By Michael Letendre

The campaign for the Bristol Blues has been on the money this year as the squad boasts the second best record in the New England Collegiate Baseball League.

Last season’s 13-29 ledger is far away in the rearview mirror because the Blues — through 39 games, already doubled that win total this season as of Saturday night.

At 28-11, the locals have already wrapped up the Western Division.

And as stated every week in TBE, no other program in the West has a winning record as the Danbury Westerners are 17-20 — 10 games out of first place.

The Vermont Mountaineers (30-10) have the best ledger in all the NECBL — leasing the North Division by 11 games — while Costal Division leader Newport (27-13) is in a battle against Marthas Vineyard (25-14) for first placer and is the only league in the NECBL that does not have a division winner as of yet.

The Week That Was

The Blues had five games this past week, with varying results, but none of the teams of the Western Division could put a dent in Bristol’s first place cushion.

Here are the results from those contests as the Blues are about to wrap up the regular season in NECBL play:

July 19 – Bristol Blues 14, Danbury Westerners 8 (from Rogers Park)

*The Blues ramped up 18 hits as Bristol scored a combined eight unanswered runs over sixth and seventh innings of play as the locals won big on the road.

Jay Harry (3-for-4, two runs, three RBI) racked up two double while Derek Tenney (2-for-6, five RBI) smashed out a home run to lead the Blues.

Alec Couture pitched a scoreless fifth to snare the victory.

July 20 – Danbury Westerners 7, Bristol Blues 2 (from Muzzy Field)

*Bristol trailed 6-0 through seven and never got into the flow, dropping a five run decision from Muzzy Field.

Zach Stephenson led the Blues’ offense — going 3-of-5 with an RBI.

He also zipped out a double while Colin McVeigh (4.1 IP, 4 Ks, 2 hits) threw well in defeat.

July 21 – Bristol Blues 5, Mystic Schooners 0 (from Muzzy Field)

*Five Bristol pitchers chucked a combined seven-hitter — walking just two — as the Blues won via shutout.

Reed Mascolo pitched five innings of two-hit ball to earn the victory.

Bristol also tallied seven hits, led by Chaz Meyers (2-of-3, two runs, RBI).

Andrew Calhoun doubled to lead the locals.

July 22 – Sanford Mainers 4, Bristol Blues 3 (from Goodall Park)

*Sanford foiled a 2-2 tie with a couple runs in the bottom of the seventh as the Blues lost on the road.

Ben Huber (two runs scored) and Craig Corliss each notched two hits for Bristol.

Matt Smith allowed a single run in the seventh, drawing the loss in the process. 

July 23 – Bristol Blues 4, Upper Valley Nighthawks 2 (from Muzzy Field)

Test.

*Trailing by a run, Bristol scored three straight to knockoff the Nighthawks by two.

The Blues trailed 2-1 going into the bottom of the fifth but once the locals recaptured the edge, Bristol never gave it back.

Former Bristol Easter standout Jagger Duquette (1.2 IP, 1 BB) threw well in relief of winning pitcher Peter Ostensen (4 IP, 2 ER, 3 Ks).

Myers had a day again, roping out two doubles as he went 3-of-4 overall with two RBI.

Player of the Week

Last week, a talented Bristol player earned a little in-season NECBL recognition.

Derek Tenney, who was simply on a tear, earned Player of the Week for the week ending July 18. 

Tenney posted a league-high .733 batting average with 11 hits in 15 at-bats over five games. 

He scooped in 11 RBIs, the second most in the league over the past week, while smashing out a home run, two doubles, scored five runs, walked twice, and stole two bases over a very busy slate of action.

The highlight of his week came on July 16 against North Adams, going 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. 

Tenney then laced out a three-hit performance against the Mountaineers the day before, going 4-for-4 with seven RBI — tallying the home run — versus North Adams on July 14.

Over 28 games this season, the first baseman is third on the Blues in batting average this season — roping up a .289 tally with 24 hits and 16 runs.

His 24 RBI, 12 walks, and two home runs is a small sampling of the season he has put together for the Blues this year.

Tenney is the first NECBL Weekly Honor Roll winner for Bristol this season.

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