By Michael Letendre
BRISTOL – Battling into the final week of Connecticut Twilight Baseball postseason play, the third ranked Bristol Knights struck No. 2 Elmer’s Angels for two quick runs on Monday in a showdown to determine which team would go on to play for the league championship.
But Elmer’s notched eight straight runs to seize the contest as Bristol was eliminated by an 8-3 final from Muzzy Field in Bristol.
The Angels (16-9) earned a shot at No. 1 Rocky Hill Rockies for the CTL championship in a best-of-three series.
The Knights ended their campaign at 14-11-2 overall and 3-2 in postseason play.
Trailing 2-0 against Bristol, Elmer’s added two runs in both the second and third innings and then put a four-spot on the scoreboard in the fourth to stretch the deficit to 8-2 through four.
Bristol’s Mark Creamer lost a tough one on the mound, giving up four runs on eight hits over three-plus innings of work.
But over the first inning-and-a-half of the game, it was all Knights.
Noah Plantamuro (3-for-4, run, RBI) led off with a single to right while Alejandro Soriano reached via a fielder’s choice to open play.
And when Georgie Santiago drew a base-on-balls, two were on for the visitors with just the benefit of one out.
Veteran Earl Oakes eventually slapped a ball into left for a base hit as Santiago easily scored from second to give the Knights a quick 1-0 push.
Plantamuro, manning his usual shortstop position, made a couple slick throws to first base in the bottom of the first as Elmer’s went down in order through one.
Elmer’s pitcher Phil Ledwith (five hits, 5 Ks) struck out three straight before Creamer smashed a one-out flare to right as the ball just eluded the glove of Jonathan Wilson.
Creamer eventually stole third and with two gone, Plantamuro slipped a ball just inside the foul line in right field – plating Creamer – as Bristol doubled its lead at 2-0.
But from that point of the game, Ledwith was sharp and allowed just an infield hit to Plantamuro the rest of the way as Bristol’s offense went cold.
Elmer’s Mike Dean led off the second stanza with a monster rip to deep left as the home team had its leadoff batter on.
And just as Creamer look poised to get out of the jam, Taylor Kosakowski (three hits, four RBI) sent a loud two-out double to the gap in left – scoring Dean – as the deficit was chopped to 2-1.
Nick Magoulas later reached on an error at first base and when Wilson dropped in a single to center, Kosakowski scored and quickly, it was all tied up at 2-2.
With one out in the bottom of the third, Diogenes Espinal just snuck a two-base hit by Julio Ortiz-Rivera in center while making it third on a passed ball.
And then Dean went 2-for-2 as his Texas Leaguer just fell in behind shortstop to plate Espinal, propelling the Angles to a 3-2 edge.
Kyle Maglio followed with a double deep to right to put men on second and this with one gone.
Joel Avina bounced into a fielder’s choice as Dean was tagged out at the dish for the second out but with runners on second and third, Kosakowski jammed a base hit to the pocket at short to score Maglio – making it a 4-2 game through three.
Creamer was plunked by a pitch with two gone in the top of the fourth but ended up stranded while Wilson started the flip side with a single to center as Elmer’s was about to put the contest to bed.
Bristol’s Joe Pereschino came in to throw for Creamer but hit Carter Marshall to open his stint on the hill.
A wild pitch put the runners in scoring position but Pereschino fanned Scott Kelleher for the first out.
However, a wild pitch scored Wilson to make it a 5-2 game.
Espinal and Maglio were both hit by pitches as the Angels had the bases juiced with two outs and Avina became the fourth batter nailed by a pitch in the frame.
Off the HBP, Marshall quickly tagged the dish as the Angel’s edged up a 6-2 lead.
Howard Reuben then came into throw for the Knights with the bases still loaded up.
And Kosakowski sent a two-RBI single to left as the Angels wrangled up an 8-2 push as the fifth inning was upon Muzzy Field.
Plantamuro raced out an infield bunt to open the fifth and when Soriano walked, two were on for the Knights.
Santiago stole second and as the ball slipped into centerfield, Plantamuro scored from third to trim the deficit to 8-3.
Creamer drew a two-out walk in the sixth inning but nothing came of it as the Angles were in cruise control, still leading by five.
To end the sixth for Elmer’s, Plantamuro made another one of his Derek Jeter defensive plays, chasing down a grounder by Avina and making a beautiful throw to first for the out as Bristol trailed 8-3 going into the final inning of play.
But Bristol was retired in order to close out the contest as Elmer’s moved to the CTL Finals via the 8-3 victory over the Knights.
Connecticut Twilight League Baseball – Postseason Tournament
No. 2 ELMER’S ANGELS 8, No. 4 BRISTOL KNIGHTS 3
from Muzzy Field, Bristol
Bristol Knights (3-2) 110 010 0 – 3 5 2
Elmer’s (2-1) 022 400 0 – 8 10 0
WP: Phil Ledwith (Elmer’s Angels); LP: Mark Creamer (Bristol Knights)
Bristol Knights Batting
2B – Mark Creamer
Angels Batting
2B – Mike Dean, Taylor Kosakowski, Diogenes Espinal, Kyle Maglio
Records: Elmer’s Angels 2-1 CTL tournament, 16-9 overall; Bristol Knights 3-2 tournament, 14-11-2 overall.
