The name Soucy has been synonymous with the Connecticut Tri-State Baseball League’s Wolcott Scrappers since the team’s inception in 2006.
Wolcott started off as an exhibition team that year, then was voted into the league as a new member in 2007. Player/coach Ryan Soucy has seen everything in his time with the Scrappers, from the first steps all the way up to the end of the 2018 season. Wolcott was eliminated by the Naugatuck Dogs in a second round playoff series.
(Copyright, Sports on CT-69, file)
The 2018 season was Ryan Soucy’s last with the Wolcott Scrappers. The same goes for his older brother Eric, who is also stepping away.
“I have no regrets and I’m thankful for everyone and everything along the way,” Ryan Soucy wrote in an email. “My daughter is almost turning two and I’m at a different phase in my life that’s more important than a game that I’ve loved for over 20 years. I never thought I would say that but when it’s time, you just know it.”
One obviously fun aspect of Ryan’s time with the Scrappers was playing with Eric. Eric was a talented ballplayer who wound up being chosen for the Connecticut-Massachusetts high school senior all-star game in 2001. That game was played at Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox.
“He’s a year and a half older than me and I always looked up to him growing up,” Ryan Soucy wrote. “He played at Fenway his senior year and had some pro tryouts and I always pushed to try to be better than him and that’s what made me succeed. He’s just as dedicated as I was and that’s what I love about him.”
That dedication was important, because the Scrappers had very humble beginnings in 2006.
“We started with me driving up Route 69 in Wolcott and asking for donations to be able to start a team,” Ryan Soucy wrote. “To having a full sponsor in Continental Scrap Metal in Wolcott with Rob Silas being a big reason we were as successful as we were.”
Rob Silas, the son of Continental Scrap Metal CEO and president Paul Silas, was a player/coach for the team. Wolcott was no pushover in the league, and finally captured its first championship in 2014.
“We qualified for the state tournament every one of our first nine seasons,” Ryan Soucy wrote. “That was a big accomplishment and we were able to win a championship back in 2014 as well.”
Wolcott’s 2014 team was loaded and included players like the Soucy brothers, Adam LaCapra, Mike Vaccarelli, Ryan Andrade, Justin Koutros, Zach Sehnal, Kyle Dean, Mike Perugini, Manny Cruz, Mike Meier, Elvis Martinez, Israel Lugo and Matt Finkenzeller (my apologies to anyone who I may have missed). LaCapra, usually the first baseman, pitched the first seven innings of the championship-clinching victory. Meier smacked two home runs in the game. Cruz, a fireballer who is currently playing minor league baseball, closed the game out in the ninth.
The Scrappers have been one of the more veteran-laden teams in Tri-State in recent years, but they kept playing the game and playing it well. For Ryan Soucy, it was a pleasure to keep taking to the diamond with his friends.
“It’s not easy to compete in this league when you get in your 30’s but we were dedicated and passionate and loved the competition,” Ryan Soucy wrote. “I made a lot of new friends and built stronger friendships with my guys and I’ll never forget it.”
It’s time for Ryan Soucy and his brother Eric to move on, but they had a great run with the Wolcott Scrappers.
