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Three teams advance to Tri-State League semifinals; Burlington upset

It was a great weekend for Bethlehem shortstop Nate Cormier. He was 6-for-10 with five RBI, a double and a home run in two games as the defending Tri-State League champion Plowboys swept their first round series with the Connecticut Sliders on Sunday at Municipal Stadium.

On Sunday, Cormier was 2-for-5 with two RBI as Bethlehem completed a two-game sweep with an 11-0 win over the Sliders. Bethlehem won 10-2 on Saturday.

The Plowboys (16-6) advance to the league semifinals where they will face No. 3 seed Wolcott (16-6) beginning on Friday in another best-of-3 series.

Three Bethlehem pitchers combined to allow just two hits and striking out 11. Starting pitcher Sawyer Gravel pitched 5 2/3 innings to secure the win, striking out eight and allowing one hit.

Jesse Swartout was 3-for-4 with two runs scored for the Plowboys while Jarrett Michaels was 2-for-5 with a RBI. Jesse Swartout was 3-for-4 with two runs scored while Ryan Ponte drove in two runs.

Slider pitchers combined to walk 11 batters.

Bethlehem 11, CT Sliders 0
At Waterbury
(Municipal)
Bethlehem (16-6)          010  405  01  — 11-15-1
CT Sliders (8-15)           000  000  00  — 0-2-0
Sawyer Gravel, Matt Sibilia (6), Blaise Russo (8) and Chase Belisle; R Glover, Rizzuto (5), Dicrosta (6), Glover (8) and Jordan Giamba; WP: Gravel; LP: Glover; 2B: Ryan Ponte (B); Of note: Gravel (B) 5.2 IP, 1 hit allowed, 8 strikeouts, 3 walks; Bethlehem pitchers combined to strike out 11; Jesse Swartout (B) 3-4, 2 runs scored; Jarrett Michaels (B) 2-5, 2 runs scored, RBI, Nate Cormier (B) 2-5, 1 run scored, 2 RBI; Ryan Ponte (B) 1-3, 1 run scored, 2 RBI; Sliders pitchers combined to walk 11 batters

Candlewood 7, Winsted 2
WINSTED, Aug. 2, 2026 – Pitcher Connor Corcoran allowed one hit and struck out 12 in 7 1/3 innings of work to lead the Kraken to a 7-2 victory at Walker Field on Sunday and a 2-0 sweep of the best-of-3 series. Catcher Nick Lobuono was 3-for-5 with a double and two RBI for Candlewood (15-6) while teammate Spencer Barrett had two doubles and drove in a run.

Candlewood 7, Winsted 2
At Winsted

Candlewood (15-6)       011  000  014  — 7-12-1
Winsted (12-10)            000  000  002  — 2-3-1
Connor Corcoran, Aidan Hefele (8), Luke Pliego (9) and Nick Lobuono; J Torres, Peter Greenwood (9) and Warne; WP: Corcoran; LP: Torres; 2B: Spencer Barrett (C) 2, Nick Lobuono (C), Peter Coniglio (C); 3B: John Lippincott (W); Of note: Corcoran 7.1 IP, 1 hit allowed, 12 strikeouts, 3 walks. Three Kraken pitchers combined to strike out 13; Lobuono (C) 3-5, double, 2 RBI, Barnett (C) 2-5, 2 doubles, RBI

Wolcott 7, Tri-Town 5
LITCHFIELD, Aug. 2, 2026 – Carson Lentini was 2-for-5 with a double and two runs scored as the Wolcott Scrappers beat Tri-Town, 7-5 on Sunday at Community Field to win their best of-3 series, 2-0. Nick Sconziano was 2-for-4 for the Scrappers (16-6) while Bill Bianchi was 1-for-4 with three RBI. Tri-Town finished 13-10.

Wolcott 7, Tri-Town 5
At Litchfield

Wolcott (16-6)            005  010  001  — 7-12-3
Tri-Town (13-10)       300  001  010  — 5-8-0
Joe Ferrucci, AJ Martinez (7) and Luke Colfer; Dan Livingston and Joey Grantmeyer; WP: Ferrucci; LP: Livingston; Save: Martinez; 2B: Colby Bunnell (T), Jon McNeils (T), Carson Lentini (W); Of note: Bill Bianchi (W) 1-4, 3 RBI, Nick Sconziano (W) 2-4, Lentini (W) 2-5, 2 runs scored, double; Ferrucci (W) 6.0 IP, 8 hits allowed, 7 strikeouts, 4 walks; Livingston (T) 2 strikeouts, 4 walks

Waterbury 4, Burlington 3
WATERURY, Aug. 2, 2026 – The Mountain Boys forced a decisive game three in their best-of-3 first round series with No. 1 seed Burlington thanks to a 4-3 decision at Municipal Stadium on Sunday. Game 3 will be Monday night at 7 p.m. at Fuessenich Park in Torrington. The winner will face No. 4 Candlewood Kraken in the semifinals. Burlington is 19-3 while Waterbury is 12-11.

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Gerry deSimas, Jr., is the editor and founder of The Collinsville Press. He is an award-winning writer and has been covering sports in Connecticut and New England for more than 40 years. He was inducted into the Connecticut Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2025 and the New England High School Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2018.

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