The Bethlehem Plowboys and Southington 66ers opened their best-of-three Connecticut Tri-State Baseball League first round series with games on Thursday.
In both games, former local high school standouts played key roles in victories for each team. Bethlehem beat the Amenia Monarchs 4-2 at Gallop Field, and former Sacred Heart first baseman Matt Mancini ended the game with a walk-off two-run home run. Former Holy Cross pitcher Tyler Erickson pitched seven innings and struck out four.
Southington jumped on the Bristol Greeners for a 6-1 win in Bristol. Former St. Paul standouts Tim Jalbert, Patrick Raymond and Josh Dobratz paced the offense for the 66ers. Jalbert homered once, singled twice, scored twice and drove in a run. Raymond doubled, singled and scored a run, and Dobratz chipped in an RBI double and run scored. Former Falcon pitcher Kyle Dube combined with Southington High grad Joe Rivera on the mound to shut down Bristol. Bristol’s A.J. Lorenzetti, another St. Paul graduate, had two hits and drove in the only run for the Greeners.
The Wolcott Scrappers opened their series with a 9-6 win over the Winsted Whalers.
Each series is scheduled to resume this evening, though thunderstorms may be a problem.
