The Bristol Greeners were left looking for a home after the Connecticut Tri-State Baseball League canceled its 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bristol found that home in the Nutmeg State Baseball League. The league uses wood bats, like the Tri-State League, but it just plays doubleheaders on Sundays. The Greeners played a season-opening doubleheader Sunday against Canton at Bristol Eastern High School and swept it, 5-1 and 6-1.
The highlight of the day was Jerry LaPenta’s no-hitter in the second game. LaPenta walked none and struck out 15. He was supported on offense by Jon Pierce, Gabe Bartolome and Gil Roy. Pierce reached base three times, scored twice and had two RBI. Bartolome had two hits, scored two runs and stole a base. Roy added a hit and two RBI.
Bristol knocked off Canton in the first game behind the solid pitching of Stephen Warkoski. Warkoski tossed a complete game and gave up one run on five hits. Warkoski struck out seven. A.J. Lorenzetti doubled, singled, scored a run and drove in another. Pierce started his big day with a 3-for-3 effort where he finished a home run short of the cycle. Pierce scored a run and drove in two more. Lorenzetti doubled, singled, scored a run and drove in two more. Zac Bartolome stole three bases, including home in the first inning.
Bristol hosts the Stratford Owls in a doubleheader this Sunday at Bristol Eastern, beginning at 10 a.m.
