Casey McDonald (left) congratulates Colby Bunnell after scoring a run in the first game of the Tri-State League championship series at Fuessenich Park on Friday night.

TORRINGTON, August 16, 2024 – Since 2018, it has become a habit for the Tri-Town Trojans baseball team to get off to a fast start in the Tri-State League championship series.

The Trojans have won four of the last five Tri-State League championships since 2018, and they have won the opening game of every championship series they have won.

On Friday night, Tri-Town took another step toward becoming the first team since 1995 to win four consecutive league championships with a convincing 10-1 victory over Bethlehem at Fuessenich Park.

Tri-Town (23-3) can win the best-of-three championship series with a win Saturday at Municipal Stadium in Waterbury. Game two begins at 1 p.m. Game three, if necessary, will be played Sunday at Municipal Stadium starting at 2 p.m.

Bethlehem lost to Tri-Town in the finals the past two years. The Plowboys lost in three games last year and were swept in 2022. This summer, Bethlehem (25-2) achieved the league’s best record with two wins over Tri-Town.

But Tri-Town didn’t let the Plowboys’ foot in the door, building a 4-0 lead after one inning and a 6-0 lead after three innings.

Tri-Town had three hits, including a double in the first inning. The Trojans scored two unearned runs in the third inning to take a 6-0 lead.

That was more than enough for veteran Tri-Town pitcher Miles Scribner, who pitched the entire game to win the game. Scribner went nine innings, allowing six hits and striking out eight players. He did not allow a walk.

“It was great to score four runs in the first inning,” Tri-Town coach Dan McCarty said. “I told my players this year that when we put the ball in play, something is going to happen, and that’s what we did. We may not have hit very well, but when we put the bat to the ball, something happens in this league.”

“Scribner was my No. 1 man for 15 years,” McCarty said. “I had complete confidence in him and he did his thing.”

Bethlehem made four errors and walked eight Tri-Town batters. The nine-run loss was the most lopsided victory in the first game of the finals since the Plowboys defeated Winsted by 17 runs (19-2) in 2001.

Colby Bunnell was the game’s best hitter, hitting 3-for-4 with a double for Tri-Town.

Bethlehem’s Ty Boisvert pitched four innings in the first game on Friday night and allowed five hits.

Tri-Town’s Willie Yahn opened the game with a single against Bethlehem starter Ty Boisvert and moved to second base when Owen Hubbard was given a walk. Yahn scored on Mike Fabiaschi’s double to center field to make it 1-0. Hubbard scored on a ground ball to make it 2-0.

Fabiaschi scored on Bunnell’s RBI single, and Bunnell made it 4-0 by scoring on a throwing error on a ground ball off the bat of Jon McNelis.

In the third inning, McCarty hit a single and advanced to third base on Bunnell’s double. Both scored on another throwing error after a ground ball by McNelis to take a 6-0 lead.

Only one Bethlehem batter made it to third base in the first eight innings. The Plowboys’ Jarrett Michaels thwarted Scribner’s attempt at a shutout with a one-out solo home run in the ninth inning.

The last Tri-State League team to win four consecutive championships were the Torrington Rebels, who won four in a row from 1992 to 1995.

Tri-Town seeks its fourth consecutive title and sixth in team history. Bethlehem seeks its seventh Tri-State title and first since 2005.

Tri-Town 10, Bethlehem 0
In Torrington
Tri-Town (23-3) 402,004,000 — 10-8-0
Bethlehem (25-2) 000 000 001 — 1-6-4
Miles Scribner and Joey Weed; Ty Boisvert, Matt Sibilia (5), Brent Wilkes (6), Isaiah Johnson (8) and Jesse Swartout, Joe Rupe (9); WP: scribe; LP: Boisvert; 2B: Mike Fabiaschi (T), Colby Bunnell (T), Jon McNelis (T); Human Resources: Jarrett Michaels (B)

Current results of the Tri-State League championship series
2023: Tri-Town defeats Bethelehem 2-1 (5-1, 4-5, 9-0)
2022: Tri-Town defeats Bethlehem 2-0 (10-2, 4-3 in 10)
2021: Tri-Town defeats Terryville Black Sox, 2-1 (5-0, 1-5, 8-5)
2020: No season, pandemic
2019: Terryville defeats Naugatuck Dogs 2-0 (4-2, 5-1)
2018: Tri-Town defeats Terryville 2-1 (3-0, 7-10, 4-2)
2017: Naugatuck defeats Tri-Town 2-0 (13-2, 8-2)