2021 Columbus Day Bash – Baseball

October 9th – 11th,  2021

13-18u Divisions

Hartford area, Connecticut

Robert Gallucci | Director of Marketing & Digital Content

Firecracker Sports began our final fall tournament series this past holiday weekend with the 4th Annual Columbus Day Bash. This year there were 52 teams across the three divisions (14U, 16U and 18U) playing at twelve venues in Connecticut including Dodd Stadium, Mitchell College; Trinity College, Eastern Connecticut State University and many more. This event was extra special to finish the 2021 season as we included softball as well, for a total of 72 teams and over 4,500 attendees bringing an economic impact to these communities of over $500,000 dollars. Also check out our previous scouting blog about the College Showcase Camp at Dodd Stadium, which was held on Friday, October 8th with 50+ players, 20+ coaches from college and professional that was held on a beautiful evening. 

Day 1:  Saturday, October 10th, 2021

We began our day by checking out our Canadian entry in their first game as the Ontario Terriers were defeated by the CT Hurricanes 17U. A single by Trent Black in the first inning was a positive for Ontario Terriers. Colin Carver earned the win for CT Hurricanes 17U. The hurler lasted seven innings, allowing three hits and zero runs while striking out ten.  Nathan Currah took the loss for the Ontario Terriers. Currah went four innings, allowing two runs on two hits and striking out three. Lucas Brown, Luke Connors, and Black each collected one hit to lead Ontario Terriers. The Ontario Terriers were sure-handed and didn’t commit a single error. Connors made the most plays with five. CT Hurricanes 17U scattered five hits in the game. Gavin Thorburn and Mason Erwin each racked up multiple hits for CT Hurricanes 17U.

We visited the game between US 9 Prospects and Upstate Academy 17u which ended in a tie.  A single in the fifth inning helped US 9 Prospects battle to a 3-3 tie with Upstate Academy 17u on Saturday. Upstate Academy 17u got on the board in the first inning when Billy Cannale singled on a 2-0 count, scoring two runs. Ryan Montini, Kyle Asanovic, and Trevor Venoit each managed one hit to lead US 9 Prospects. Sam Booth led Upstate Academy 17u with two hits in two at bats.

Some of our evening games included some of the best performances of the day as Warwick Travel beat CT Rivals 18U – Teal in a low-scoring affair. Both teams were strong on the hill Saturday, but Warwick Travel defeated Rivals 18U – Teal 2-1. Zach Scotti allowed just five hits to Rivals 18U – Teal. Warwick Travel got things moving in the first inning.  Zack Scotti hit into a fielder’s choice, scoring one run. Scotti earned the victory on the mound for Warwick Travel. The pitcher lasted seven innings, allowing five hits and one run while striking out nine. Lombardi took the loss for Rivals 18U – Teal. The hurler allowed seven hits and two runs over six innings, striking out six. Domenic Calise led Warwick Travel with two hits in two at bats. Rivals 18U – Teal was sure-handed in the field and didn’t commit a single error. Ross had the most chances in the field with two.

Our last game of the day got out to an early lead for the Ontario Terriers and that sealed the fate for the Ocean State Outlaws 17U Showcase. Ocean State Outlaws 17U Showcase watched the game slip away early and couldn’t recover in a 9-0 loss to Ontario Terriers on Saturday. The Ocean State Outlaws 17U Showcase struggled to put runs on the board and had a tough time defensively containing the Ontario Terriers, giving up nine runs. The Ontario Terriers got on the board in the first inning.  The Ontario Terriers scored one run when Jason Green singled. One bright spot for Ocean State Outlaws 17U Showcase was a single by Aiden Ciprea in the fourth inning. Luca Alagheband got the win for the Ontario Terriers. Alagheband surrendered zero runs on one hit over four innings, striking out six.  Cole Phillips threw two innings in relief out of the bullpen. Domenic Brazeau took the loss for Ocean State Outlaws 17U Showcase. The bulldog surrendered two runs on six hits over three innings, striking out four and walking one. Matt McDuff and Ciprea all had one hit to lead Ocean State Outlaws 17U Showcase. Ontario Terriers racked up 15 hits on the day.  Owen Sartor, Luke Connors, Green, Alex Gombocz, Spencer MacInnis, and Tyler Krasa each managed multiple hits for the Ontario Terriers.  Sartor led the Ontario Terriers with three hits in four at bats.  The Ontario Terriers didn’t commit a single error in the field. Joshua Bushen had nine chances in the field, the most on the team.

