By Michael Letendre

BRISTOL – The Bristol Senior American Legion baseball squad is suddenly on a hot streak – winning four straight games as the month of June is about to be put in the books.

Post 2 opened the year at 1-3 overall but have started to shine offensively while getting significant contributions from the top of the batting order.

Since dropping a tough 5-3 decision to Meriden back on June 16, Bristol has been perfect, notching 30 runs over that four-game winning streak.

And the game becomes a lot easier when Post 2 can manufacture runs without hitting the ball all over the field.

In Bristol’s 6-2 triumph over Torrington in the first game of a doubleheader last Sunday, Bristol never hit the ball out of the infield to manufacture the first run of the fourth inning.

Dillon Hudson and Tyler Martin were both hit-by-pitch while Matt Beaucar sacrificed the duo over via bunt.

And when Chris Osuch was also plunked by a ball, the bases were loaded up.

From there, Elliot Norris laid down a perfect bunt to score Hudson and Bristol had its fourth run on the board.   

“There was a guy on second with no outs, get him over [to third], get him in, we scored a run without even getting a hit,” said Bristol coach Jerry LaPenta. “That’s stuff we practice all the time in batting practice.”

Speaking of Norris, the shortstop – along with leftfielder/pitcher Jayden Churchill – have been tremendous at the top of the Post 2 batting order.

Both batters have been lethal in the line-up, helping set the table and even bought home runners with ducks on the pond.

“Elliot and Jayden, one-two at the top [of the batting order], have just been playing phenomenal,” said LaPenta of Norris and Churchill. “Elliot’s been playing great at shortstop.”

Churchill won a game on the hill against Torrington on Sunday and over Post 2’s 4-0 streak, he’s been tremendous at the plate.

He’s batted 6-of-12 during that undefeated stretch which included a slick 3-for-3 in the 6-5 victory against Post 38 to finish up play on Sunday.

Churchill etched up two singles and a double while walking in the first inning – eventually scoring a run.

He has excellent speed and is a thief on the basepaths.

And since Norris has been installed at the top of the batting order, the speedster has made getting on base a real habit.

Over his last five games, Norris has gone 9-of-18 from the dish and is clearly the best bunter on the team.

If he puts the ball in play, it’s off to the races – a challenge the defense does not enjoy.

That pressure also causes opposing defenses to make miscues and errors in the field.

“He’s just a pest when he’s up” at the plate said LaPenta of Norris. “Even when he hits it, it likes if he doesn’t hit it right to somebody, he runs balls out.”

Norris turned it on since Bristol’s two-run setback against Meriden on June 16 – never looking back.

He went 2-of-3 from the plate, scored two runs, stole a couple bases and notched two RBI in Bristol’s tough loss to Meriden and hasn’t relented since.

That Norris/Churchill combo will give opponents fits for the rest of the season.

A typical Bristol line-up sees third baseman Adam Caron bat third while the vacuum cleaner in centerfield – Ryan Fradette – also brings speed to the plate and can smash the ball all over Muzzy Field.

Tyler Stickels, Hudson, Martin, Beaucar and Osuch have been showing chemistry in the batting order and on the field.

Bristol is continuing to build by the game, hoping to eventually catch streaking West Hartford – currently sitting at 9-0 on top of the Zone 1 standings.

“I like the character of the team,” said LaPenta. “They play hard together. They do the right things.”

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