Simsbury rallies in eighth inning, beats Tri-County to advance in state tournament
SIMSBURY, July 23, 2026 – John Mascaro’s two-out, bases loaded single to right field lifted Simsbury to a 6-5 win in eight innings over Tri-County Thursday night at Memorial Field in the American Legion 19U baseball state tournament.
The victory allowed Simsbury (16-7) to advances to the eight-team double-elimination round of the state tournament. Simsbury was one of two teams from Group D to advance.
Tri-Country (14-12) erased a three-run Simsbury lead and tied the game with two outs in the top of the seventh innings.
Tied at 5-5, Simsbury’s Noah Kraft walked with one out in the bottom of the eighth inning. Will Vincent (2-for-3, RBI) was intentionally walked. Simsbury’s Tim Beaulieu reached on an error to load the bases. After a strikeout, Mascaro came to the plate with two outs and delivered the game-winning hit.
Three Simsbury pitchers gave up just one hit in the game – a first-inning single to Dan Chomick. Mascaro pitched four innings and struck out five while walking four. Vincent pitched two innings and struck out two with two walks while Jack Hallam pitched two innings, struck out two and walked two.
Wyatt Bernabucci was 2-for-4 with two RBI for Simsbury while Gabe Mainardi, Mascaro and Hallam each had singles.
Simsbury scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning to take the lead. Vincent led off with a single to right field and Beaulieu walked. Vincent moved to third base on a passed ball and scored on Gabe Mainardi’s single to left field to tie the game at 1-1.
Mascaro reached on an error and Beaulieu scored from third base for a 2-1 lead. With two outs and men at second and third base, Bernabucci hit a two-run single past first base for a 4-1 lead.
Tri-County loaded the bases in the sixth inning thanks to two walks and an error. A Tri-County runner trying to steal home was thrown out but two runs scored on another error to cut the Simsbury lead to 4-3. Tri-County tied the game on a fielder’s choice ball.
Simsbury took a 5-4 lead in the sixth on two-out, bases-loaded single to left field from Vincent but Tri-County tied the game in the seventh at 5-5 on a passed ball.
Simsbury 6, Tri-County 5
At Simsbury
Tri-County 100 003 10 — 5-1-4
Simsbury 400 001 01 — 6-7-3
Caleb Wagner, August Riccio (2), Colton Chrin (8) and Beckett Asklar; John Mascaro, Will Vincent (5), Jack Hallam (7) and Tim Seidel; WP: Hallum (1-0); LP: Chrin; Of note: Three Simsbury pitchers gave up just one hit, struck out nine and walked eight, All five Tri-County runs were unearned.
Group D
Monday, July 20
Game 1: Norwich at RCP 11, Norwich 2
Game 2: Tri-County 10, Simsbury 7
Wednesday, July 22
Simsbury 11, Norwich 1, Norwich eliminated
RCP 11, Tri-County 1, RCP advances to next round
Thursday, July 23
Game 5: Simsbury 6, Tri-County 5 (8)
Winner of game 4 and winner game 5 advance to state regional on July 25-30 at Rotary Field (South Windsor) and Palmer Field (Middletown)