For the first time since 2021, the season has come to an end for the Bethlehem Plowboys before the Tri-State League’s championship series.
The Plowboys had played in the last four championship series – all against the Tri-Town Trojans. Bethlehem won it all a year ago for the first time since 2010.
This year, the Wolcott Scrappers will be playing in the Tri-State League championship series for the first time since 2014 after scoring seven unanswered runs to win game 3 of their semifinal series on Monday night at Municipal Stadium in Waterbury, 9-3.
Wolcott (18-7) will face Burlington (21-3), making their first-ever championship appearance, in the best-of-3 finals that begin on Friday night at Fuessenich Park in Torrington at 7 p.m.
Wolcott erased an early 2-0 lead Bethlehem lead with four runs in the second inning, two in the fifth inning and one in the seventh inning to take a commanding 7-2 lead.
Scrapper starting pitcher Joe Ferrucci went eight innings, scattered seven hits, struck out four and walked just one. Four Plowboy hurlers combined to strike out 14 batters but they walked eight and the Bethlehem defense gave up four unearned runs.
Bethlehem (17-8) took an early 2-0 but Wolcott responded quickly in the top of the second inning. The Scrappers scored one run on an error and added a second run on Joe Dunne’s infield ground ball out. Joe Sconziano’s single past second base drove in another run and Nate Sconziano’s RBI single pushed a fourth run across the plate.
In the fifth inning Joe Sconziano reached with a leadoff walk for Wolcott and stole second base. With one out, Chase Lentini’s RBI double to center field allowed Joe Sconziano to score for a 5-2 lead.
Lentini stole third base and scored on an infield ground ball our – a fielder’s choice play – to boost the lead to 6-2.AJ Martinez’s RBI single in the seventh boosted the lead to 7-2.
Martinez was 2-5 with four RBI for Wolcott while Lentini was 2-for-3 with one RBI.
Nate Cormier led Bethlehem by going 2-for-4. Ryan Ponte and Jarrett Michaels each had singles and RBI for the Plowboys, who have played in 16 Tri-State championship finals since 1968. Winsted holds the record for the most finals appearances with 19 with its most recent title appearance in 2008.
Wolcott 9, Bethlehem 3
At Waterbury
Wolcott (18-7) 040 020 102 — 9-7-1
Bethlehem (17-8) 200 000 100 — 3-7-2
Joe Ferrucci, Ethan Stepputtis (9) and Joe Dunne, Luke Colfer (9); Blaise Russo, TJ Agiolini (4), K Daigle (5), Nate Cormier (8) and Jesse Swartout; WP: Ferrucci; LP: Russo; 2B: Matt Palumbo (T), Ryan Ponte (T); AJ Martinez (W), Carson Lentini (W); Notable: Ferrucci scattered 7 hits in 8 IP, striking out four and walking one; Bethlehem pitchers struck out 14 and walked 8; Wolcott returns to the finals for first time since 2014.
2026 Tri-State League championship series
Friday, Aug. 14
Game 1: Burlington vs. Wolcott, 7 p.m. at Fuessenich Park
Saturday, Aug. 15
Game 2: Burlington vs. Wolcott, 2 p.m. at Municipal Stadium
Saturday, Aug. 15
Game 3: Burlington vs. Wolcott, 2 p.m. at Municipal Stadium, if necessary
