By Michael Letendre

MERIDEN – In the second game of a Zone 1 doubleheader against Meriden on Sunday afternoon, it resembled much of the first encounter of the day.

Bristol once again posted four runs in the top of the first and unlike the first showdown, extra innings were not required in the rematch.

Pitcher Matt Beaucar (2-4 overall) threw a five-hit gem, striking out eight, as Post 2 scooped up a 7-2 victory from Ceppa Field in Meriden. 

“In the second game, we jumped right on them again with a 4-0 lead,” said Bristol coach Jerry LaPenta. “That’s huge.”

And just like the first game of the twin bill, Bristol’s top of the order in the first inning sunk Meriden pitching from the onset.

From there, pitching and defense took care of the rest for Post 2 (9-5 Zone 1, 9-6 overall).

Elliot Norris walked on a full count to open the showdown and Jayden Churchill (3-for-3, two runs, two doubles) blasted a two-base hit to center, putting two on.

Adam Caron (1-for-2, two walks, two runs) walked to load things up and Ryan Fradette (2-for-3, four RBI) slapped a blooper into shallow center, scoring the lead two runners.

From there, a double steal saw the ball thrown away at third in an attempt to get Caron.

He ended up scoring as Fradette easily arrived at third base in the 3-0 contest.

And a passed ball eventually allowed Fradette to tag the plate – giving Post 2 a 4-0 push as Meriden had to deal with Beaucar on the hill.

Even a leadoff walk couldn’t spoil Beaucar’s first frame because he ended up with two Ks as Meriden did not score.

“This field is in tough shape,” said LaPenta. “The mound was awful, and I thought Matty pitched great. That was probably his best outing of the year on the worst mound which is nice going into the playoff game.”

Bristol went right back to work in the second as Mike Roalf singled to left and when the ball got by the fielder, the runner nabbed second base.

With one away, Churchill made it 2-for-2 by dancing a ball just off the foul line in right, scoring Roalf, as the double made it 5-0.

And then Tyler Stickels earned Bristol’s fifth walk as the bases were loaded with two away.

But Tyler Martin grounded out as Post 2 was in charge by five runs.

Connor Bennett walked to open the second and with one away, Beaucar made a beautiful throw off a groundout for the second out.

From there, Bennett tried to take third, and Stickels – playing at first base before smashing his finger early in the third inning – made an on-the-money throw to Caron to catch the runner – ending the inning with zest.

An RBI single by Meriden’s Max Giacco netted Meriden’s first run inn the third and after Beaucar’s fifth K, Post 2 was leading by a 5-1 tilt.

With one away in the fourth, Churchill picked up his third hit while Caron jammed a bloop double to no-man’s land in right, putting runners on second and third.

Fradette cleared the bases with a sharp base hit to left as the two-RBI tally propelled Bristol to a 7-1 push through three-in-a-half frames.

A Beaucar pickoff of Bennett at second base ended the fourth as Meriden’s offense was stuck in neutral.

To open the fifth, Connor Cyr singled to right and when Roalf reached on an error at first base, Bristol had two on. 

But Norris’s line drive at second was snatched and Roalf was doubled up at first in a bang-bang play to end the half-inning.

Post 45 put two on with two away in the fifth but nothing came of it as Bristol maintained its 7-1 advantage going into the sixth.

In the bottom of the frame, Beaucar scooped up strikeouts number seven and eight as Bristol went into the final inning ahead by six runs.

Post 2 hung around as Rio Fernandez punched a two base hit to left but the runner was stranded in the end as Post 45 was down to its final at-bats with Beaucar still dealing.

A couple hits allowed Post 45 to score a late run but Bristol put the event away with a Beaucar pickoff at second base as Bristol zipped up its third consecutive win – defeating Meriden by a 7-2 final.

“All in all, it was a great day,” said LaPenta. “It was a long day with the first game being nine innings.”

Bristol Senior American Legion Baseball – Zone 1 Game (2)

BRISTOL 7, MERIDEN 2 

from Ceppa Field, Meriden

Bristol (9-5)  410 200 0 – 7 9 1  

Meriden (4-11)  001 000 1 – 2 5 1

WP – Matt Beaucar (Bristol), 2-4 overall; LP – Connor Bennett(Meriden) 

Bristol Batting 

2B – Jayden Churchill (2), Adam Caron, Rio Fernandez

3B – None

HR – None

Meriden Batting 

2B – None

3B – None 

HR – None

LOB – Bristol 7; Meriden 5

Records: Bristol 9-6 overall (9-5 Zone 1); Meriden 3-11 overall.