Bethlehem to take on Tri-Town in Tri-State World Series

copyright Kevin Roberts Rep-American 8/6/23

The Bethlehem Plowboys are back where they want to be: the Tri-State Baseball League World Series.

Bethlehem will face the Tri-Town Trojans in Game 1 starting Friday at 7 at Fuessenich Park in Torrington, with Games 2 and 3 at Municipal Stadium in Waterbury at noon Saturday and Sunday. The Plowboys lost to the Trojans in last year’s World Series.

Bethlehem added some pieces to last year’s runner-up team. Longtime Plowboy Jon Conlon came back after Blasius Chevrolet folded. Ty Boisvert is Bethlehem’s ace after coming over from the defunct Wolcott Scrappers. Matt Palombo, the catcher on the Nonnewaug High state championship baseball team, was also added. “Greg Campbell, Joe Rupe, Jon Wilson, Matt Mancini and Ricky Descoteaux are returning players who also had huge years, as well as Keegan Daigle and George Bielizna throwing the ball,” player/ coach Rich Revere said.

When the World Series begins this Friday, it will be Bethlehem’s first game since its first-round sweep of the Winsted Whalers. There will have been 12 days in between games for the Plowboys. Bethlehem is using a local connection with one of its players to stay sharp. “We are scrimmaging Wolcott High School players whom Mancini coached this past season at the Plow at 11 on Saturday this weekend as well to keep us fresh for the series,” Revere said.

Mancini is an assistant coach under Craig Prasauckas at Wolcott. Bethlehem went 16-4 in a regular season where it didn’t always have its full lineup available. Four players are engaged, and there are full-time jobs that have to be factored in. Bethlehem got off to a slow start and was 6-4 halfway through the regular season. All of the Plowboys have done since then is rip off 12 straight wins.

The Tri-Town Trojans and Bethlehem Plowboys faced each other four times during the Connecticut Tri-State Baseball League’s regular season. Each team won twice. Something will have to give in their next go-around. For the second straight postseason, Tri-Town takes on Bethlehem in the best-of-three World Series. The Trojans are the two-time defending champions. Tri-Town swept Bethlehem last year. Game 1 of this year’s series is Friday night at 7 o’clock at Fuessenich Park. Game 2 is Saturday at 2 p.m. at Waterbury’s Municipal Stadium. Game 3, if necessary, is Sunday at noon at Municipal.

“Our goal this year has been to get back to the championship series to give ourselves a chance at a three-peat. I have most of the same guys that won it two years in a row and to win it a third time would be an awesome feat for them,” said Tri-Town player/manager Danny McCarty. “Bethlehem has added a couple pieces to their team this year and they have a strong offensive team that can put up a lot of runs. Plus, it’s pretty evident they really want to beat us this time around, so it’s going to be a battle for sure.” The Trojans swept their first two series of this postseason against the CT Gamecocks and Valley Ducks. The Plowboys swept a close first round series against the Winsted Whalers, then got a bye of sorts into the World Series when the Burlington Hunters had to forfeit due to not having enough players available last weekend.

“We think after splitting the season series with Tri-Town at two games apiece, we have as good a shot as any, but they are still without a doubt the toughest team we’ve faced in years,” said Bethlehem manager Rich Revere. Tri-Town will look to play Trojan baseball: strong pitching, strong defense and timely hitting. “This has been a successful staple for us since I took over as coach in 2017, and it’s important to not stray away from what works during the championship,” McCarty said. Both managers emphasized the need to play clean baseball and limit extra opportunities for their opponents. Revere wants the Plowboys to get Trojan starting pitchers Miles Scribner and Bobby Chatfield out of the game and get into the bullpen. Above all, Revere wants his team to do what it does best, and that’s hit. “We’re the best hitting team in the league, but Tri-Town is the best team overall, we will see who comes out on top for an exciting rematch,” Revere said.

McCarty believes his team can help out its pitchers by increasing their margin for error. “I also think it’s important for us to score early,” McCarty said. “Get runs early so we can give our pitchers some breathing room.” Tri-Town won the first two regular season meetings against Bethlehem, and both were low-scoring affairs (3-2, 4-2). The Plowboys won the last two regular season meetings and scored at least six runs in both games (11-5, 6-2). It’ll be the pitching and defense of Tri-Town against the hitting of Bethlehem. At stake is a third straight World Series crown for the Trojans, or the first title for the Plowboys since 2010.