The Bristol Knights have reached the midpoint of their 2019 Connecticut Twilight League season, and it’s time for the fourth annual CTL Summer Classic.
For the third straight season, the games will be played at Dunkin Donuts Park, the home of the Hartford Yard Goats, a Colorado Rockies ‘AA’ affiliate.
All 10 CTL teams are scheduled to play at the park on Saturday. The Knights face the rival Elmer’s Angels at 3:30 p.m. Here’s the entire CTL Summer Classic schedule:
Fat Orange Cat Brewers vs. Southington Aftershock, 8 a.m.
WilliBrew Ridges vs. Singing Surgeons, 10:30 a.m.
Barile Realty Indians vs. Chicago Sam’s Orioles, 1 p.m.
Elmer’s Angels vs. Bristol Knights, 3:30 p.m.
Wethersfield Dodgers vs. Glastonbury Pirates, 6 p.m.
Bristol will come into its game against Elmer’s with a record of 6-4-1. While the offense has been hitting the ball well, the pitching has left something to be desired, according to a midseason report from Chris McGrath, a pitcher and one of the team’s coaches.
The Knights are first in the league in runs per game (6.0) and team batting average (.299). Their on-base plus slugging percentage of .725 puts them third. Julio Ortiz-Rivera, Justin Martella, Rick Barrett, Ben Mazzone, Steve Clout and Marco Ross have been leading the offense. There has also been clutch play and good performances from Joe Dalton, Casey Barter, Georgie Santiago and Kyle Pileski.
“This team has great depth and a tremendous ability to not miss a beat when needed,” McGrath wrote. “Simply put, the whole team is relentless.”
Bristol ranks seventh in the league in runs allowed per game (3.81) and ERA (2.68). The team’s WHIP (1.18) and strikeouts to walks ratio (2.15:1) each rank sixth. Rob Bibisi has stepped up on the mound after returning from a year in college. The Knights have also benefited from a return to old form for Earl Oakes. Oakes fired a two-hit complete game with nine strikeouts earlier this season against the Southington Aftershock. Bristol will look for Ross, McGrath, Barrett and Mazzone to step it up in the second half.
Bristol’s first game after the summer classic, ironically, is against the Elmer’s Angels on July 2 at Newington High School. The CTL playoffs begin on Aug. 5, and all teams will be looking to stay out of the bottom four of the standings. Teams in positions 7-10 begin the double elimination tournament with a loss.
Photo caption: The Bristol Knights face the rival Elmer’s Angels on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. at Dunkin Donuts Park. The game is part of the fourth annual CTL Summer Classic. (Copyright, Sports on CT-69, file)
