The 2014 Bristol Knights Twilight Baseball season has had its ups and downs. The season began in mid-May with a 1-6 record, losing a handful of very close games. Although pitching was solid, hitting and defense were inconsistent. After a poor start, the team’s play has improved. With one week remaining in the regular season, the Knights have battled back winning 10 of the last 16 games, bringing their record to 11-12. The last 3 games of the season are critical to determine  seeding in the playoffs. All Manchester Twilight League (MTL) teams make the playoffs, however the 4 teams with the worst records (win pct) begin in the elimination bracket; essentially starting with a loss. In the 10 team league, 2 teams are already locked into starting in the elimination bracket; the Chicago Sam’s Orioles and the Loco Perro Expos. Two teams are locked in as the regular season division winners (Eastern and Central Divisions), and earn byes in the winners bracket of the playoffs. The East Hartford Angels lead the Central Division, and the Glastonbury Pirates lead to clinch the Eastern Division. Of the remaining 6 teams, the Bristol Knights are vying to avoid starting the playoffs in the elimination bracket. With such tightly packed standings, in these last few days it will be a battle to win as many games as possible to ensure the best seeding.

 

This Monday 7/28, the Bristol Knights hope to clinch a winners bracket seeding with two wins during their Muzzy Field Double Header vs the Portland Panthers and the Moodus Nationals.

 

In our 12th year, the Knights are lead by team founder and original player, Scott Dickens. Scott has continued to play, while handling all the behind the scenes tasks for the squad. In his second year on the team, Brian LaRochelle, has stepped up to manage and be the voice of reason and wisdom. LaRochelle is a longtime player in local twilight and men’s baseball leagues, as well as the JV coach at 2-time defending Connecticut High School Champion Amity H.S. This year the team returns many of our best veteran players, Ed Dickman (1B,C), Rex Cone (OF,P), Rick Barrett(SS,P), Earl Oakes (P,1B, 3B) Rick Blais (P,OF), Paul Franceschi (C), Shawn Fergusson (SS), Justin Kilker (OF), Phil Dauria (OF, MI), and Drew Gallagher (C). Many of our talented 2nd year players are back this year, Julio Ortiz-Rivera (OF), Luke Palma (P, 1B), Mike Scanlon (2B, 1B), Walter Klimczak (OF, MI), and Sean Cameron (3B, P). We also added a few new faces, with the additions of Sam Leonardo (OF), Sean Lopata (P), Sean Shanley (1B, 2B, C), Josh Kyle (OF, 1B), Nate Corriveau (OF), Sean Allaire (SS), Justin Tokarz (P,OF), and Chris McGrath (P, OF). We are a talented squad, that when playing smart and seeing the ball well at the plate, have a very good chance of making some big waves in the playoffs.

 

Recently the Bristol Knights have battled injuries: #1 starting pitcher, Sean Lopata injured his arm and outfielder Sam Leonardo, sprained his knee. In the field and at the plate, Leonardo was having a career year before his injury, batting around .500 the entire year, while Lopata continually dominated batters. Mid-season additions of Chris McGrath and Justin Tokarz greatly assisted the team during the end of season crunch and to fill in with these injuries, and will be an asset during the playoffs. Veteran Rick Barrett is having his best year, dominating at short stop, while raking at the plate (currently batting .444 with a league leading 28 hits, and an impressive 14 RBI). Rex Cone returned mid-season after knee surgery, and has been a big asset to our batting (currently batting .467) and will strengthen our pitching during the remaining games of the season. Earl Oakes has been dominant in relief on the mound with 3 saves, a 1.40 era and 23 strikeouts. Finally, Rick Blais continues to be a consistent performer with 3 wins on the mound this season.

 

On July 17th, the Bristol Knights had the opportunity to play our rival, Elmer’s Place in a very special MTL game held at Dodd Stadium in Norwich. Dodd Stadium is the longtime home to the AA Norwich Navigators, then Connecticut Defenders, and now A Connecticut Tigers. Our league played a doubleheader in which 4 teams were able to face off on the field. We faced Elmer’s and one of their best pitchers, Justin Swiderski. The Knights opposed him by planning and following through by basically throwing the kitchen sink at them. We used Rick Blais for 2 innings, Justin Tokarz for 3 innings, Rex Cone for 1, and closed out the game with Chris McGrath with one inning. It was an amazing night of baseball. The league had the run of the visitor’s clubhouse and use of the bullpens, and dugouts, while the stadium announced and ran the full scoreboard. The nights jumped on Elmer’s early with 3 runs, while only allowing 1 back in the second, and the game turned into a pitchers duel with some fantastic defense ensuring the 3-1 Knights victory. Sam Leonardo ended the game making a full running over the head catch running back to the wall on a ball hit by Elmer’s Russel LaFleur. It was a special night and one we won’t ever forget.

We got some fantastic pictures of the game, here (photos by Scott Dickens):

http://www.bristolknights.com/photo-galleries/2014-knights/dodd-stadium-vs-elmers/

and also Here are some even better ones by one of our players, Phil Dauria:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/philthy7/sets/72157645353134629/

 

So it all comes down to how well we do tomorrow (7/28), and then in the regular season finale on Friday. Either way, on Monday 8/4 we are on to the MTL Playoffs, be it in the winners bracket (with 2 losses needed before elimination), or the elimination bracket (where 1 loss and the season is over). We have the tools to put together a third championship, but we need to play like the team we have for most of the second half of this season.

 

In an interesting side story to the games at Muzzy Field tomorrow night, the Knights will have some local umpires doing the game. In game 1, Rit Forcier and Ryan Raponey with do the game. The real story is game 2, where for the first time ever, the entire Forcier family of umpires will do the game together. Rit, along with his wife Paula, and their son Ryan will work a 3 umpire game. This is something they have never done on the field at the same time, and don’t often even get to do with 2 of them, so this will be a true treat and something they can cherish forever. Rit, Paula, and Ryan will umpire the Moodus Nationals vs the Knights, starting sometime after 8pm.

 

Upcoming Bristol Knights Schedule.

6pm MON 7/28 Muzzy DHer Gm1 vs Portland Panthers

8pm MON 7/28 Muzzy DHer Gm2 vs Moodus Nationals

6pm FRI 8/1 at Portland HS vs Orioles (makeup game)

Then playoffs from MON 8/4 through FRI 8/15

 

You can follow our team on Twitter with @BristolKnights

or the same on Instagram

http://instagram.com/BristolKnights

Check them out.