Day 2:  Sunday, October 10th, 2021

The second day of our Columbus Day Bash  started at Eastern Connecticut State University where we saw an early lead for the CT Crush 17U as they defeated J&M Baseball 18U 4-0.  JM Baseball 18u watched the game slip away early and couldn’t recover in the  4-0 loss to CT Crush 17U on Sunday.  CT Crush 17U scored on a single by Cam McGugan and an error in the first inning. JM Baseball 18u lost despite out-hitting CT Crush 17U six to three. CT Crush 17U got things moving in the first inning, when McGugan singled on a 3-1 count, scoring one run. One bright spot for JM Baseball 18u was a single by Patrick Butler in the third inning. Shosho earned the win for CT Crush 17U. The fireballer went six innings, allowing zero runs on six hits, striking out four and walking one.  Fraser threw one inning in relief out of the bullpen. Franklin Pierce commit Tommy Sullivan took the loss for JM Baseball 18u. The hurler surrendered four runs on three hits over four and a third innings, striking out six. Butler led JM Baseball 18u with two hits in two at bats.

Also one of the top games of the day, the Shoreline Breakers 16u Royal grabs lead In fifth Inning to defeat the CT Whalers 16U by a score of 3-2. Shoreline Breakers were down 2-1 in the bottom of the fifth inning when Marcos ingled on a 1-0 count, scoring two runs. The pitching was strong on both sides. Marco struck out nine, while Whalers 16U pitchers sat down eight. Whalers 16U got things started in the first inning.  Cody Heselton singled on the first pitch of the at bat, scoring one run. Marco got the start for Shoreline Breakers 16u Royal. The pitcher lasted seven innings, allowing five hits and two runs while striking out nine and walking zero. Lopez was on the mound for Whalers 16U. Lopez lasted one and one-third innings, allowing zero hits and one run while striking out three.  Reed threw four and two-thirds innings in relief. Lucas Deshefy led Shoreline Breakers 16u Royal with two hits in two at bats.  Shoreline Breakers 16u Royal didn’t commit a single error in the field. Carefeno had the most chances in the field with nine. Whalers 16U tallied five hits on the day.  Lopez and Heselton each racked up multiple hits for Whalers 16U.  Whalers 16U was sure-handed and didn’t commit a single error. Grata made the most plays with eight.

The CT Capitals 18U captured an early lead to defeat the NE Prospects.  NE Prospects fell behind early and couldn’t come back in an 8-0 loss to CT Capitals 18U on Sunday. The NE Prospects struggled to contain the high-powered offense of CT Capitals 18U, giving up eight runs. CT Capitals 18U got on the board in the first inning. Ben Cherry singled on a 0-1 count, scoring two runs. A single by Dacota Durkee in the first inning was a positive for NE Prospects. Jake Jachym toed the rubber for CT Capitals 18U. The bulldog went four innings, allowing zero runs on three hits and striking out three. Durkee led things off on the mound for NE Prospects. The hurler allowed nine hits and eight runs over five innings, striking out five. Durkee went 2-for-3 at the plate to lead NE Prospects in hits.  NE Prospects was sure-handed and didn’t commit a single error. Jacob Wagner made the most plays with seven. CT Capitals 18U tallied nine hits in the game.  Waldron and Cherry each collected multiple hits for CT Capitals 18U.  Waldron led CT Capitals 18U with three hits in three at bats.

Our final 18U game of the day involved a outstanding effort from Dan Kiniry as his walk-off sealed the deal for the 603 Bandits in a dramatic victory over the Titans Elite. A walk-off single propelled 603 Bandits to a decisive, dramatic victory over Titans Elite, 5-4. The game was tied at four with 603 Bandits batting in the bottom of the ninth when Kiniry singled on a 2-1 count, scoring one run. 603 Bandits earned the victory despite allowing Titans Elite to score three runs in the first inning. Titans Elite’s big inning was driven by Colin Maloney and a double by Wilsey. Titans Elite got things moving in the first inning, when Wilsey doubled on a 0-2 count, scoring two runs. Tanner Wolpert led things off on the hill for 603 Bandits. The pitcher went five and a third innings, allowing three runs on two hits and striking out five. Marist commit Dan Keaney started the game for Titans Elite. The pitcher lasted five and a third innings, allowing five hits and three runs while striking out nine and walking one. Connor Jones threw two and two-thirds innings out of the bullpen. Trevor Arsenault led 603 Bandits with two hits in four at bats. J. Porter Wilsey went 2-for-3 at the plate to lead Titans Elite in hits.

