Shock upend Rock Cats, will play Scrappers for CTL championship

Bristol’s team in the Connecticut Twilight League continues to live up to its nickname during this year’s double elimination playoffs.

The Bristol Shock will be playing for the CTL championship on Monday night against the Wolcott-Terryville Scrappers at Legends Field in Newington. Bristol earned its berth by shocking – pun intended – the defending champion New Britain Rock Cats, 7-1, in an elimination game Thursday night at Legends Field. The Shock have won three straight elimination games.

As with Wednesday night’s win over the Connecticut Orioles, Thursday’s victory was possible because of great pitching. Mark Creamer went the first 3 ⅔ innings and yielded a single run to the CTL’s most proficient offense. Chris McGrath entered during a big jam in the fourth inning and escaped it. He went on to tally 2 ⅔ more innings (2 hits, 4 strikeouts) before giving the ball to Jared Gallagher for a strikeout to end the game. McGrath put in his work 48 hours after firing a complete game in another elimination contest.

Offensively, Bristol strung together two big innings. There was a three-run first inning, then a four-run sixth to put the game away. Earl Oakes continued his torrid hitting with a single to ignite the first inning rally. Kyle Pileski and Colby Jones followed with RBI doubles to the fence, then Kyle Lentini drove in Jones with a big two-out hit.

In the sixth, Oscar Kuzniar ripped a pinch-hit, two-out single to score one run. Jordan Banks doubled to drive in a pair, then later scored on a passed ball to complete the scoring.

The championship game is scheduled for Monday, Aug. 19 at Legends Field in Newington at 6 p.m. A second game, if necessary, would follow the first game. Those games are weather permitting though because the forecast isn’t looking particularly great for Monday. Let’s hope the rain and thunder hold off.