By Michael Letendre
The Bristol Junior American Legion Baseball program (17U) continues to impress out the gate in 2023, refusing to lose as the season is off and running.
“The Juniors are playing really well,” said Bristol 19U coach Jerry LaPenta. “They’re 3-0 with a tie. We’ve got a nice team.”
As the squad churns out the wins, opponents have been troubled on how to top the Bristol program.
But with an 8-8 tie going against Tri-County, the showdown will recommence on Monday from the point of its postponement after seven innings.
Bristol was ahead by three runs late in that showdown but gave the lead up, now stuck on an 8-8 stalemate.
That continuation will come after the completion of the 19U’s tilt against Northeast.
Game time for the 19U contest is at 5:45 p.m. with the conclusion of the Junior Legion game to follow.
The Games
Post 2 started the season with four games in five nights – leading to the perfect 3-0 ledger and the one tie.
Here’s a quick summary of all the action:
June 6 – Bristol 2, Ellington 1
Caleb Molinsky pitched a one run, three-hitter as Bristol secured a late run to nab a 2-1 win against Ellington from Riley Field in Bristol.
He allowed just a double and triple to Troy Enamait, but the rest of the squad shared a combined one hit.
June 7 – Bristol 4, West Hartford 3
The following night, Post 2 made a sweet come-from-behind victory to knock off longtime rival West Hartford by a run.
The visitors scored twice in the third and once in the fourth frame to snare a three-run cushion.
Bristol notched two runs in both the sixth and seventh stanzas to overcome that 3-0 deficit – turning it into a one-run triumph.
Gavin Colvin threw twenty pitches in relief over the final two innings of regulation, seizing the win late.
Molinsky and Jonathan Montgomery paced the offensive with two hits apiece.
Brayden Schenck nabbed a double while Molinsky added two RBI over the win.
Montgomery did not factor into the decision but allowed just three runs over five innings to keep his mates hanging around.
Tyler Ryan, Gabe White, Brayden Schenck, Mason Harris and Tate Stevens all etched up a hit for the locals.
June 8 – Bristol 8, Tri-County 8
The game was suspended after seven innings of play as darkness engulfed the field.
After the stalemate against Tri-County on the road, the squad finally got a night of rest on June 9.
June 10 – Bristol 10, NCL 2 (from Riley Field)
Finally, just this past Saturday, Bristol foiled NCL behind a 10-hit attack – snaring an eight-run triumph to move to 3-0-1.
Post 2 snuck out 10 hits while NCL was limited to just four, making eight errors in the field.
White earned the win, throwing 65 pitches over his four innings of work.
He did not yield a run while Mason Harris and Jack Erickson mopped up.
Colvin and Brian Grabowski each smashed out two hits while Molinsky added a double to the till.
Montgomery, Stevens, Grabowski and White all collected two RBIs apiece for the victors.
Upcoming Schedule
*Monday, June 12 – Continuation of 8-8 game against Tri-County (Muzzy Field) after the 19U game (8 p.m.???)
*Tuesday, June 13 – Enfield at Bristol (Riley Field, 5:45 p.m.)
*Thursday, June 15 – Bristol at RCP (Xavier High School, 5:45 p.m.)
*Saturday, June 17 – Torrington at Bristol (Riley Field, 1 p.m.)
