Tri-Town and Bethlehem; one more time – league record on the line!
Tri-State World Series
- The Commish Corner
Baseball is often thought of as an individual sport, with players being judged on their individual statistics and performances. However, in baseball, no one player can win a game on their own. Winning back to back team championships are rare, and certainly winning three years in a row, in any major sport, depends on various factors, including team performance, player health, roster changes, and competition. From 2007 through 2019 in the Tri-State Baseball League there were eleven different World Series team winners.
Is a four-peat even possible? Well its happened three times in Tri-State League history. The Amenia Monarchs were the first team to accomplish that feat from 1982-1985 and then the Torrington Rebels won four in a row from 1992-1995. Now we have a third team, the Tri-Town Trojans have won championships from 2021 through 2024 but there is an asterisk next to their name. Why? The Trojans play the 2025 season with the opportunity to set the greatest team mark in Tri-State Baseball League history. No team has ever won 5 consecutive World Series titles in the Tri-State Baseball League. The Trojans are deeply talented and everyone expected a true run into the Tri-State playoffs at the ultimate league, team history mark. The rarity and excitement of such potential benchmark accomplishments contributes to the significance in the sport, and in the Tri-State baseball league this season in 2025.
How does Tri-Town handle the pressure? For many of these summer league players, this is their major leagues’ and they take it seriously. They may not be under the same scrutiny as an Olympic player, but the spotlight will be on the Tri-Town team as a whole in 2025. Can they accomplish what has never been done before? There are way too many individual stars on this Tri-Town team to name. Knowing many of these players on a personal level, that sits just fine with them. They want to be known as the Tri-Town Trojans. Now – twelve World Series appearances in the last fifteen seasons is unheard of. Legendary stuff. (Tri-State did not play in covid year 2020)
Another storied franchise that has earned the slogan moniker “Plow for Life” in reference to Bethlehem players past and present, the Plowboys, whom celebrated their 100 year team history in 2023, have appeared in the last three World Series against the Trojans (make it now four in a row), taking the 2023 and 2024 series each year to a final and deciding game three. The Plowboys finished the 2024 and 2025 seasons as the #1 seed with the leagues best record. The Plow are strong in every facet of the game; offense, defense, pitching, and speed. Bethlehem has now been to 15 league World Series since 1996 winning their last championship in 2010 over the Trojans that year. Too many stars to name here as well. The Bethlehem Plowboys stand between the Tri-Town Trojans and a new Tri-State team and league record!
Friday August 15:
Game 1: Fuessenich Park at 7pm
NOTE: (Hall of Fame ceremony on field before Game #1)
HOF Inductees: Kyle Osolin, Marc Beaudon, Kevin Pettit, Lance Stevens, Ken Kerski, Adam LaCapra, Adam Piechowski, Ricky Langer
Saturday August 16:
Game 2: Municipal Stadium at 2pm
Sunday August 17: (if necessary)
Game 3: Municipal Stadium at 2pm
Semi-Finals results:
Friday August 8:
Wolcott Scrappers 5 Bethlehem Plowboys 3
Tri-Town Trojans 8 Burlington Hunters 4
Saturday August 9:
Bethlehem Plowboys 11 Wolcott Scrappers 0
Burlington Hunters 6 Tri-Town Trojans 1
Sunday August 10:
Bethlehem Plowboys 5 Wolcott Scrappers 2
Greg Campbell hit two home runs and drove in four as The Bethlehem Plowboys defeated the Scrappers 5-2 on Sunday at Plow. Bethlehem Plowboys opened the scoring in the first after Campbell homered to right field, scoring three runs. That man did it again in the bottom of the fourth on a solo home run to right field by Campbell. Ty Boisvert earned the win for Bethlehem Plowboys. The hurler allowed three hits and zero runs over seven innings, striking out five and walking two. AJ Martinez took the loss for Wolcott Scrappers. The starter went four innings, allowing four runs on four hits, striking out four and walking one. Carsten Donovan appeared in relief for the Plow, pitching the final two innings, closing the door for the team. Ryan Reynolds and Campbell each collected two hits for Bethlehem Plowboys.Nick Kleinschmidt led the team with two runs batted in. Drew Rocca, Nick Sconziano, and Martinez each collected two hits for Wolcott Scrappers.
Tri-Town Trojans 4 Burlington Hunters 3