Bryant goes the distance as Crushers pull away from CT Sliders, 8-3

WATERBURY, June 11, 2026 – Pitcher Jake Bryant threw a complete game and struck out eight to lead the Canton Crushers to an 8-3 win over Connecticut Sliders on Thursday night in Tri-State League action at Bucks Hill Park.

Bryant scatted five hits as the Crushers (4-3) won their second straight game in three days. Canton outlasted Wolcott, 2-1 on Tuesday night as Angel Christiano scattered six hits over six innings and Bryant pitched a scoreless seventh inning to pick up his second save of the season.

Against the CT Sliders, Canton took a 3-0 lead in the fifth inning. With two outs, Jack Rose walked and moved to third base on Steve Dubois’ single to right field. Christiano’s RBI single past the shortstop drove in a run and enabled Dubois to advance to second base. Dubois scored on an error for a 3-0 lead.

The Sliders cut the lead to one with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, 3-2.

But Canton put the game away in the seventh inning with five runs.

Ben Sullivan led off with a single and Jack Rose walked. Dubois reached on a throwing error that allowed Sullivan and Rose to score. A single from Christiano drove in a run for a 6-2 lead. Later in the inning, shortstop Jackson Senegal had a two-run single to center field for an 8-2 lead.

Sullivan, Christiano and Dubois each went 2-for-4. Sullivan and Dubois each scored two runs. Jack Rose went 2-for-2 with two runs scored and one RBI.

Canton’s 13 hits were the second-highest number of hits in a single game this season. The Crushers had 16 hits in a 14-8 season-opening win over Naugatuck on May 17.

The Crushers travel to Naugatuck on Sunday to face the White Sox at Delbabbo Field at 6 p.m. Canton returns to Bowdoin Field to host the Valley Ducks on Tuesday, June 16 at 5:45 p.m.

Canton 8, CT Sliders 3
At Waterbury
Canton (4-3)                100  020  5  — 8-13-1
CT Sliders (3-4)          000  020  1  — 3-5-3
Jake Bryant and Danny Petro; Ian Glover, Marino (6), Dabratz (7) and Rodriguez; WP: Bryant (1-0); LP: Glover; 2B: Marino (S), Ben Sullivan (C); Of note: Bryant (C) 7 IP, 5 hits allowed, 2 walks, 8 strikeouts; Ben Sullivan, Jack Rose, Steve Dubois, Angel Christiano each had 2 hits for Canton. Jackson Senegal and Christiano drove in 2 runs

Tri-State League standings: Burlington 6-1, Candlewood 5-1, Amenia NY 6-2, Wolcott 5-3, Canton 4-3, Tri-Town 4-4, Bethlehem 4-4, Winsted 4-5, CT Sliders 3-4, Waterbury 2-3, Valley Ducks 2-3, Torrington 1-7, Naugatuck 1-7