By Michael Letendre
When Bristol American Legion pitching standout Roberto Cruz left Post 2’s game with a 2-1 lead in hand over Tri-Town on Wednesday night, the talented chucker was about to earn his seventh victory of the campaign.
It’s been an impressive year for Cruz who suffered an injury in the last Bristol Central/Bristol Eastern baseball game during the scholastic campaign — limiting his ability to play in the field this summer for Post 2.
But that hasn’t stopped him from succeeding on the mound.
This guy is the ultimate competitor and there’s simply no quit in Cruz — earning a remarkable 7-0 record this season to lead the Bristol program.
“When I need him to throw a breaking ball for a strike, he does,” said Bristol coach Jerry LaPenta of Cruz. “He hits spots and he just competes real hard.”
The win over Tri-Town was Cruz’s final postseason game on the hill due to pitch count rules.
In the 2-1 win over Tri-Town on Wednesday night, Cruz allowed one unearned run while posting just two walks and not allowing an extra base hit.
Has he even allowed an earned run this season?
Of course, Cruz’s success is augmented by a superior defensive effort behind him.
Bristol defense has been outstanding over state tournament play with just one error committed against Tri-Town and only made three miscues overall in the postseason.
Pitching and defense wins games and Bristol has both of those qualities in large amounts.
The postseason continues today against Avon from Rotary Field in South Windsor.
Game time is at 4 p.m. (play hooky…).
Tri-Town was legit
Tri-Town, the second place finisher in the Northern Division in Zone 6 this year, was a worthy second round opponent for Bristol despite its .500 ledger.
The program took on all comers this season, playing a state-high tying six non-zone games.
That kind of slate helps round out a program, giving the team a look at several different competitors across the state.
Ranked 11th in state tournament play, the squad “upset” No. 6 West Hartford by a 4-0 push in first-round action.
And pitcher Mason Barber played extremely well for Tri-Town in the loss at Bristol, despite drawing the loss.
He allowed two runs on only two hits while fanning eight over five tough innings.
Avon is responsible for one-third of Bristol’s losses this season
As long as No. 3 Bristol doesn’t have to play Avon from its home field of Buckingham Park, the locals are going to have a great chance to knock off No. 7 Avon.
Avon won the season series over Post 2, two-games-to-one, and outscored the locals by a 14-1 margin in those two setbacks from Buckingham Park.
Bristol defeated Avon in Bristol on June 30 by a 3-1 final, and that’s the type of outcome Post 2 is hoping for tonight.
Matt Beaucar is scheduled to take the hill for Bristol.
Zone 1 riding high
Over the final eight teams in tournament play, three belong to Zone 1.
No. 3 Bristol joins No. 7 Avon in the North and No. 12 Newington in the South.
You can’t gripe about the play of Zone 1 teams because those squads are still in the thick of it in state tournament action.
Wednesday’s Second Round Results
Northern Region
No. 9 Tri-County at No. 1 Waterford – Waterford won 4-0
No. 7 Avon at No. 2 RCP – Avon pulled off a 9-3 upset
No. 11 Tri-Town at No. 3 Bristol – Bristol won 2-1
No. 5 Norwich at No. 4 Middletown – Middletown nabbed a 2-0 win
Southern Region
No. 8 Westport at No. 1 Madison – Madison held on, 2-1
No. 7 Hamden at No. 2 Danbury – Danbury blanked Hamden, 10-0
No. 6 Trumbull at No. 3 Wallingford – Wallingford won 2-1
No. 12 Newington at No. 4 Meriden – The lowest current seed alive upset Meriden, 3-2
Today’s Schedule – Northern Region Semifinals (Rotary Field, South Windsor)
No. 7 Avon vs. No. 3 Bristol (4 p.m.)
No. 4 Middletown vs. No. 1 Waterford (6:30 p.m.)
Southern Region Semifinals (Ceppa Field, Meriden)
No. 3 Wallingford vs. No. 2 Danbury (4 p.m.)
No. 12 Newington vs. No. 1 Madison (7 p.m.)
