By Michael Letendre

MARLBOROUGH – The Bristol Senior American Legion baseball team is expecting to have a good season in 2023 though the program no longer competes in the now defunct Zone 1.

Post 2 added some new players this season after several 19-year-olds finished up their eligibility in 2022.

Several Junior competitors from last season’s state tournament team will make up part of the Senior roster this year.

The return of Norris and Churchill

An element of Bristol’s success this season will come from the play of veterans Elliot Norris and Jayden Churchill.

And the duo, once again batting 1-2 in the order, will help Bristol set the table early and often this season.

“It’s huge,” said Bristol coach Jerry LaPenta of Norris and Churchill returning. “You have a little experience between the two.”

The twosome can flat out slap the ball all over the field and have the speed to outrun any tally smashed around the infield.

Defensively, is there a better shortstop than Norris?

How about the play of Churchill in centerfield?

That kind of experience counts in large amounts.

Speaking of experience, Bristol is adding Chase Belisle (University of St. Joseph) to the lineup as well.

The former Wolcott High School standout can bat towards the top of the order for Post 2 and has a stick to match.

“We’ve got Chase. He’s a 19-year-old,” said LaPenta. “He’s going to be splitting time between us and another team. I’ll take him because he’s such a good player and he sees the ball really well.”

Speaking of Wolcott, the Post 2 line-up could employ the likes of Joesph Dunne and Luke Colfer in the mix.

There could be some Farmington and Plainville influence as well since none of those towns play American Legion Baseball anymore.

Farmington’s Cole Caccamo will help augment play in the outfield and at the plate. 

“The roster is not quite set,” said LaPenta. “I have four kids from Wolcott that signed up. They’re still playing [for a state championship]. So, we have a few things to work out.”

There will be plenty of help from Bristol Central and this roster will be as diverse as any Bristol’s carried, perhaps, ever.

There’s a pretty good Bristol Eastern influence as well with Connor Cyr, Isaac Roberge, Ryan Maglio, and Michael Roalf – the latter two seeing some extensive time on the hill – all helping the program along the way as will catcher Rio Fernandez.

“Rio Fernandez wasn’t here but he’ll be here” against NCL/Windsor Locks/Windsor on Friday said LaPenta.

Juniors are already winning

The Junior team started the year perfectly on Tuesday, spinning Ellington by a 2-1 final from Riley Field in Bristol.

Caleb Molinsky went the distance for Post 2, allowing the single run and just a smattering of hits to seize the win.

Bristol notched a run in the second inning and off a few singles, the locals were able to earn a walk-off in the bottom of the seventh.

“The Juniors are looking pretty good,” said LaPenta. “They won on a walk off last night.”

LaPenta is filling in for Junior head coach Bill Mason at the moment and the long time Bristol coach is going back to his roots while still coaching the Seniors.

In 2011, LaPenta led the Bristol Junior program to the Connecticut state championship and a showing at the Northeast Regional that was held in New Bedford, Massachusetts.

Adam Caron, Ryan Fradette, and Trevor Mays, past American Legion players from Bristol, will be assisting Mason and LaPenta at the Junior level as well.

And some of those players from the Junior division will be playing up from time to time.

“Between the Seniors and Juniors, we’ll probably have to dual roster a couple of kids,” said LaPenta. “But hey, Juniors on a walkout last night and we hang on here [in Marlborough] in our first game, can’t ask for anything better than that to start the season.”