By Michael Letendre
MIDDLETOWN – The beat continues for the Bristol American Legion 17U baseball program.
And on Tuesday evening, Post 2 continued its winning ways with its 5-0 shutout of Middletown from Pat Kidney Field.
Bristol moved to a Zone 3 leading 8-1 overall while the program from Middletown dropped to 4-4.
It was the second shutout in a row for the team from Bristol, outscoring Torrington and Middletown over the last two games by an 8-0 push while allowing just a handful of hits during that stretch (four overall).
Post 2 nabbed 12 hits in the contest to stave off the home team while Middletown had more errors (three) than hits (two) that evening.
Bristol nabbed three runs in the third inning and added another two in the fourth to snare that 5-0 edge, never looking back.
Jonathan Montgomery pitched Bristol to the win, earning the shutout behind a sterling 97 pitch performance.
The complete game gem by Montgomery complemented a tremendous hitting attack by the visiting aggression.
Gabe White lead the attack from the plate, going 3-for-4 overall.
Two-way player Caleb Molinsky, Mason Harris and Montgomery all tallied two hits apiece for Post 2.
Gavin Colvin, Caleb (how often does a baseball team have two players with the first name of Caleb on their squad?) Simard, Drew Martineau, Brian Grabowski and Brayden Schenck all roped up hits for Bristol.
The victory is the second in a row for the locals who won’t see action again until Sunday.
All alone in first place
The top five teams in Zone 3 are separated by just two games, led by the outfit from Bristol (8-1).
Post 2 is a perfect 5-0 at home and 3-1 on the road to compile that winning tally.
The Bristol team has yet to lose a game in regulation this year as the 9-8 setback to Tri-Country came over eighth inning play in what turned into a suspended affair.
Torrington (6-1) is a game behind Post 2 while Waterford (6-2) sits in third place in the Zone 3 standings.
Also in the mix is Ellington and Tri-County, both sitting at 5-2 and two games out of first place.
They can be only one…
In terms of records in the state, no one has a better ledger than Bristol in 2023.
Naugatuck leads Zone 2 at 7-1 while Danbury (5-1) just lost on Tuesday as Post 2 is in the driver’s seat statewide.
Bristol American Legion Baseball – Zone 3, Junior Division
BRISTOL 5, MIDDLETOWN 0
from Pat Kidney Field, Middletown
Bristol (8-1) 003 200 0 – 5 12 2
Middletown (4-4) 000 000 0 – 0 2 3
WP – Jonathan Montgomery (Bristol)
Records: Bristol 8-1 overall; Middletown 4-4.
