By Michael Letendre

BRISTOL – The Bristol Senior American Legion baseball team opens the 2022 campaign on Saturday when Post 2 squares off against Tri-County in an exhibition contest from Muzzy Field at 6 p.m.

It will be the first of four straight games from home for the Bristol program.

On Sunday, Post 2 squares off against Meriden to commence Zone 1 play – starting at 1 p.m.

Then on Monday, it’s a third consecutive contest from Muzzy with Zone 1 foe West Hartford (5:45 p.m.) coming to town.

And to end the home stand, it’s another showdown against Meriden – this time on Thursday at 5:45 p.m.

Expecting big things in 2022

Post 2 is not just looking for a Zone 1 title this season but a state championship by the completion of the campaign.

The 2021 Connecticut champions, Avon, won’t be fielding a team in 2022 and a new squad will earn that crown this year – advancing to the Northeast Regional with a chance to qualify for the American Legion World Series.

Seven teams currently make up Zone 1 this year, including Post 2.

Bristol is joined by Meriden, Naugatuck, Newington, Simsbury, and West Hartford.

Rejoining the Zone 1 fold on the Senior front is Torrington while the Avon team disbanded.

94 years and counting

The Bristol program is in its 94th season of American Legion baseball and is a multiple winner of Zone 1, Connecticut and Northeast Regional Championships.

Post 2 won state championships in 1948 through 1951, 1962, 1964, 1966, 1974, 1983-84, 1997, 1997, 2004, and 2006 – looking to add to that impressive tally this year.

The Bristol program tallied Northeast Regional titles in 1974, 1984, 1997, and 2008 – earning trips to the World Series.

Players from Bristol and surrounding towns were eligible to tryout for the squad from Post 2 this season as places such as Plainville and Farmington have not fielded Senior teams over the past few years.

The areas Post 2 were able to draw from in 2022 included the towns of Wolcott, Thomaston, Terryville, Plymouth, Plainville and Farmington.

The state of Connecticut has five zones this season as several teams outside of Zone 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 linked up to form bigger and more competitive leagues around the state.

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