Simsbury grabs early lead over West Hartford to secure another D6 title

Simsbury’s Major Division All-Star team celebrates after winning the District 6 baseball championship on Sunday in Plymouth with a 5-3 win over West Hartford. More game photos

SIMSBURY, July 12, 2026 – A majority of baseball players on the Simsbury Major Division All-Star have been playing together for three years.

Two years ago, they played in the state 10-and-under tournament and were among the final four teams in the state. A year ago, they advanced to the state championship game in the 11-and-under tournament before falling to Stamford American in seven innings.

In those tournaments, Simsbury went 6-2 in eight elimination games.

Things haven’t changed much in 12 months. Last week, Simsbury dropped a one-run decision to West Hartford in the District 6 Major Division baseball team tournament, a double-elimination affair.

No problem.

Simsbury won three straight games including a pair of decisions over West Hartford (5-3) to win the D6 Major Division title and advance to the state tournament. After beating West Hartford, 2-1 on Saturday night, Simsbury ripped 10 hits to beat West Hartford, 5-3 on Sunday at Janser Field in Plymouth.

Another three elimination game victories for Simsbury (8-1) and another berth in a state championship tournament.

“It seems we always drop one early and we seem to play our best when our backs are against the ball,” Simsbury manager Mike Germano said. “They are very resilient and they like to give one away early and play with all of that pressure, I guess. Playing with our backs against the wall seems to work for us.”

On Saturday night, defense and pitching helped Simsbury force a winner-take-all contest for the District 6 title. On Sunday, Simsbury got some offensive help with 10 hits and five extra-base hits.

Simsbury catcher Gavin Dery prepares to catch the ball as West Hartford’s Thomas Shaffer comes to the plate. Shafffer was safe on the play due to catcher’s interference on Dery for blocking the plate. More game photos

Simsbury reliever Brandon Hodgson picked up a save with 3 1/3 innings of work. He didn’t allow a run or hit over the final three innings.

“We swung the balls a little bit better today especially the first time through the order. We got the barrel on the ball,” Germano said. “The approach at the plate was much better and I’m proud of the offense today.”

Third baseman Ripley Russell was 3-for-3 with a double, triple and two RBI for Simsbury while Hodgson was 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles. Simsbury’s Caleb Weinberg was 2-for-3 with a RBI and a double.

West Hartford (5-3) was playing in District 6 for the first time since the off-season consolidation of the state’s 12 Little League districts into 10 districts. West Hartford was looking for their first state tournament berth since 2024.

But Simsbury got the early jump and never looked back. With two outs in the first inning, Weinberg reached on an error and scored on Russell’s triple.

West Hartford got one back in the first inning when Graham Caines was hit by a pitch and scored on Spencer Kan’s two-out double down the right field line, tying the game at 1-1.

In the second inning, Simsbury’s Greyson Myers walked with two outs, moved to second on a single from Daniel Cerreta and to third bases on a single from Landon Medic. He scored on a bases-loaded walk for a 2-1 lead.

Simsbury extended their lead to 5-1 in the third inning. Hodgson led off with a double and scored on Weinberg’s one-out double. Weinberg scored on a second double from Russell. After moving to third on a wild pitch, Russell scored on Augie Thompson’s RBI single for a 5-1 lead.

West Hartford scored twice in the third inning to cut the lead to 5-3. One run came on a catcher’s interference call on a play at the plate and second came on Caines’ two-out RBI single that drove in Caleb Myers. James Martin tried to score from second base but Weinberg, Simsbury’s left fielder, threw out Martin at home to end the inning.

Simsbury won their third straight D6 Major Division championship and their sixth in the last seven years. Simsbury will play the District 4 champion in the five-team Section I tournament that begins next Saturday.

Simsbury 5, West Hartford 3
At Plymouth
Simsbury (8-1)              113  000  — 5-10-0
West Hartford (5-3)    102  000  — 3-4-2
Greyson Myers, Brandon Hodgson (3) and Gavin Dery; Spencer Kan, Kai Edgar (2) and Thomas Shaffer; WP: Myers (3-1); LP: Kan; Save: Hodgson (1); 2B: Hodgson (S), Caleb Weinberg (S), Ripley Russell (S), Spencer Kan (WH); 3B: Russell; Of note: Russell (S) 3-3, 2 RBI, double, triple; Weiberg (S) 2-3, 1 RBI, double; Hodgson (S) 2-3, 2 doubles; Edgar (WH) 7 strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings of relief

2026 District 6 Major Division tournament
Round robin standings: Avon 4-0, Simsbury 4-0, West Hartford 3-1, Burlington 3-1, Tri-Town 1-3, Canton 1-3, Thomaston 1-3, East Granby/Granby 0-4

Double-elimination portion
Wednesday, July 8
West Hartford 4, Avon 2
Simsbury 8, Burlington 2
Thursday, July 9
West Hartford 3, Simsbury 2
Burlington 12, Avon 11, Avon eliminated
Friday, July 10
Simsbury 10, Burlington 3, Burlington eliminated
Saturday, July 11
Simsbury 2, West Hartford 1
Sunday, July 12
Championship: Simsbury 5, West Hartford 3

Recent District 6 championship games

2025: Simsbury 11, East Granby/Granby 0 (4)
2024: Simsbury 5, Avon 4
2023: Simsbury 2, East Granby/Granby 0
2022: Burlington/Harwinton 2, Simsbury 1
2021: Simsbury 3, East Granby/Granby 2
2020: Simsbury 8, Tri-Town 2
2019: Simsbury 7, Burlington 1
2018: Avon 10, Simsbury 4
2017: Canton 7, Burlington 0
2016: Avon 12, Simsbury 2
2015: Avon 14, Burlington 2 (4)
2014: Simsbury 10, Burlington 1
2013: Burlington 8, Avon 6
2012: Avon 16, Burlington 4
2011: Avon 11, Torrington Americans 7
2010: Simsbury Americans 9, Avon 7
2009: Avon 12, Simsbury American 2
2008: Burlington 7, Avon 5
2007: Avon 8, Thomaston 0
2006: Simsbury National 4, Avon 3
2005: Avon 15, Simsbury National 5 (4)
2004: Avon 8, Simsbury American 2
2003: Simsbury American 12, Simsbury National 2 (5)
2002: Simsbury American 1, Avon 0
2001: Burlington 8, Torrington National 4
2000: Terryville 6, Torrington National 1
1999: Tri-Town 7, Granby 6
1998: Simsbury National 7, Tri-Town 6
1997: Simsbury American 8, Terryville 3
1996: Torrington American 10, Simsbury National 0
1995: Simsbury 10-9, Terryville 4-6 (best of 3 final)