By Michael Letendre

The Bristol Blues of the New England Collegiate Baseball League opened its 2022 campaign with an 11-4 drubbing of the North Adams Steeple Cats on Tuesday night.

Bristol’s victory from Joe Wolfe Field in North Adams, Massachusetts saw the locals jump out to a 7-0 lead, never looking back.

The Blues were outhit 9-7 over the showdown but had a keen eye at the plate, scooping up 15 walks to help put men on base early and often.

AJ Gaich, Bristol’s leadoff hitter, collected four base-on-balls, scoring twice, while David Christoforo paced the squad at the plate with two hits, including a double, and four RBI.

Cal Parrillo also had two hits while Andrew Calhoun and Calvin McCall both walked twice and nabbed two RBI apiece without the benefit of a hit for the Blues.

Cedric Rosa paced North Adams, going 3-for-3 at the dish, and had two of the squad’s four RBI.

Bristol starting pitcher Peter Ostensen went four innings and allowed just one earned run on four hits along with three strikeouts but did not factor into the decision.

Carson Kohls took home the victory (2.1 IP, three hits, two earned runs) while Jay Harry posted the final two Ks in mop up duty to complete the night.

With the bases loaded in the first inning, Bristol’s Derek Tenney was plunked by a pitch to net a run while Christoforo singled on – also generating a run – as the Blues led 2-0 out the gate.

And then Bristol put the game away in the second, leading 4-0 to that point, with a two-out rally.

Carson Swank singled on, Parrillo and Tenney then earned back-to-back walks before Christoforo cleared the bases with a blazing three-RBI double as Bristol’s 7-0 edge would be too much for the Steeple Cats to overcome in the end.

The Blues stay on the road tonight to battle the Valley Blue Sox from McKenzie Stadium in Holyoke, Massachusetts at 6:35 p.m.

Bristol opens the 2022 home portion of its schedule on Thursday against the Danbury Westerners from Muzzy Field.

Game time is set for 6:30 p.m.