By Michael Letendre
BRISTOL – After the holiday weekend, both the baseball squads from Bristol Central and Bristol Eastern will start Class L state tournament play on the road.
And it’s kind of amazing how the squads finished in the overall standings.
Both programs ended the year at 9-11 with the Rams just finishing with two more power points than the Lancers.
Those two points made a huge difference in determining which team earned the higher seed.
In fact, six Class L programs ended the campaign at 9-11 but Central (78) had the most points between Berlin (73), North Haven (63), Stratford (44), Cheney Tech (38), and Eastern (76).
That meant the Rams seized the No. 22 seed and Eastern followed at twenty-three.
Let’s look at the two matchups for the Bristol programs in first round play:
No. 22 Bristol Central at No. 11 Woodstock Academy
Central might have drawn a favorable first round opponent in the form of No. 11 Woodstock Academy on Tuesday, May 31 at 3:30 p.m.
Last year, in first round action, Woodstock was two-hit against Eastern but managed to cobble together a 3-1 win before getting booted in the following round by No. 20 Wilton.
This year, after a 12-4 start, the Centaurs finished the regular season with four straight losses.
If Central goes to junior pitching stud Frank Spirito on the hill for that contest, Woodstock is in for a long road.
The winner of the BC/Woodstock affair plays the victor of No. 6 Wethersfield and No. 27 Cheney Tech on June 1.
Of note, the Eagles have lost three straight which included a 6-3 setback to Bristol Eastern to end the regular season at 15-5.
Frankly, over the first two rounds, anything is possible for the Bristol Central baseball program and head coach Bunty Ray knows that fact.
No. 22 Bristol Eastern at No. 10 Maloney
Oh boy, Maloney drew a first-round match-up it probably would like changed immediately.
The Lancers travel to Meriden on Tuesday (3:30 p.m.) in what has turned into a first round CCC South state tournament battle. The game is currently scheduled to commence from Maloney High School.
Eastern has already beaten this Maloney program this season. And history isn’t on the side of the Spartans in terms of past appearances against the Lancers.
The Spartans (12-8) had a good season but didn’t have a great game against the Eastern back on April 27.
On a chilly day from Clem J. Roy Field in Bristol, Maloney was overwhelmed by Eastern’s senior captain Jaydon Churchill as the Spartans fell 5-2.
The pitcher was brilliant against Maloney, going six innings, allowing just six hits while striking out 11.
The win over Maloney that day saw Eastern rack up its 70th all-time victory against the Spartans. Overall, the Lancers hold a 70-52 edge in all-time head-to-head showdowns.
Could Eastern head coach Steve Gaudet turn to Churchill in that first round showdown?
Pitching stud Michael Roalf would make sense as well. The junior has thrown the ball well this season.
Frankly, Maloney is in a bit of a no-win situation as Eastern is a team no one really wants to face in first round play.
The winner of Eastern’s first round challenge plays the victor of No. 7 Wilcox Tech (15-5) and No. 26 Stratford on June 1.
This is a remote possibility that if Eastern beats Maloney and due to the fact technical school programs always seem to struggle during postseason play, the Kingstreeters could have a home tournament game over the ensuing round.
But one game at a time.
Don’t be surprised if Eastern advances to second round play after a hard-fought victory over a tremendous Maloney program.
CLASS L – FIRST ROUND
No. 32 Kaynor Tech (8-12) at No. 1 Windsor (19-1), 5/31, 3:30; No. 17 Masuk (11-9) at No. 16 Guilford (11-9), 5/31, 3:30; No. 25 North Haven (9-11) at No. 8 Lyman Hall (13-7), 5/31, 3:30; No. 24 Berlin (9-11) at No. 9 Bethel (13-7), 5/31, 3:30; No. 29 Middletown (8-12) at No. 4 Platt (15-5), 5/31, 3:30; No. 20 New London (10-10) at No. 13 Torrington (12-8), 5/31, 3:30; No. 28 Pomperaug (8-12) at No. 5 RHAM (15-5), 5/31, 3:30; No. 21 Ellis Tech (10-10) at No. 12 Daniel Hand (12-8), 5/31, 3:30
No. 31 Farmington (8-12) at No. 2 Brookfield (18-2), 5/31, 3:30; No. 18 Rockville (11-9) at No. 15 East Lyme (11-9), 5/31, 3:30; No. 26 Stratford (9-11) at No. 7 Wilcox Tech (15-5), 5/31, 3:30; No. 23 Bristol Eastern (9-11) at No. 10 Maloney (12-8), 5/31, 3:30; No. 30 E.O. Smith (8-12) at No. 3 Fitch (16-4), 5/31, 3:30; No. 19 Wilton (11-9) at No. 14 Notre Dame-West Haven (11-9), 5/31, 3:30; No. 27 Cheney Tech (9-11) at No. 6 Wethersfield (15-5), 5/31, 3:30; No. 22 Bristol Central (9-11) at No. 11 Woodstock Academy (12-8), 5/31, 3:30
SECOND ROUND
Kaynor Tech/Windsor winner vs. Masuk/Guilford winner, 6/1, 3:30; North Haven/Lyman Hall winner vs. Berlin/Bethel winner, 6/1, 3:30; Middletown/Platt winner vs. New London/Torrington winner, 6/1, 3:30; Pomperaug/RHAM winner vs. Ellis Tech/Daniel Hand winner, 6/1, 3:30
Farmington/Brookfield winner vs. Rockville/East Lyme winner, 6/1, 3:30; Stratford/Wilcox Tech winner vs. Bristol Eastern/Maloney winner, 6/1, 3:30; E.O. Smith/Fitch winner vs. Wilton/Notre Dame-West Haven winner, 6/1, 3:30; Cheney Tech/Wethersfield winner vs. Bristol Central/Woodstock Academy winner, 6/1, 3:30
QUARTERFINALS: June 4
SEMIFINALS: June 6 and 7
FINALS: from Palmer Field, Middletown, June 10-11
Support our local news initiative
TBE is dedicated to covering local news. With your help, we can hire reporters to cover local government, our schools and businesses. Support TBE with a small recurring monthly membership. Click the Membership button at the top of our homepage. Here is the link: https://www.bristoledition.org/. For more information, read this.
