By Michael Letendre

BRISTOL – Nearly three-and-a-half hours of baseball on Thursday night couldn’t determine a victor between the Bristol and NCL American Legion baseball squads from Muzzy Field in Zone 3 competition.

Through ten innings, the game was a 6-6 stalemate and after 10:30 p.m. on a weeknight, a new inning could not commence in Bristol due to curfew rules.

And at some point, during the season, these squads will recommence play to determine a winner.

How did these teams get to the tenth inning over this 6-6 marvel? 

Here’s a quick summary of all the scoring from the event:

NCL – Top of the first

Austin Oberle dropped an infield bunt with one away, moved to second base on a passed ball and scored off a single by Allen Hinckley to make it a 1-0 game.

Bristol – Bottom of the third

Ryan Maglio earned a base-on-balls with one away and when Cole Maccano belted a double to the gap in left, men were on second and third.

Maglio came home on a wild pitch as the game was all tied at 1-1.

And to end the scoring in the third, Connor Cyr (three RBI) dropped a long fly ball to left for the second out – allowing Maccano to score from third base – as it was a 2-1 game in Post 2’s favor.

NCL – Top of the fourth

NCL retied the game, this time at 2-2, as back-to-back doubles by Jaydon Ramirez and Xavier Angel netted a run to make it an even-steven game.

Bristol – Bottom of the fifth

Post 2 wasted very little time in the bottom of the fifth as Maglio singled, representing the go-ahead run.

He was erased on a 4-6 fielder’s choice from Maccano but Rio Fernandez absolutely crushed a long fly ball to center, watching it drop towards the warning track and scoring Maccano, giving Bristol a 3-2 edge.

Then on a passed ball, Fernandez got to third base safety and off a bad throw-in by the NCL catcher, the runner came home to make it a 4-2 game through five.

NCL – Top of the sixth

Allen Hinckley drained a double to the gap in right and Frankie Kula was then plunked by a pitch, putting two on with one away.

Ramirez walked to load things up and Bristol starting pitcher Logan Schenck (79 pitches, six hits, three earned runs, five strikeouts, two walks) who performed well over the no-decision, was relieved.

Mike Roalf took over for Schenck, but a wild pitch scored Hinckley to trim the deficit to 4-3.

NCL – Top of the seventh

Batters 8-9-1 were due up as Roalf was attempting to save the game.

Parker Thomen walked and quickly stole second base.

Roalf induced a strikeout, but Thomen took third on a wild pitch and Garrett Hinckley drove in the tying run as his single to right was almost caught by Maccano.

Thomen ended up scoring to make it a brand new game at 4-4.

NCL – Top of the ninth

Garrett Hinckley drew a one-out walk in the top of the ninth, later stealing second and Oberle singled to left, putting runners on the corners.

After a Jayden Churchill strikeout (five strikeouts), Kula kicked a long double to left – clearing the bases – as NCL scooped up a 6-4 lead going into the bottom of the ninth.

Bristol – Bottom of the ninth

Bristol had its top of the order up and Elliot Norris (two hits) put the ball in play to shortstop – who badly booted the ball – as Post 2 had some life.

Maglio zipped a ball up the gut, putting two on with just one out.

And on a full count, Maccano walked as the bases were loaded. 

Cyr ending up sending a slicer into center, plating Churchill and Maglio, as the game was quickly knotted at 6-6.

Maccano attempted to score from third base on the play, attempting to score the game-winning run, but was easily tagged out at the dish as the game continued into the tenth.

The non-scoring 10th inning – NCL

With two retired in the top of the tenth, Thomen unleashed a double down the line in left but Churchill earned his fifth strikeout to end the half inning and due to curfew rules, Post 2 had to score something in the bottom of the frame to end it.

The non-scoring 10th inning – Bristol

Issac Roberge drew four balls with one out, Roalf hit into a fielder’s choice but Norris’s grounder to third was thrown away at first, putting runners at second and third and Churchill at the dish.

But Churchill ended up grounding out to shortstop to end the tenth and at 6-6, the game will be continued another day.

NOTES…If you’re on vacation and attempt to cover a 10-inning game, not making it back to the cottage you’re staying at on time, you’ll probably end up in the doghouse. 

Bristol American Legion Baseball – Zone 3, Senior Division

BRISTOL 6, NCL WINDSOR LOCKS/WINDSOR 6 (through 10)

from Muzzy Field, Bristol

NCL (1-2) 100 101 102 0 – 6 10 3

Bristol (2-0) 002 020 002 0 – 6 5 0

NCL Batting

2B – Jaydon Ramirez, Xavier Angel, Allen Hinckley, Parker Thomen

3B – None

HR – None

Bristol Batting

2B – Cole Maccano

3B – None

HR – None

Temporary Records: Bristol 1-0-1 overall; NCL 0-1-1.