Jeff Nicol had a terrific night for the New Britain Bees on Saturday in Pittsfield, Mass.
The Wolcott native blasted a grand slam, singled, scored a run and drove in four for New Britain in its 12-9 win over the Pittsfield Suns in Futures Collegiate Baseball League of New England action at Wahconah Park. Behind the plate, Nicol threw out three of four runners that tried to steal against him.
For his efforts, Nicol was the FCBL’s Plakata Player of the Night. Pittsfield was able to get Nicol out in his first three at bats, but it wasn’t able to retire Nicol, or most of his teammates, during an insane 12-run seventh inning. The Bees already had three runs across when Nicol stepped up to the plate with Tanner Santos on first, Mike Torniero on second and Billy Mrowka on third. Nicol ripped the first pitch he saw over the left field wall. Nicol knew it was gone the second he hit and flipped his bat not long after contact.
Pittsfield made the game interesting in its half of the seventh by scoring nine runs, but New Britain held on for the win. Nicol made a big play by catching a runner trying to steal to end the seventh inning. He also threw out runners trying to steal in the first and sixth innings.
Nicol, Greger finish regular season with perfect days
Nicol and Bristol native Gavin Greger each went 2-for-2 in New Britain’s regular season finale, a 12-7 loss to the Brockton Rox in Brockton, Mass., on Sunday.
Nicol came on in the fifth inning and ripped a two-run single in his first at bat. He was hit by a pitch in the seventh, then singled in the eighth.
Greger singled and scored in the first inning, then blasted a two-out, two-run home run in the second in his two at bats in the game.
New Britain finished the regular season at 35-28 and is the No. 4 seed in the FCBL playoffs. They face the top-seeded Norwich Sea Unicorns (39-22) in a best-of-three semifinal series beginning Monday in Norwich. Bristol native Noah Plantamuro is an assistant coach for Norwich.
Caption: Jeff Nicol blasted a grand slam and threw out three runners trying to steal in a big night for the New Britain Bees on Saturday. (Copyright, Sports on CT-69, file)
Greger photo credit: New Britain Bees
