Sunday May 17 – Opening Day Results

Valley Ducks 12   Waterbury Mountain Boys 8

On a beautiful day for Opening Day in the Tristate Baseball League, the Valley Ducks (1-0) rallied back in the 9th against the debuting Waterbury Mountain Boys (0-1) in a back and forth battle that saw the Quack pick up momentum for the 2026 season! Both teams fought the entire way as the game was tied through 8 innings.

Each team’s pitching and defenses dazzled in Game 1 until now potential Team MVP candidate, Jacobi Bouchard opened up the scoring with a rocket down the line for an RBI two-bagger in the top of the 3rd! The DOG (Duck of The Game) went to none other than the pitching staff, led by Jacobi “The Reverse Shohei Ohtani” Bouchard, who put on one of his best impressions of one of the game’s best players, going 5.1 IP while holding hitters to only 3 R (1 ER) and sprinkling in 3 hits and striking out only 3, while ALSO going a clutch 2 for 4 with a 2B and 4 RBI (including a clutch 2-run single in the top of the 9th that led the Ducks to victory).  The comeback in the top of the 9th was led by a 4-pitch leadoff walk by 10th year Quack, Tyler Leopizzo – followed by some patient AB’s before Bouchard clutch gene activated to put the trailing Ducks ahead for good.

Debuting (and returning) Ducks Jacob “Chico” Gabriel (2 for 4, RBI, R), Drew Caouette (1 for 3, RBI, BB, 2 R), and John McMahon (1 for 2, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 2 R) impressed the veteran flock by igniting the offense from the bottom of the order.

The Waterbury Mountain Boys coached by Kevin Jannetty impressed in their inaugural Tri-State game, collecting 8 R on 8 H of their own. New Ducks head coach Alex Mentone stated after the game “Waterbury is a good team, they should compete well with the league!”

The Quack return to the Pond (Wolcott High School) Tuesday, May 19 at 5:45pm to face off with ol’ rivals the Canton Crushers.

Bethlehem Plowboys 10   Tri-Town Trojans 4

Ryan Ponte collected four hits in five at bats, as the Plowboys defeated the Tri Town Trojans 10-4 on Sunday at Litchfield Community Field. Ponte singled in the first inning, singled in the fourth inning, singled in the third inning, and singled in the eighth inning.

The Plowboys opened the scoring in the top of the first thanks to two singles.  A single by Jesse Swartout extended the Plowboys lead to 3-1 in the top of the third inning. Carsten Donovan earned the win for Plowboys. The right-handed pitcher surrendered three hits and two runs (one earned) over five innings, striking out seven and walking three.  Sawyer Gravel pitched one and one-third innings of scoreless ball for Plowboys in relief. The righty gave up zero hits, striking out four and walking none. Miles Scribner took the loss for Tri Town Trojans as four pitchers took the hill for Tri-Town. Bethlehem pitchers combined to fan 16 in the game.

Plowboys piled up 13 hits in the game. Jon Wilson collected three hits for Plowboys in six at bats. Plowboys ran wild on the base paths, collecting five stolen bases for the game. Jon McNeils provided pop in the middle of the lineup, and led Tri Town Trojans with two runs batted in. The left fielder went 2-for-2 on the day. Willy Yahn went 3-for-5 at the plate to lead Tri Town Trojans in hits. McNeils led Tri Town Trojans with three walks. Overall, the team had a strong eye at the plate, accumulating nine walks for the game.

The Plowboys play at home on Tuesday against Valley Kraken in their next game.

Canton Crushers 14   Naugatuck White Sox 8

The Canton Crushers defeated the Naugatuck Sox  14-8 Sunday afternoon at Bowdoin Field. Tri-State veteran Jimmy Spirito picked up the win for the Crushers despite some rusty defense behind him. Canton had the bats going on Sunday collecting 16 hits on the day the Sullivan brothers led the way at the plate Mike Sullivan went 4-5 and older brother Ben went 2-4 with a Home Run and 3RBI. Jackson Senecal , Jack Rose (2 innings 4 K’s in relief) and Jimmy Spirito collected multiple hits for the Crushers. The  White Sox took an early 4-1 lead before the Crushers answered with six unanswered to take the lead for good. Julio Pastrana and Mike Darling each collected 2 Hits for Naugatuck.

Burlington Hunters 10   Winsted Whalers 2

On Opening Day of the 2026 Tri-State Season the Burlington Hunters defeated the Winsted Whalers 10-2.  A day after graduating from college, Sean O’Donnell got the scoring started early by leading off the game with a solo home run.  The Whale would retaliate with their own solo home run in the bottom of the 4th, slugged by Lukas Gryniuk.  The Hunters would respond in the top of the 6th plating 2 and did not look back from there.  

On the mound Derek Duffy earned the win scattering 4 hits while striking out 12 through 5 innings.  Anthony Izzo and Taylor Donofrio closed out the game bringing the strikeout total on the day to 20.  Offensively the Hunters were led by Sean O’Donnell, Tim Krol, and Taylor Donofrio who all had multi-hit games.  For the Whale, Lukas Gryniuk and Steel Brobston both had 3 hit games.  

Game Highlights: Jacob Paschetto threw out a runner trying to stretch a single into a double; Tommaso Tollis walked 4 times, has to be some kind of record; and Josue “Sway” Lopez, George Zaruba, and Andrew Bunger were all hitless and completely useless. 

Candlewood Kraken 6   Amenia Monarchs 3

The bottom of the lineup helped Candlewood Kraken capture a 6-3 victory over Amenia Monarchs on Sunday at New Milford High School. Kyle Bennett, Danny Reid, and Zach Mars combined for four of the team’s eight hits in the victory handing new head coach Jake Coniglio his first win as the head honcho on the team. They scored zero runs and drove in three. Candlewood Kraken got on the board in the bottom of the first inning after Amenia Monarchs committed an error, and Reid singled down the left field line, each scoring one run. Candlewood Kraken added two runs in the third after Reid doubled down the right field line. Mason Berna began the game for Candlewood Kraken. The starting pitcher surrendered two hits and zero runs over four innings, striking out eight and walking three. Luke Pliego and Ryan Bohrman each appeared in relief for Candlewood Kraken.

Reid led Candlewood Kraken with three runs batted in from the number seven spot in the lineup. The infielder went 2-for-5 on the day. Bennett, John John Coniglio, and Reid each collected two hits for Candlewood Kraken. Joey Ohara paced Candlewood Kraken with three walks. Overall, the team had patience at the plate, accumulating seven walks for the game. Nick Lobuono stole three bases. Candlewood Kraken stole six bases in the game. Next up for Candlewood Kraken is a game at Plowboys on Tuesday.

Wolcott Scrappers 16   Torrington Thunder 6