win if you don’t score.”

Bristol wouldn’t yield even as Avon went up 1-0, the locals nearly tied the game up.

Fradette started the bottom of the seventh with a walk to put the tying runner on.

Dylan Woodsome pinch hit for Jack Kozikowski, dropped down a two-strike bunt and on the sacrifice, Fradette took second base.

Post 2 had two chances to drive in the tying run but Davis struck out while Fradette took third base on a passed ball.

Evan Bouchard drew a full count but off one final groundout, Avon survived and advanced, 1-0.

“We had our chances,” said LaPenta. “We had a guy on second base with one out and we had a chance to get him in and we didn’t do it. But I’m still really proud of the guys. They played hard.”

Bristol American Legion, Senior Baseball – Connecticut State Tournament, Northern Division, Semifinal Round Game  

AVON 1, BRISTOL 0 

from Rotary Field, South Windsor

Avon (15-7) 000 000 1 – 1 2 0

Bristol (19-7)     000 000 0  – 0 2 0    

WP: Matt Leopold (Avon); LP: Matt Beaucar (Bristol)  

Avon Batting

2B – None

3B – None

HR – None  

Bristol Batting   

2B – None

3B – None

HR – None  

Records: Bristol 19-7 overall; Avon 15-7

Thursday’s Results – Northern Region Semifinals (Rotary Field, South Windsor)

No. 7 Avon vs. No. 3 Bristol – Avon won, 1-0

No. 4 Middletown vs. No. 1 Waterford – Middletown upset Waterford, 6-5

Southern Region Semifinals (Ceppa Field, Meriden)

No. 3 Wallingford vs. No. 2 Danbury – Wallingford won, 10-3

No. 12 Newington vs. No. 1 Madison – Madison takes it 2-1

Today’s Schedule – Northern Region Final (Rotary Field, South Windsor)

No. 7 Avon vs. No. 4 Middletown (6:30 p.m.)

Southern Region Final (Ceppa Field, Meriden)

No. 3 Wallingford vs. No. 1 Madison (6:30 p.m.)