By Michael Letendre
BRISTOL – After a tremendous 12-0 start to the baseball campaign, the program at Bristol Central hit a bit of a roadblock.
But in life, it’s about how you finish in the end because after that twelve pack of games for the Rams, it was gloom, doom and misery over the next six contests.
In between victories against rival Bristol Eastern, Central posted a 0-6 ledger with losses coming in the form of mercy ruled setbacks and near misses due to injury and misfortune.
But this group rallied around its senior core of Dom Guzzardi, Brian Arias, Nick Krompegal, Seth Bissonnette, Jack Bellantuono along with captains Christian Stafford, Mike Allen, Ryan Ring and the injured Frank Spirito IV.
And the squad pulled out two improbable wins after that losing streak, snaring victories over Bristol Eastern (7-1) on May 22 and then downing Avon (7-2) two days later to complete the regular season.
“I’m proud of all my seniors,” said Ray. “I’m proud of all of them [for] what they do [and] how hard they work.”
And those players left it all on the line this year.
Don’t forget what Ring, Central’s slick catcher, did in that contest against Eastern back on May 22.
During sixth inning play, Eastern’s Caleb Molinsky popped up a ball behind the plate and Ring was off and running.
He sprinted after the ball, making a spectacular catch as he smashed his body against the backstop for a huge putout.
It was a big out, showing the passion of what one of Central’s best student athletes – inside and outside of the classroom – gives on a daily basis.
“That’s a senior who runs through a wall for you, literarily, and you know what? That’s who he is,” said Ray of Ring. “That’s why he’s back there.”
Losing Spirito was a big loss, and it took some time for the Rams to rally, but with two wins under their belt and some momentum going into the Class L playoffs, it was time for this senior crew to flip the script.
“This group had it rough,” said Ray. “We had COVID, we had quarantines and they were getting to [finally] play baseball,” said Ray. “I can’t say enough about my senior group.”
Two in a row
After that 7-1 win against Eastern, Central battled Avon, another squad with an identical 13-6 ledger, in a big time CCC Interdivisional showdown.
It took an extra day due to rain but the Rams pushed out a 7-2 victory to finish the season at 14-6 overall.
Aiden Lopez earned the win as Central smoked out five runs in the first inning and another in the second to nab a 6-2 lead, never looking back.
It was a critical victory for the program, getting that all important 14th win to finish in the top eight of the Class L field.
Class L
Ray might like the draw because Central, ranked eighth in the Class L bracket, opens up against No. 25 Daniel Hand (9-11) in a showdown starting at 3:15 p.m. from Muzzy Field this afternoon.
The following day, Central – if the squad advances – squares off against the winner of No. 9 Notre Dame West Haven and No. 24 Cheney Tech.
A possible quarterfinal date against No. 1 Wilcox Tech (18-2) with other opponents such as No. 32 Wilton (7-12) and No. 16 Lyman Hall and No. 17 ranked Windsor – both at 12-8 overall – looms in the distance.
After Wilcox Tech, the top teams in the Class L bracket are No. 2 East Lyme, No. 3 Guilford and No. 4 Woodstock Academy, all coming in at 17-3.
Brookfield (fifth overall, 15-5 record) follows allow with No. 6 Middletown and No. 7 Rockville at 14-6 overall.
NOTES…Bristol Central’s coaching staff, under long time coach Bunty Ray, includes Mitch Rossi, Juan Quintero, Matt Pirog and Kelly McCabe.
BRISTOL CENTRAL BASEBALL – CCC Interdivisional Showdown
BRISTOL CENTRAL 7, AVON 2 – May 25
from Muzzy Field, Bristol
Avon (13-7) 020 000 0 – 2 3 1
Bristol Central (14-6) 510 001 x – 7 7 1
Battery – Avon: Luke Coppen, Ethan Lavore (2), Harry Engle (4), David Pengel (6) and James Walsh; Bristol Central: Aiden Lopez, Ty Davis (3), Nick Krompegal (7) and Ryan Ring.
WP: Lopez (Bristol Central); LP: Coppen (Avon)
Records: Bristol Central 14-6 overall; Avon 13-7.
