Top-seeded Bristol Eastern baseball has had plenty of good pitching performances this season.
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| Bristol Eastern’s Nate Carney ran his record to 8-0 with a complete-game victory in a Class L quarterfinal game against East Haven on Saturday at Muzzy Field. |
Ace left-hander Nate Carney offered up yet another great effort on Saturday in a 6-1 Class L state quarterfinal victory over No. 9 East Haven at Muzzy Field. Carney tossed a complete game and gave up a single run on seven hits with eight strikeouts. Carney didn’t walk a single batter on the way to raising his season record to 8-0.
Eastern will play No. 4 East Lyme on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Middletown’s Palmer Field.
Working fast, Carney pounded the zone with strikes. Carney was able to put hitters away, but he also let his defense do good work behind him. Jake Violette had a particularly great scoop of a low throw at first base to complete an inning-ending double play.
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| Jake Violette came up with the scoop on this play to complete an inning-ending double play. |
On offense, the Lancers quickly supported their pitcher, scoring twice in the first inning. Nate Hickey and Greg Lozier reached on infield singles. A throwing error on Lozier’s hit moved Hickey to third, then Lozier stole second. Zach Marquis brought Hickey home with a ground out, then Lozier scored on a wild pitch for a 2-0 advantage.
East Haven got one back in the top of the third inning on a RBI infield single, but Eastern responded with three of its own in the bottom of the frame. Hickey walked to start the inning. East Haven got two outs, but Marquis came up big with a booming RBI triple.
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| Zach Marquis heads toward third on his big RBI triple during Saturday’s game. |
Violette singled to right to put the Lancers up 4-1. Violette stole second, then moved to third on a wild pitch. Carney drew a walk, then lured East Haven toward him on a double steal play. The real action was home though where Violette scored before Carney was tagged out for the final out of the inning.
Eastern added one more run in the sixth when Cory Fradette tripled, then scored on sacrifice fly by Gary Gagnier.
Carney completed his strong effort with a strikeout.
In three tournament games, Eastern pitching has allowed two runs. The Lancers have outscored their opponents 20-2.
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| Carney and catcher Greg Lozier slap hands at the end of an inning. |
Eastern now has a chance to reach its first state title game since 1986. All the Lancers did 30 years ago was beat — you guessed it — East Lyme for the Class L state championship. Another win over East Lyme sticks Eastern back in the biggest game of the season.
