By Michael Letendre

TOLLAND – With one game and a makeup on deck for the Bristol American Legion Baseball team on Friday, Post 2 went back to old hand Jayden Churchill against the squad from Northeast.

And after a tremendous showing against Ridgefield the previous Sunday, Churchill was eager to send the Northeast squad packing from Cross B in Tolland.

But the home team notched five first inning runs, hitting the ball here, there and everywhere, as Post 2 fell by a 7-2 final.

Northeast improved to 9-10-1 overall while Bristol dropped to 10-8-1.

“We tried to get lightning twice in a bottle,” said Bristol coach Jerry LaPenta of turning to Churchill. “We just couldn’t really do it. But I thought Jayden pitched okay.” 

It was just a tough five-run first inning that doomed the outstanding athlete in the end as Post 2 was playing catch-up until the very last out was recorded.

Removing the nasty five run first inning, Churchill was serviceable, getting out of every jam he faced. 

He got attacked in the bottom of the first as Northeast sent nine batters to the plate.

An error at third base allowed Andrew McGann to score the first run of the game and an RBI single to left by Diego Mercado made it a 2-0 contest.

From there, Mason Wilson blasted a two-run double to left and when Tyler Barrette ended the scoring with a single to center, Wilson came home to make it a 5-0 contest through one.

“The first inning, there was a little comebacker to start the game,” said LaPenta. “And if Caleb [Molinsky] makes that catch [in centerfield], that would have been huge.” 

Churchill battled over the next four innings as Northeast was held off the scoreboard. 

Bristol started to chip away at it in the top of the second as Cole Caccamo slapped an infield hit up the middle that bounced off the mound and died – moving over the second base via a balk.

And Caccamo scored off an infield error as Post 2 chopped the deficit to 5-1.

Northeast’s Jared Wilhelm zipped up a walk to start the bottom of the second that went nowhere while Post 2 went 1-2-3 in the top of the third.

Churchill settled down nicely, retiring seven of his last eight batters as Bristol entered the fourth frame still down by four runs.

Northeast loaded the bases in its portion of the fourth, but Churchill induced a pop-out to Norris at shortstop as Bristol kept it a 5-1 deficit going into the top of the fifth.

Post 2 had something brewing as Molinsky and Josh Dunne cashed out back-to-back infield hits and the duo was on second and third with two away in the fifth.

But Nick Sconziano struck out as Northeast continued to lead by four (5-1).

Northeast attacked in the bottom of the fifth as Mercado led off with single to left before Sanchez robbed Attley Stevens of a hit at third base with a great stop and throw over to first for an out.

And with two away, Barrette walked to put runners on the corners but Churchill fanned Colin Gudeman to end the fifth to keep the thing a 5-1 game.

“Jayden settled in,” said LaPenta of Churchill after the first inning. “He threw pretty well.” 

Post 2 went three up and three down in the top of the sixth as Bristol’s Josh Dunne came into pitch.

Northeast notched two runs as an RBI single by Joey Keane and a run scoring single from Ryan Duffy made it a 7-1 game heading into the seventh and final stanza.

Bristol tried to rally in the top of the seventh as Conor Cyr reached base via fielder’s choice, advanced to second on a passed ball and went to third on a Molinsky groundout.

An infield hit by Josh Dunne scored Cyr to chop the deficit to 7-2.

Joe Dunne added an infield hit of his own but off one final grounder by Sconziano ended the contest as Northeast nabbed a big 7-2 win.

Bristol American Legion Baseball – Zone 3, Senior Division showdown

NORTHEAST 7, BRISTOL 2

from Cross B Park, Tolland

Bristol (10-8-1) 010 001 0 – 2 6 2

Northeast (9-10-1) 500 002 x – 7 10 2

WP – Mason Wilson (Northeast); LP – Jayden Churchill (Bristol, 1-1 overall) 

Bristol Batting

2B – Mason Wilson, Andrew McGann

3B – None

HR – None

Torrington Batting

2B – None

3B – None

HR – None

Records: Bristol 10-8-1 overall; Northeast 9-10-1.