By Michael Letendre
The latest 19U Connecticut American Legion Baseball poll is out, representing teams from all around the state.
And while the locals from Bristol did not crack the top-10, Post 2 isn’t far off the mark.
Eight of the 10 squads in the current poll have yet to taste defeat in 2022.
Currently, RCP – always one of the elite programs in Connecticut – is the top ranked team in the state at 7-0 followed by Middletown (6-0) in second place.
Stamford came in at No. 3 (6-0) with Danbury (fourth, 4-0) and West Haven (fifth, 4-0) seizing the next two spots.
Ellington was the first team in the poll that was ranked with a loss (sixth, 6-1) while Waterford is ranked seventh at a perfect 4-0.
Zone 1 competitor West Hartford (3-0) hangs in eighth place, North Haven is ninth (4-0) , and Westport is rated 10th (4-1) to round out the top-10.
Bristol is currently 3-3 overall (3-2 in Zone 1 play) and slated to compete against Simsbury on Wednesday at 5:45 p.m. in a Zone 1 tilt – weathering permitting.
Going for a Cruz
If the pitching rotation holds up, Bristol could be turning to Roberto Cruz on the mound against Post 84 tonight.
Cruz is currently 2-0 overall and last helped Post 2 to a win on Friday, spinning Simsbury by a 11-7 push.
He is eligible to pitch tonight if the weather allows.
The only Bristol pitcher not eligible to throw is Matt Beaucar (1-2) who earned his first victory of the year on Saturday in Post 2’s 7-2 victory in Torrington.
He allowed just three hits to tally a badly needed win – Bristol’s second in a row.
Beaucar, due to pitch count limitations, would be available to throw starting on Thursday.
Post has a scheduled doubleheader on Sunday against Torrington – starting at 1 p.m. from Muzzy Field in Bristol – and will probably be pressed into duty then.
