The Bristol Knights twilight baseball team control our own destiny heading into the Connecticut Twilight League playoffs. The team currently has a record of 18 wins and 4 losses. One more win and we lock down first place in the Central Division, a bye in the playoffs, and homefield advantage throughout them. Now, with only 4 regular season games remaining, the Knights are starting to get ready for a deep playoff push and are shooting for our third league championship in as many years. After putting together a 14 game win streak from mid-May until the beginning of July. The Knights currently hold a 4 game lead in their division. Elmer’s Silver Bullets and the Chicago Sam’s Orioles are both currently trailing the Knights by 4 games in the standings.  In the Eastern Division, the teams are in a much closer battle for first with the Willimantic Ridges (11W-9L-1T) continue holding on to a 1.5 game lead over the the Moodus Nationals and 2.5 games ahead of the Glastonbury Pirates.

Individually, some players are having standout seasons. The Bristol Knights are being led at the plate by 14 year veteran catcher and first baseman Ed Dickman. His .415BA with 13 RBI, 8 Runs, and 1 HR have been a key contributer in much of the teams success.  Fourth year outfielder Julio Ortiz-Rivera is also having a great year batting .345 with 8 stolen bases, 7 RBI, and 5 Runs Scored. Marco Ross is also had a solid season at the plate while carrying a .345BA. The Knights pitching as a team has been fantastic. Pitching and the defense are the biggest reason this team has as much success these past 3 years. The team currently has a 1.24 ERA, with only 26 Earned runs and 129 strikeouts in 146 1/3 innings pitched. Individually the team has been led in 2016 by lefty Chris McGrath and sidearm righty Marco Ross. McGrath is 5-1 on the season, while pitching 35 1/3 innings with a 0.59 ERA, and striking out 34. Ross (4-1) has been extremely effective on the mound this year too, with his tiny 0.25 era, and 25 strikeouts, and only 1 run allowed. Bristol’s defense has been fantastic as well, anchored in the infield by 5 year veteran Rick Barrett at shortstop and third, Eddie Dickman behind the plate, and the trio of Kyle Lentini, Julio Ortiz-Rivera, and Steve Clout in the outfield.

Recently on Wednesday July 13th, the Knights hosted their final Muzzy Field games for the year. The team proceeded to drop 9 runs on both opponents, winning game 1 over the Loco Perro Expos 9-2 and defeating the Brickhouse Indians in game 2 by a score of 9-1. Both pitchers only struck out 2 guys in their wins, but each trusted the fantastic Knights defense to make plays which they did.Nick DiTaranto pitched a very effective game one of the DHer, throwing a complete game with only 1 earned run. Ed Dickman led the team going 2 for 4 with 2 RBI, while Rick Barrett went 2 for 3 with a walk and 2 Runs, and Phil Rothkugel went 1 for 2 with a double, walk, and 2 runs. Chris McGrath shut down the Indians in game two, throwing 6 innings with no earned runs. At the plate in game 2, the Knights were led by Rick Barrett (2 for 4, 1 Run, 3 RBI, SB), Ed Dickman (2 for 2, 2 BB, 1 Run, 2 RBI, 2 SB), and Dan Nunes (1 for 1, double, 2 BB, 2 Runs, 2 SB).

The Bristol Knights look to close out the last 4 games remaining in the regular in the next few weeks. Tomorrow (Friday 7/22) the Bristol Knights host the Chicago Sam’s Orioles at 6pm at Bristol Eastern and then travel to their place in Portland this Monday 7/25.  The Knights then close out the regular season facing the Willimantic Ridges at Rotary Field in South Windsor at 7pm on FRI 7/29 and at Elmer’s the following Tuesday 8/2 (still to be 100% confirmed). The Knights hope to lock in the top seed entering the playoffs in August and secure the first round bye. Then starting the week of 8/8, the CTL Playoffs begin and the team makes our push for 3 championships in a row in the Connecticut Twilight League, and the 5th league championship overall in the 14 year team history has.