By Michael Letendre
BRISTOL – The strangest part of the season to date for the Bristol American Legion baseball program is the new zone the squad is competing in.
Due to several teams around the state dropping out, Bristol’s original zone was down a couple programs.
Gone are the days of Zone 1 play and Bristol’s showdowns against the likes of Terryville, Unionville, Avon ad Burlington.
Post 2, along with Simsbury, Torrington and West Hartford, have moved on to Zone 3 – getting a chance to join a new portion of the league and start brand new rivalries.
Zone 3 is divided into two divisions: American and National, and those two leagues are made up of seven teams apiece.
Bristol and Simsbury have linked up in the American Division, joining Ellington, South Windsor, Middletown, Northeast and Tri-County.
That’s not the easiest lineup to tangle with when it comes to a travel schedule.
Northeast competes in Tolland, Tri-County is based in Marlborough and Ellington is located right near Tolland.
Get your gas money ready for those driving adventures.
But Bristol is going to be able to compete against any of these programs, eventually taking cracks against Torrington and West Hartford in the newly formed National Division.
That division also includes RCP, Enfield, EHM, NCL Windsor Locks/Windsor and Glastonbury.
It seems like Bristol will be traveling all over the globe to play this season, but Zone 3 is strong and the former Zone 1 programs will be a positive addition to the mix.
Up-Coming Schedule
Of course, all of Bristol’s home games will be played from beautiful Muzzy Field – a treat for locals and the visiting’s programs that venture to the Mum City.
After the battle against NCL on Friday, which is currently a 6-6 tie that will be concluded on another day, Post 2 is home for most of the following week.
This Sunday, Post 2 squares off against Simsbury (11 a.m.) as former Zone 1 programs collide.
It’s a double header on Monday when Northeast invades Bristol, starting at 5:45 p.m.
And scheduled for a 7:45 p.m. start is non-conference opponent Willimantic.
On Wednesday, South Windsor comes to town (7 p.m.) and then to end the week on Friday, Bristol travels to Ellington (5:45 p.m.) for a big-time showdown.
And the play is heating up with plenty of action from Muzzy Field, and beyond, over the months of June and July.
