By Michael Letendre
FARMINGTON – For the first time this season, the Bristol Central baseball team jumped all over an opponent from the onset.
That meant Farmington was in for a long afternoon on Thursday as the Rams scored four runs over the first two innings – earning a 4-3 victory from Tunxis Mead Park in Farmington.
And that big win was the 200th career victory for Bristol Central coach Bunty Ray.
The Rams (1-3) won for the first time this season while the River Hawks fell to 2-3 overall.
It was a big bounce-back for Central, dropping a tough 7-4 decision to Avon the previous day.
The Rams racked up three runs in the top of the first and added another in the second, snaring a 4-0 push through just an inning-and-a-half of action.
That was all the offense Central pitcher Nate Pirog needed, earning the win over four innings of work.
He posted five strikeouts and allowed two runs.
Frank Spirito then came in to mop up – yielding just a single run and mowed down five batters.
For his efforts, Spirito earned a save over his three-inning stint on the hill.
Farmington’s Brendan Kelly drew the loss.
Central out-hit Farmington 9-6 with Ryan Ring, Christian Stafford, and Aiden Lopez leading the offense.
Ring went 2-for-5 with two doubles, two RBI and a run scored, Lopez slipped out a two-base hit while Stafford was 2-of-3 with a triple, base-on-balls, and a run.
To open the showdown, Lopez led off with a double and Ring followed suit to score a run to make it a 1-0 game.
Spirito then singled to get on and the Rams quickly notched another run.
From first, Spirito was thrown out attempting to swipe second but on the play, Ring scored from third and a 2-0 lead ensued for Central.
Stafford followed with his three-base tally and Zach Vanasse walked to put men on the corners.
Central tried the same trick again, having Vanasse steal second, and on the throw, Stafford scored as the Rams were in charge at 3-0 after a half-inning of play.
Farmington went scoreless in the bottom of the tilt and when Central’s Mike Allen had a leadoff single in the second stanza, the visiting aggression was setting the table nicely.
Lopez walked to put two on and Allan scored when Ring unleashed another RBI double as Central led 4-0.
The River Hawks scored solitary runs in the second, third, and sixth innings but Farmington could never get over the hump as Central earned a badly needed win at 4-3.
Bristol Central Baseball – CCC Interdivisional Showdown
BRISTOL CENTRAL 4, FARMINGTON 3
from Tunxis Mead Park, Farmington
Bristol Central (1-3) 310 000 – 4 9 2
Farmington (2-3) 011 001 0 – 3 6 1
WP: Nate Pirog (Bristol Central), 1-0; LP: Brendan Kelly (Farmington); S – Frank Spirito (Bristol Central), 1.
Bristol Central Batting
2B – Ryan Ring (2), Aiden Lopez
3B – Christian Stafford
HR – None
Records: Bristol Central 1-3 overall; Farmington 2-3
