By Michael Letendre

BRISTOL – Zone 1 in Senior American Legion Baseball in Connecticut looks a little bit different in 2022.

Of course mainstay Bristol is always a threat in the division and the same will be true this year.

Avon, the 2021 state champions, did not field a team this season while Berlin also folded.

And just recently, Naugatuck – who linked up with Zone 1 for the first time in 2021 – folded as the division is short a few programs.

But there won’t be any shortage of competition over the rest of the zone.

Torrington has reestablished its Senior program while Simsbury – enduring an unusually down season last year – is looking to rebound.

Newington and Meriden should provide quality competition but the team from West Hartford, always a very good program, should be one of the top two squads in the league – along with Bristol.

“[This year], it’s really between us and them,” said Bristol coach Jerry LaPenta of West Hartford. “The goal is to always win the series. So if we take three-out-of-four from everybody else, and we split with these guys, will be right there in the end for the zone [title].”

“That’s the ultimate goal and then we get into the playoffs.”

This year, Seicheprey Post 2 will play each Zone 1 team four times unlike past seasons.

Typically, each zone program played every squad three times but Zone 1, obviously, is short a few teams.

Meriden has some pop as well but the locals, playing all its home games from Muzzy Field, should be more than competitive with a very veteran crew.

Several 19 year old’s returned to the fold for Bristol including former All-Stater Andrew Lozier.

“Lozier came down and got a game in today” against West Hartford said LaPenta. “We’re trying to get him to get enough games to qualify for the playoffs.”

Lozier will be playing in multiple leagues this season after a very good freshman campaign at Avery Point.

LaPenta will work around Lozier’s schedule to keep him playing, and eligible, for Post 2 beyond the regular season, into the playoffs.

And don’t forget, Lozier can throw the ball a little bit and LaPenta will give him a starting assignment or two along the way.

“He should be available for seven or eight games,” said LaPenta of Lozier. “We’ll get him on the mound for a couple games too, get two or three starts out of him.”

Lozier has high expectations for this team as many of the 19-year old’s at this level do.

He recently said he’s returning to the squad in part to help Post 2 win a state championship.

The team was right there in the state tournament fray in 2021, making the Northern Regional semifinals but was eliminated by Avon (1-0) back on August 5 from Rotary Field in South Windsor to finish out the year.

With Avon out of the way – a squad that truly became one of Bristol’s fiercest rivals since the program was established – Post 2 is looking for a Zone 1 championship, move on to the states from there and perhaps get some additional hardware to open the month of August.

Bristol looking to replace games

With Naugatuck out of the picture, Bristol will attempt to replace those four games with games out of the Zone 1 fray.

It’s always tough to schedule those exhibition contests with limited pitchers, pitch counts and the like to deal with – especially if Mother Nature decides to knockout a game or two due to rain, thunderstorms, and all the goodies summer weather brings – clustering games at the worst possible time.

But a chance to compete in a game from Muzzy Field is always an attractive proposal.

The remaining schedule for the month of June

Bristol has seven games remaining on its schedule this month, starting this Thursday with a rematch against Meriden at 5:45 p.m. from Muzzy Field.

Then on Friday, Post 2 finally hits the road – in a showdown against Simsbury from Memorial Field at 6:30 p.m.

And on Saturday, Bristol travels to Torrington for a Zone 1 tilt at 2 p.m. from Fuessenich Park.

The following week, Bristol plays just once – a contest against Simsbury on June 26 at 5:45 p.m. from Muzzy Field.

On Sunday, June 26, it’s a twin bill from Bristol as Torrington comes to town for games at 1 and 3 p.m.

Finally on Tuesday, June 28, Post 2 battles West Hartford on the road at 5:45 p.m. from Conard High School.