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.