The Simsbury American Legion baseball team celebrates after sweeping Bristol to advance to the final four of the Northern Division in the state tournament.
SIMSBURY, July 23 – The Simsbury American Legion baseball team took advantage of their opportunities in Thursday’s American Legion state tournament game at Memorial Field. Bristol did not.
The two-time Zone 1 champions led from start to finish in a 5-3 Northern Division victory to sweep the best-of-3 series and earn a berth in the final four of the Northern Division. Simsbury (23-3) beat Post 2 by an 8-1 margin on Tuesday.
The win lifts Simsbury into the final four of the Northern Division with Zone 7 champion RCP (Rocky Hill/Cromwell/Portland), New London, who finished in a four-way for first place in Zone 4 and Zone 8 champion South Windsor. That double elimination group begins Saturday.
Twice, Bristol had the bases loaded with one out – in the first and third inning. They came away with just one run. Post 2 stranded 10 runners in the contest.
“That was kind of a killer,” Bristol manager Jerry LaPenta, Sr., said. “We couldn’t tie it up. When you give away those type of opportunities, it can come back to haunt you.”
Jake Nichols pitched sold in relief to pick up his second save of the season.
Bristol (19-9) also allowed Simsbury to add on an additional insurance run in the top of the ninth inning thanks to an error and a timely single from Simsbury’s Jake King. “That run at the end of the game was huge,” LaPenta, Sr. said. “With a one run lead, you get a man on base and you put a lot of pressure on the pitcher.”
Simsbury (23-3) made three errors but when it counted, they came up with the defensive stops they needed. “I’m proud of these guys,” Simsbury coach Thomas E. Vincent said. “They battled hard. They continue to rise to the occasion.”
Simsbury hurler Matt Gill improved to 4-1 on the season as he picked up the win. He scattered eight hits and struck out eight Bristol batters in 6 1/3 innings of work.
Post 84 took a 2-0 lead in the first inning on singles from Jake King and Jack Patrina and a Bristol error. Bristol picked up a run in the second on a RBI single from Nicholas Sassu but Simsbury extended the lead to 3-1 in the third inning.
Patrina singled, stole second and moved to third after back-to-back walks to Jack Lavigne and Ryan Gothers. Patrina scored on Amato’s fielder’s choice.
Simsbury increased the lead to 4-2 in the seventh. Brendan Reilly singled with one out and moved to second base on a single from Jack Neodorostek. The bases were loaded when King was awarded first base on a catcher’s interference call. Reilly scored on a RBI ground ball to third base from Patrina.
Bristol cut the lead to one, 4-3 with a run in the eighth inning. But Simsbury put a damper on any potential rally with an additional run in the top of the ninth inning.
Nedorostek drew a two-out walk from reliever Bradley Burney. Nedorostek scampered to third base when Burnery overthrew first base on an attempted pickoff attempt. Nedorostek scored on King’s RBI single to right field.
King and Patrina each had two hits for Simsbury while Mike Amato, Jake Wood, Reilly and Nedorostek each had singles.
NOTES: Simsbury returns to action on Saturday and Chris Enns (5-0) is scheduled to start. … Simsbury advanced to the final four of the Northern Division last year. … The winner of the Northern Division and Southern Division final four will meet in a best-of-3 for the state championship. … Simsbury won its only American Legion state title in 2003. They finished second to Bristol in 2004. … Bristol (19-9, 26-11 overall) was eliminated from the state tournament but they will play again in August. Bristol earns an automatic berth in the Northeast Regional at Muzzy Field since they are the host team.
Simsbury 5, Bristol 3
At Simsbury
Simsbury (23-3) 201 000 101 – 5-8-3
Bristol (26-11) 011 000 010 – 3-10-1
Matt Gill, Jake Nichols (7) and Ryan Gothers; Jerry LaPenta, Bradley Burney (7) and Nicolas Sassu; WP: Gill (4-1); LP: LaPenta; 2B: Burney (B), Sassu (B)
Northern Division finals
At South Windsor (Rotary Field)
Saturday, July 25
Game 1: South Windsor vs. New London, noon
Game 2: Simsbury vs. RCP, 3:30 p.m.
Sunday, July 26
Game 5: Loser game 1 vs. loser game 2, 1 p.m.
Game 6: Winner game 1 vs. winner game 2, 4:30 p.m.
Monday, July 27
Game 9: Winner game 5 vs. loser game 6, 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, July 28
Game 11: Final — Winner game 9 vs. winner game 6, 6 p.m.
Wednesday, July 29
Game 13: Final — Winner game 11 vs. loser game 11, 6 p.m., if necessary
State championship
At Palmer Field, Middletown
Friday, July 31
Game 1: Northern Division champion vs. Southern Division champion, 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, August 1
Game 2: 11 a.m.
Game 3, 2:30 p.m., if necessary
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