Groton – How fitting, really, that the man who has never made this program about himself – even now 1,000 wins later – watched Friday as his foray with history walked in lockstep precision with his ace left-hander's compilation of zeroes. Of course. This is UConn-Avery Point baseball. Of the players, for the players, by the players.

And so it was the hour of twilight at Washington Park when a fly ball made its way to Avery Point right fielder Nick Perrelli. In its flight, Roger Bidwell's life froze momentarily. Imagine trying to tie the loose ends of a lifetime in a few, fleeting thoughts. Like this one: His 1,000th win was about to happen on the day Doug Domnarski of Pawcatuck would pitch a no-hitter, all while giving the Pointers a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three New England Division II junior college championship series.

Perrelli squeezed it.

Celebration on.

Avery Point 4, Community College of Rhode Island 0.

No-no for Domnarski.

One-thousand for Bidwell.

One win away from the regionals and New England title No. 13 in Bidwell's esteemed career.

"It's an honor to play for him. He's a legend around here," Domnarski was saying later after the water-bucket treatment from his teammates. "He's a great guy on and off the field. Very relaxed. He likes to have fun during practice sometimes. All-around great guy."

Domnarski struck out seven and walked one. He was nearly perfect.

"I've got to tell you that I'll enjoy it a lot more if we win this (tournament). I'd trade (1,000 wins) for these guys. I really like this group," Bidwell said, now 34 years in at Avery Point with a 1,000-385-7 record.

"They deserve to win. This is not about me. It's nice to get it so I don't have to think about it anymore. I don't care what people say. You think about it. You don't want to think about it. You want to think about winning the playoffs. It's nice to get it over with. But the way it happened was unbelievable. The way he threw. What a story."

The Pointers (30-10) are a win away from advancing to the Northeast Regional title series, which would be played at Washington Park next weekend. They'll play CCRI in game two today at 1.

Jordan Kowalski, who shares a Ledyard High heritage with his coach, hit a sacrifice fly that scored St. Bernard graduate Izzy Davila that gave Avery Point a 2-0 lead in the fourth. Kyle Hart's RBI double highlighted a two-run seventh that was more than enough for Domnarski.

Domnarski's lone bout with mortality came in the sixth when CCRI's Dan Autiello ripped a comebacker off Domnarski's left leg. Domnarski, like a hockey goalie, made a kick save. And then retrieved the ball and nipped Autiello at first.

"I'll feel that one (today)," Domnarski said.

Bidwell, meanwhile, posed for pictures and even had a banner made in honor of the accomplishment. He was equal parts teary and irreverent after the game. After the kids sprayed him with champagne, he said, "don't waste it all ... I might want to drink that."

"You think about a lot of things," Bidwell said. "Like (former assistant coach) Bob Demars. When he started with me, he had chewing tobacco all over his uniform. He punched a dugout wall and broke his wrist when a kid hung a curveball. You think about all you go through to get here. It all kind of hits you at once."

m.dimauro@theday.com

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