The Bristol Knights opened their playoffs last Monday (8/5) as the 6th seed in the Connecticut Twilight League playoffs, defeating a tough East Hampton based team… the Fat Orange Cat Brewers. The Brewers are a merger of two East Hampton area teams from the last few years, the East Hampton Royals and the Loco Perro Expos. After merging together this year, and getting their local brewery to sponsor the team,  the Brewers ended the season with the 3rd overall seed and a first round matchup with the Bristol Knights. In a back and forth game, the Knights eeked out a victory behind the pitching of longtime Knight veteran lefty, Chris McGrath at Riverfront Park in Glastonbury. Of the 4 runs allowed, only 1 was earned in a tough defensive game on both sides. The offense was led by some strong hitting for Bristol. Georgie Santiago, Kyle Pileski, Earl Oakes, and Rex Cone had 2 hits each.

From there, the Knights face the Barile Realty Indians in the second round of the playoffs on Thursday evening in the winners bracket. The Knights were able to find a way to win in a 3 1/2 hour lightning delayed, damp, and extra inning affair. The Knights got 5 1/3 gutsy innings on the mound from Bristol Knights veteran Rex Cone (who was pitching on a hurt leg after straining a leg muscle early in the game). From their Rob Bibisi came in to get out of a huge jam with the bases loaded and only allow one additional run. Rob pitched 1 2/3 innings before giving way to Knights veteran pitcher, Earl Oakes to close out the 7th. Unfortunately a passed ball got in a runner from third to tie the game with 2 outs, and the teams were off to extra innings. Earl held the Indians at their 5 runs, and the Knights were able to score the go ahead run in the ninth when Indians Ace, Mike Lord, also bounced a breaking ball and scoring a run from third. Earl closed out the bottom of the 9th but not before getting a scare when Dionys Quezada of the Indians hit a rocket off the top of the wall for a double, less than a foot from leaving the yard. The Knights got the huge win knocking the CTL defending champions to the elimination bracket. Mike Lord, who only a month ago had jumped on with the New Britian Bees to bolster a hurting bullpen, threw a solid game and went the distance in the 9 inning loss. The Knights offense Steve Clout who had a huge RBI double and Kyle Pileski who collected 4 walks.

Tonight the playoffs continue for the Knights starting at 6pm, right here in Bristol at Muzzy Field. The Knights always play half their regular season schedule at Muzzy and for the second straight year will get the opportunity to play some playoff games at the hometown stadium. Next up for the Knights is the matchup vs their longtime rival, and #4 seed Elmer’s Angels. If the Knights win this game, they will be playing for a championship in a best of 3 seris starting Wednesday night. Elmer’s has powered through the playoffs so far beating both teams they faced by double digits, while pitching on again, off again New Britain Bees pitcher, Chris De Leon. De Leon has both victories so far in the playoffs for Elmer’s and may get the ball again tonight. Tonight the Knights could throw any of 5 guys (McGrath, Oakes, Bibisi, Cone, or Barrett), and have to figure out how to spread out the pitching to continue their run through the bracket towards another championship.

The CTL plays at Muzzy Field all week. All games are FREE and open to the public. Now that the Blues season is over, there is still baseball to be had here in Bristol. The Knights hope to keep their winning going, and would like to win their 5th league championship, and for the first time on their home field. It will be a tough road. Four teams remain. The Knights and Elmer’s each without a loss, and the Brewers and Indians each with one loss who are meeting in the second game Monday night. The Loser of the Knights/Elmer’s game faces the winner of the Indians/Brewers, and the winner is the second team in the championship.

In addition, 7pm this coming Sunday, August 18th, the Connecticut Twilight League (CTL) hosts their annual All-Star Game vs the Greater Hartford Twilight Baseball League (GHTBL). Last year’s exciting All-Star game was a back and forth game that ended with a 7 to 7 tie after 10 innings. The final two innings featured the Bristol Knights Chris McGrath closing the door and keeping the game a tie for the CTL. This year’s matchup should be exciting. The All-Star game is also FREE and open to the public.