There will be a new champion in the Tri-State Baseball League.
After four straight World Series matchups between the Bethlehem Plowboys and Tri-Towns, two different teams will battle for the title beginning Friday at 7 p.m. at Fuessenich Park in Torrington.
The top-seeded Burlington Hunters (22-3) and third-seeded Wolcott Scrappers (18-7) will meet in the best-of-three championship series. Game 2 will be played Saturday at 2 p.m. at Municipal Stadium in Waterbury, with Game 3, if necessary, set for Sunday at 2 p.m. at the same location.
Burlington outlasted the Waterbury Mountain Boys in a first-round series that went the full three games, then swept the Candlewood Kraken in two games in the semifinals. The Hunters are making the first World Series appearance in team history.
Wolcott, meanwhile, eliminated both teams that had represented the league in each of the past four World Series. The Scrappers swept sixth-seeded Tri-Towns in two games before needing all three to knock off the defending champion and second-seeded Plowboys.
It marks Wolcott's first championship appearance since 2014, its only other trip to the World Series, when the Scrappers defeated the Trojans to win their lone league title.
Burlington put together the best regular season in team history, hitting 19 home runs while posting a .349 team batting average and a .979 OPS.
Player/manager Andrew Bunger led the Hunters in hits, with Steve Caruso right behind him. Chad Lavelle, George Zaruba, Justin McCulloch and Josue Lopez also turned in strong offensive seasons.
Newcomer Jacob Paschetto led the team with five home runs, while potential Cy Young candidate Tim Krol also made an impact at the plate, driving in a team-best 31 runs. Center fielder Sean O'Donnell contributed both offensively and defensively.
Wolcott restarted in 2024 with a group of friends from Wolcott High School who wanted to continue playing together. Now, in their third season, the Scrappers have reached the World Series.
Alec Ash has anchored the pitching staff with 48 innings, while Aiden Bisaillon has thrown 40 innings and recorded 56 strikeouts. Joe Ferrucci, Ben Bianchi, AJ Martinez, Zac Lawlor, Nate Ehmer, Drew Rocca, David Cardinale and Ethan Stepputtis have also contributed on the mound.
Nick Sconziano and Carson Lentini have paced the offense from the top of the order, while Alex James, Dillon Fernandes, Martinez and Rocca have also been among Wolcott's offensive standouts.
The Scrappers have received timely contributions at the plate from Devin Fuegen, Joe Sconziano, Josh Dunne, Joe Dunne, Ryan Ciampi, Aiden Kane, Jay Main, Luke Colfer, Bianchi, David Cardinale and Stepputtis.
Justin Cardinale has provided another weapon on the bases, emerging as Wolcott's go-to pinch runner.
Now, after four years of the Plowboys and Tri-Towns battling for the championship, either Burlington or Wolcott will finish the weekend as the Tri-State Baseball League's newest champion.
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This article originally published at Tri-State Baseball League to crown new champion as Burlington takes on Wolcott in World Series.