Plowboys stay alive with game two victory; Burlington advances to final

Bethlehem shortstop Nate Cormier was 3-for-4 with three RBI and a triple in Sunday’s win over Wolcott in the Tri-State League semfinals.

WOLCOTT, August 9, 2026 – Tied at 2-2 after seven innings, the defending league champion Bethlehem Plowboys scored four runs on three hits in the top of the eighth inning to beat the Wolcott Scrappers, 6-2 on Sunday and force decisive game 3 in their Tri-State League semifinal series.

The two teams will meet Monday night at 7 p.m. at Municipal Stadium in Waterbury for the right to advance to the Tri-State League championship series, which begins Friday.

Burlington (21-3) advanced to the finals with a forfeit win over the Candlewood Kraken on Sunday to sweep their best-of-3 series. The Hunters beat the Kraken in game one on Saturday, 9-0.

According to league president Ed Gadomski, Candlewood couldn’t get enough players to field a team on Sunday allowing Burlington to advance to the final for the first time in team history.

Bethlehem rallied to keep their season alive in the top of the eighth inning.

Matt Palumbo led off the inning with a double to left field. After Chase Belisle drew a walk, Bethlehem’s Kyle Daddona had a hard RBI single to center field to drive in Palumbo and give the Plowboys a 3-2 lead.

Sam Williams came in to pinch run for Daddona and after a strikeout, Williams stole second base, putting runners and second and third base.

Bethlehem ‘s Joe Rupe grounded to Wolcott shortstop Alex James who threw home to try and get Belisle trying to score a run. But Belisle was safe for a 4-2 lead.

The Plowboys’ Jon Wilson grounded out to second base and this time, Wolcott second baseman Nick Sconziano threw out Williams at home, who was trying to score from third base.

Bethlehem’s Nate Cormier followed with a two-out, two-RBI triple to extend the lead to 6-2.

Bethlehem starting pitcher Sawyer Gravel pitched six innings for the Plowboys, allowing just two hits and striking out 10. Gravel and reliever TJ Angiolini combined to allow just three hits and striking out 12.

Cormier led the charge for the Plowboys, going 3-for-4 with three RBI and a triple. Ryan Ponte was 2-for-4 with Isaiah Johnson, Kyle Daddona and Joe Rupe each driving in runs for the Plowboys.

Wolcott took a 2-1 lead in the sixth inning. With two outs, Sconziano walked and Carson Lentini singled with Sconziano advancing to third base. Martinez reached on an error and two runs scored for the Scrappers.

Bethlehem tied the game at 2-2 in the seventh on a two-out single from Cormier to center field that drove in Jarrett Michaels in from third base.

Bethlehem is looking to return to the Tri-State finals for the fifth straight year while Wolcott is seeking their first trip since 2014.

Bethlehem 6, Wolcott 2
At Wolcott
Bethlehem (17-7)        100  000  140  — 6-10-3
Wolcott (17-7)              000  002  000  — 2-3-1
Sawyer Gravel, TJ Angiolini (7) and Matt Palumbo; Aiden Bisallion, Alec Ash (7), Dillion Fernandes (9) and John Dunne; WP: Angiolini; LP: Ash; 2B: Matt Palumbo (B); 3B: Nate Cormier (B); Of note: Bisallion (W) 6 IP, 4 hits allowed, 7 strikeouts, 5 walks; Gravel (B) 6.0 IP, 2 hits allowed, 10 strikeouts, 3 walks; Nate Cormier (B) 3-4, 3 RBI, triple; Ryan Ponte (B) 2-4