Sliders and Scrappers abundant with NVL players
Former NVL baseball players abundant in Tri-State playoff series between CT Sliders and Wolcott Scrappers
Copyright By Kevin Roberts Staff Writer Hearst Connecticut Media Aug 4, 2025
CT Slider third baseman Tyler Giambra shares a laugh with Wolcott Scrapper baserunner Ethan Stepputtis (14) during a Tri-State Baseball League playoff game on Saturday at the BAW Complex in Wolcott. Wolcott Scrapper Josh Dunne (9) looks on. Giambra and Stepputtis played together for years growing up, including in high school at Woodland.
WOLCOTT — Ryan Montini jogged around the bases after hitting a monster two-run home run on Saturday, and Ethan Stepputtis was there to congratulate him. For those who are familiar with Woodland baseball, Montini hit a long two-run home run during a 2022 Class M state semifinal victory at Muzzy Field in Bristol. Tyler Giambra, who threw a no-hitter that night at Muzzy, was also on the same diamond Saturday, and it would seem like the glory days of Hawk baseball were being relived. Alas, Montini and Giambra were on one team and Stepputtis was on the other team, and Saturday’s game took place at the B.A.W. Complex, about 15 minutes away from Muzzy. Instead, Montini’s two-run home run helped send the CT Sliders to a 15-4 win over the Wolcott Scrappers in the first game of a first round, best-of-three Tri-State Baseball League playoff series. Stepputtis patted Montini on the back as the left-handed hitter rounded third base, where his former teammate was positioned. “I did,” Montini said when asked if he knew his hit was a home run off the bat. “It’s been a while, but you know when you hit it.”
It would be hard for local fans not to notice the abundance of former Naugatuck Valley League players on the field for both teams. The Scrappers are mostly former Wolcott High players, though starting pitcher Alec Ash and first baseman Dillon Fernandes played at Holy Cross, and Stepputtis stood out at Woodland. There’s also Carson Lentini, who played at Southington High. “There’s a bunch of Wolcott guys over there. It’s fun, it’s like we’re playing in high school all over again,” said Sliders catcher Ray Campbell, who played for Torrington High. Wolcott’s players in the starting lineup were: AJ Martinez, Devin Fuegen, Alex James, Drew Rocca, Nick Sconziano, Joe Dunne and Josh Dunne. With the exception of James, all of those Eagles played on the 2023 Class M state runner-up squad.
For the Sliders, it’s almost an NVL reunion. “It’s good, I like to keep up with how everyone’s doing, how they’re doing on their college teams,” Montini said. “It’s been a few years, but it’s nice to come back and play against them, or play with them now.” The Sliders had three former St. Paul standouts in their first five spots in the order; Josh Dobratz led off, Pat Smith hit third and Pat Raymond batted fifth. Montini was in the No. 2 slot, and Campbell hit fourth. Giambra batted sixth, followed by Joe DiCrosta of Lyman Hall in seventh, Kyle Simpson of Woodland in eighth, Ryan Glover of Watertown in ninth and E.J. Quint of Cheshire in 10th. The starting pitcher was Ryan’s twin brother Ian. Campbell noted the irony of the starting battery being a Watertown pitcher and Torrington catcher. “Big rivalry, and they’re twins, too, which is funny, but they’re both Watertown,” Campbell said. “Then you’ve got Woodland, Torrington. It’s fun.”
Tri-State gives these former NVL players a chance to catch up. “It was great. Ethan’s obviously killing it at Salem State, and a couple of the other NVL guys are really killing it,” Giambra said. “AJ at Southern. It’s good to catch up with these guys again. “You play against them your whole life. I played with Ethan my whole life. You build friendships over the years. It’s not really a rivalry anymore. It’s more like I’m playing against a friend now.”
Father-son combos
Both teams also had father-son combinations. Lyman Hall’s Joe DiCrosta had father Mark DiCrosta on the Sliders bench as a coach. Alex Sconziano, father of Scrapper players Nick and Joey, is the head coach.