In the close games that are often synonymous with the American Legion state tournament, it comes down to who blinks first.
Bristol Post 2 blinked first during Sunday’s Northern Division Sectional second round game against Glastonbury at Muzzy Field, and it cost them in a 1-0 loss.
The defeat ends Bristol’s state season at 21-11. Post 2 still has games left to play in the Northeast Regional next month, which they will host at Muzzy. Glastonbury moves on to play Tolland, which won Zone 8.
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| Bristol head coach Jerry LaPenta (front right) told his team to take the week off from baseball before playing in the Northeast Regional at Muzzy Field next month. Post 2 saw its state tournament run end in a 1-0 loss to Glastonbury. |
Bristol head coach Jerry LaPenta is giving his team time off before those games get played.
“They have a week off to get away from ball, then come back fired up,” LaPenta said.
In a game that featured little hitting, it was two mistakes that helped bring Post 2’s state season to a close. First, Glastonbury’s Joe Mercier laid a good bunt toward the third base line with one out. Bristol pitcher Brad Burney — who threw a terrific game — tried to make a highlight-worthy play. Instead, the throw went down the right field line, and Mercier ended up on second base.
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| Brad Burney gave up one unearned run on four hits in seven innings Sunday, but it wasn’t enough. |
Ryan Molinari was up to hit next, and he hit a slow roller toward shortstop. Cory Fradette fielded the ball and tried to make a play, but his throw went wild, allowing Mercier to score and put Glastonbury up 1-0.
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| Cory Fradette tries to make a play for his team in the top of the sixth inning. |
“It’s a tough play,” LaPenta said. “It’s do or die.”
Bristol’s Ben Mazzone reached on a hit by pitch with two outs in the sixth, but he was stranded.
To give an indication of how the day went for Bristol, LaPenta sent up Nick Sassu to pinch hit with one out in the seventh. Sassu scalded the first pitch, but it went right at the Glastonbury second baseman for the second out of the inning.
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| Nick Sassu hit a rocket in the seventh inning, but it went right at the Glastonbury second baseman for an out. |
A strikeout by complete-game winner Andrew Heymann was the final out.
“I knew once the game started going, I knew it would come down to who made a mistake,” LaPenta.
Unfortunately for Post 2, they made the mistakes. Now they have time off before they step on to the field at Muzzy again in the Northeast Regional.
