By Michael Letendre 

BRISTOL – In the final elimination game of the Connecticut Twilight League playoffs on Monday night, it seemed like the showdown was boiling down to the first team that was able to tally a run. 

And it took several innings to determine that victor, pitting the top ranked Wolcott/Terryville Scrappers against sixth rated Bristol Shock.

In the end, a two-run sixth was enough to overcome the Shock as the Scrappers nabbed a huge 2-0 victory from Muzzy Field. 

Wolcott, the defending CTL champs, battled against No. 2 New Britain Rock Cats in the 2023 championship series. 

Bristol ended the campaign at 10-14 but nearly got into the title tilt – simply running out of gas in the end. 

The Shock had to square off against wily veteran chucker Kyle Dube – no stranger to Muzzy Field from Bristol American Legion Baseball days gone by. 

He went four strong innings, allowed one hit, walked one and fanned four over a tremendous start.

Bristol countered with Mark Creamer, another no-nonsense pitcher, and the game was on. 

In the top of the first, Bristol’s Kyle Lentini dropped in a blooper with two away, stole second and got to third via error but did not score. 

On the flip side, Creamer was also sharp, fanning Alex Rauso midway through the first, as the game was a scoreless affair through one. 

Dube induced two fly-outs while striking out the final batter he faced in the second while Creamer allowed one free pass and nothing else to keep things scoreless. 

In the third tilt, Tommy Stagis reached base via error and when Jordan Banks was popped by a Dube pitch, two runners were on in the third with two outs. 

But Lentini just missed another Texas leaguer, this time in right, but the Scrappers had nothing on the board after three as Creamer had faced one batter above the minimum. 

Dube continued to keep Bristol batters off-balanced into the fourth, nabbing another strikeout before walking Justin Martella with two gone. 

But Kyle Daddona grounded out to end the half-inning while Wolcott generated its first hit of the game in the bottom of the fourth. 

To lead off, Alex Rauso dropped a flare into left while Creamer walked the following batter – on a couple borderline calls – before a run-scoring chance came and went for the Scrappers. 

A sacrifice bunt was misplayed by Bristol, loading things up, before a scrum at first base caused Rauso at third to break for home. 

Rauso was gunned out at the plate and off a collision at first, Bristol turned to a new pitcher.

Jacobi Bouchard was put in a very tough spot with one out and runners on second and third. 

But a slick over-the-shoulder catch by Kyle Daddona and throw over to second base gave Bristol an inning-ending double play to keep the score 0-0 through an eventful fourth inning. 

With one away in the fifth, Bristol’s Jon Blais reached on a miscue, swiped second base but did not advance as reliever Kody Kerski (3 IP, five Ks, one hit) closed the door on the attempted Bristol rally. 

It was still scoreless going into the sixth with the Shock’s three, four and five batters were due up. 

But Kerski sent the trio down in order as the Scrappers squared off against Bouchard in the bottom of the sixth. 

He allowed a one-out base-on-balls, Andrew Hinckley reached on an error and Bristol coach Rick Barrett turned to pitching ace Chris McGrath in an attempt to get out of the jam. 

And with one away, Justin McCoulluch laced a single down the right field line, scoring the lead runner, as the Scrappers scooped up a 1-0 edge. 

One out later, another RBI single doubled Wolcott’s edge to 2-0 going into the seventh. 

Kerski held the fort, striking out two before Patrick Kelley slapped a single to right as the winning run was at the dish.

But pinch hitter Rick Barrett struck out to end the affair as the Scrappers advanced to the finals via its 2-0 victory over the Shock. 

Connecticut Twilight League – Elimination Bracket Semifinal Showdown 

No. 1 WOLCOTT/TERRYVILLE SCRAPPERS 2, No. 6 BRISTOL SHOCK 0 

from Muzzy Field, Bristol 

Bristol Shock (10-14)            000 000 0 – 0 2 2 

Wolcott Scrappers                000 002 x – 2 4 3 

WP – Kody Kerski (Wolcott/Terryville); LP – Jacobi Bouchard (Bristol) 

Bristol Shock Batting 

2B – None 

3B – None 

HR – None 

Terryville/Wolcott Scrappers Batting 

2B – None 

3B – None 

HR – None 

Records:Wolcott/Terryville Scrappers 21-4-1; Bristol Shock 10-14.