By Michael Letendre

MIDDLETOWN – This is a big weekend for the Bristol Senior American Legion baseball program.

At 4-5-4, Post 2 has three home games from Muzzy Field with a make-up game in the mix.

Bristol may not have a regular pitching staff this season in terms of full-time senior players but the 17U program has certainly provided a lift to the 19U team.

“We’re a little challenged on the mound” this year said Bristol Coach Jerry LaPenta.

Gavin Colvin, Caleb Molinsky, Caleb Simard and Gabe White are two-way players for the program and have all helped the Seniors from time to time.

Declan Schenck is also a dual-rostered player who has shined at times at the 19U level.

And all those arms have helped Ryan Maglio – the team’s top chucker – along the way.

Maglio (3-0) has thrown a team-leading 21 innings while Jaydon Churchill, Connor Cyr, Josh Dunne and Isaac Roberge all have thrown some frames for the locals.

Molinsky is 1-1 on the Senior level and has been tremendous over his 11 innings pitched. 

“I’ve got Caleb” on Friday said LaPenta of Molinsky. “Declan is available Friday and Maglio is available.”

With all arms on deck, Post 2 is going to have every chance to go 3-0 this weekend.

The weekend lineup

The action starts on Friday at 7 p.m. against EHM (East Hartford, Manchester, Newington) in a Zone 3 tilt.

The squad has lost 10 of 12 games this season while Post 2 battles NCL on Sunday at 11:30 a.m. before getting its rematch against Middletown (6-2) at 1 p.m. in the second game of a double dip.

The showdown against NCL is the continuation of a game from June 8 that was stopped due to curfew.

The contest is all knotted up at 6-6 through 10 innings as Post 2 held a two-run edge late before letting it slip away.

“We play East Hartford and we’ve got to get that win,” said LaPenta of Friday’s 7 p.m. tilt. “We [also] finish the continuation of the 11-inning game [against Windsor Locks] that was suspended on Sunday morning before we play [Middletown].”

The contest against NCL (5-6-1) is a must win for Post 2 if the program wants to stay in the playoff chase.

“We’ve got to get that win” against NCL said LaPenta. “We’re at home. We’ve just got to win one inning.”

And the Friday showdown against EHM fits that same mold as those two games would yield Bristol a 6-5-3 ledger and a chance to get back into the postseason race.

“If we can get those two wins there, we’re right back where we need to be,” said LaPenta. “And we’ll see where we’re at.”

The 19U staff

Once again, the Bristol American Legion baseball squad is coached by Jerry LaPenta and assistant coach Rick Lemke.

Three other assistants from are former players for the program: Richard Lemke Jr, Adam Caron and Ryan Fradette.

Paul LaFleur is the General Manager while Emily Thompson helps out in terms of electronic scoring and a whole bunch of other day-to-day functions.

And Dave Greenleaf shows up every once in a while, attempting to navigate the broken scoreboard from Muzzy Field.