Bristol Central completes season sweep of Eastern with 9-3 win Monday night at Muzzy Field

Nate Pirog was in charge against BE | J. Krampitz

Posted By: Jack Krampitz May 21, 2024

Bristol Central jumped ahead early and rode the steady pitching of Nate Pirog to 9-3 decision over Bristol Eastern Monday night at Muzzy Field.

Central took a 2-0 lead in the second inning.  With one out, Eastern starter Anthony Nocera walked Rocco Spirito.  Ty Davis and Anthony Santilli followed with singles to load the bases.  Joe Mauriello singled into short right field to score Spirito.  Davis then scored on an Aiden Lopez sacrifice fly.

In the third inning, Central scored six runs on just three hits (all singles), taking advantage of five walks and an error to open up an 8-0 lead. A single by Joe Gratta followed by two walks loaded the bases with no outs.  Nocera then walked Mikey McMahon to force in a run.  Jonny Montgomery relieved Nocera.  With the infield in, Spirito bounced a single to left to score a second run.  Following a strikeout, a walk to Santilli scored the third run of the inning, and then Mauriello’s single to right scored two more.  Santilli scored on a wild pitch for the sixth run of the inning, and Central led 8-0.  

The Lancers, meanwhile, were scoreless through the first three innings, getting just two singles off Pirog.  

Eastern finally showed some life In the fourth inning. Owen Myers singled to left center to open the frame.  Preston Guarda followed with a pop fly single to short right, with the runners ending up on second and third following a throwing error on Guarda’s hit.  Mason Harris then singled to left center to score Myers.  Guarda then scored on Brayden Schenck’s sacrifice fly, and Harris scored the third Eastern run on Caleb Molinsky’s single to center. BE now trailed 8-3 at the end of four innings.

Pirog, in pitching the complete game win, was especially tough after the fourth, as only one Eastern hitter reached base in the final three innings, that on a one-out walk to Caleb Molinsky in the seventh. Pirog finished with seven strikeouts, while giving up six hits and two walks.

Central added a final run in the sixth, an unearned run. Gratta reached first to open the Central sixth on an infield error.  Declan Schenck came on in relief of Montgomery, Gratta eventually scoring the Rams final run on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Mason Allan.

Central improves their season mark to 15-4, while Eastern finishes their regular season with a 7-13 record.

The seniors for both teams were honored prior to game, Eastern seniors being Caleb Molinsky, Gabe White, Declan Schenck,Brayden Schenck, Rio Fernandez, Jonny Montgomery, Preston Guarda, Mason Harris, Ben D’Amato, and Matthew Harkey.

Central seniors honored were Joe Mauriello, Mikey McMahon, Nate Pirog, Ty Davis, Joe Gratta, Noah Gatti, Anthony Santilli, Alex Kuzniar, Gavin Colvin, and Oscar Kuzniar.

Umpire Elmer Deschaine was also honored prior to the game, Deschaine retiring after many years of service on the diamond.

BRISTOL EASTERN:   0  0  0    3  0  0    0    – – – –    3    6    2                                                      BRISTOL CENTRAL:   0  2  6    0  0  1    x  – – – – –    9    7    2                                           

Bristol Eastern:  Anthony Nocera, Jonny Montgomery (3), Declan Schenck (6)    &  Owen Myers  Bristol Central:  Nate Pirog     &   Rocco Spirito

WP:  Pirog      LP:  Nocera

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