BRISTOL — One side walked away elated while the other was left deflated after Riverside earned a dramatic 3-2 victory over host Bristol Tuesday night, July 11, in the winners bracket final of the District 2 Major Baseball 11-12 Division All-Star Tournament at the Vets Park Complex.

After overcoming a one-run deficit twice, Riverside was finally able to break through with a walk-off fly ball that was dropped after Bristol’s shortstop and left fielder collided, allowing the winning run to score.

“They are just a tough bunch of kids. Every kid is important,” Riverside manager Vin Enright said. “The four coaches and 13 players makes us 17 strong. If we stick together as a family, that is win good things happen.”

Riverside was resilient right from the beginning as starting pitcher CJ Hess was up to bat when he was drilled with a pitch to the face. After minutes of being attended to, Hess was able to walk off under his own power while holding an ice pack under his left eye.

“You are never going to find a kid as tough as CJ,” Enright said. “He is a tough kid that plays football and an unbelievable pitcher and hitter.”

Just minutes later, he took the mound and continued pitching as he finished up 4.2 innings while allowing just one earned run. Then, in the bottom of the fifth, with Riverside down 2-1, Hess added to the storybook tale by hitting a home run to tie the game at 2-2.

Riding the high, Riverside was able to turn a double play that ended Bristol’s hopes in the top of the sixth which resulted in an eruption from the large section of prideful city fans.

In the bottom of the sixth, after Matt McDuff reached base, a high fly ball resulted in the collision and the win for Riverside.

“These kids hit home runs in practice like it is going out of style and we got a lot of power hitters,” Enright said. “But you know what, you don’t have to hit it over the fence ever time. You just have to make contact and force the other team to make a play.”

The win allows Riverside to advance to the District 2 finals on Sunday, July 16, likely at the Forbes Street Complex at 5:45 p.m. The locals will face the winner of the Barrington-Bristol losers’ bracket final contest.

Tuesday’s win was the closest for Riverside in the event since edging Barrington in a similarly dramatic game to open the event, 10-9. In between, Riverside bested cross-city foe Rumford, 13-1, and Portsmouth, 14-0. The locals are now one win away from reaching the state tournament.

“Whoever comes out of the loser’s bracket has to beat us twice and my money is on our team,” Enright said.

Bristol ultimately would have it hopes ended by the collision in left field in the bottom of the sixth. Despite playing in Bristol, Little League determines the home team on the scoreboard by a pre-game coin flip.

“There was a little lack of communication there, that was an easy out,” Bristol’s manager Scott Perry said. “We were a little tense at the end. We knew this was going to be a tough game.”

Bristol started off the evening on a high note with a home run in the very first inning by Matt Parella to put Riverside in an early 1-0 hole. However, Riverside would answer right back in the next half inning to tie the game at 1-1.

After two scoreless innings, Bristol would strike again as Ray Boyd would eventually come around to score on an arrant throw to give themselves a lead yet again with the score set at 2-1. However, Riverside would answer right back again with a solo shot in the fifth to tie the game at 2-2 .

With the tensions rising, Bristol failed to bring around a baserunner in the top of the sixth as they hit into a double play. Riverside would continue to build off this momentum until Bristol had earned two outs in the bottom of the sixth, just one out away from forcing extra innings.

Riverside's next batter proceeded to hit a high fly ball that hung in the air for several second before it fell right in the glove of Bristol’s shortstop until he collided with the left fielder which dislodged the ball. The errors allowed a baserunner to come around and score as Riverside celebrated a 3-2 win.

Bristol needed to turn its attention quickly to the losers bracket finals which was scheduled to be played the following evening, July 12, against Barrington. The survivor moves to the district final opposite Riverside beginning Sunday night, July 16. Either Bristol or Barrington would have to beat Riverside twice to win the District 2 title and advance to the state tournament later next week.

“It is all about short memories,” Perry said. “Forget about today and worry about tomorrow. Today is already in the past for us.”