After our last 18U pool play game of the day, we shifted our focus to Dodd Stadium in Norwich, CT for our 14U championship game of this year’s event. Jonathan Crowley drove in six on 2 hits as Swanson Baseball 14U defeated the JM Baseball 14U 17-9.  Crowley drove in runs on a triple in the third and a grand slam in the third. Swanson Baseball 14U earned the victory despite allowing JM Baseball to score six runs in the third inning.  Cameron Zaniboni, Kai Waters,  Aidan May, Condon, and Gavin Foley all drove in runs in the frame. Swanson Baseball 14U pulled away for good with 12 runs in the third inning. In the third Crowley tripled on a 2-1 count, scoring two runs, Ty Nogiec singled on a 1-0 count, scoring one run, Carson Jarvis singled on the first pitch of the at bat, scoring one run, Blake Kapernaros singled on a 1-0 count, scoring two runs, Gavin Bennett doubled on a 1-0 count, scoring two runs, and Crowley homered on a 1-1 count, scoring four runs. Jack Swanson was on the hill for Swanson Baseball 14U. The fireballer allowed six hits and eight runs over two and a third innings, striking out three. Foley was on the mound for JM Baseball. Foley surrendered six runs on six hits over two and a third innings, striking out two.  May and Waters entered the game from the bullpen, throwing one and one-third innings and two-thirds of an inning respectively. Swanson Baseball 14U tallied one home run on the day. Crowley had a homer in the third inning. Swanson Baseball 14U totaled 13 hits in the game.  Crowley, Zachary Catalano, and Swanson all managed multiple hits for Swanson Baseball 14U. JM Baseball racked up ten hits in the game. Condon led JM Baseball with three hits in three at bats. The 2021 MVP Award for the 13/14u division went to Josh Beaudoin of Swanson Baseball.

Day 3: Monday, October 11th – Columbus Day Bash Playoffs and Championships! 

In our first championship game of the day for baseball, the host site was Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut. The CT Crush beat Ocean State Outlaws 16U Showcase 5-2 on Monday afternoon in a great back and forth game in front of a capacity filled crowd at Trinity’s turf field stadium. In the second inning, CT Crush got their offense started when Donte Valentine singled on the first pitch of the at bat, scoring two runs. Griffin Pontbriant was credited with the victory for CT Crush. The pitcher lasted five and a third innings, allowing six hits and one run while striking out six. Noah Frezza took the loss for Ocean State Outlaws 16U Showcase. The hurler allowed four hits and three runs over four innings, striking out one and walking one. CT Crush tallied six hits on the day. Connor Tukey and Valentine each managed two hits to lead CT Crush.  CT Crush didn’t commit a single error in the field. White went 2-for-3 at the plate to lead Ocean State Outlaws 16U Showcase in hits. The 2021 MVP Award for the 16U division went to Donte Valentine of the CT Crush program. 

We shift our focus to the championship game of the 18U Division as this takes us on the road to Dodd Stadium, home of the Norwich Sea Unicorns of the Future’s League. The final game of the day was between TCB USA Scout – Grant and the 603 Bandits of New Hampshire. Unfortunately for the 603 Bandits, their successful run in this event came to an end in this game as the TCB USA Scout – Grant cruised to an easy victory over 603 Bandits 9-1 on Monday. TCB USA Scout – Grant notched four runs in the fourth inning.  TCB USA Scout – Grant’s big bats in the inning were led by a single by Cameron Baker and a double by Pines. Alex Zimmerman was on the hill for TCB USA Scout – Grant. The hurler allowed five hits and one run over six innings, striking out six and walking zero. Kevin Dowling started the game for 603 Bandits. The bulldog allowed six hits and seven runs over three and two-thirds innings, striking out one.  Trevor Arsenault threw two innings in relief. TCB USA Scout – Grant tallied nine hits in the game.  Mark Osorio, Zach Crevier, and Pinesall had multiple hits for TCB USA Scout – Grant. The MVP Award for the 17-18u division went to the previously mentioned Zach Crevier of the TCB USA Scout program.  

2021 Columbus Day Bash – All-Tournament Team

After consulting with the field supervisors and office of player development, the following players have been selected for the 2021 Columbus Day Bash All-Tournament Baseball Team.

Pitcher – Colin Carver (2023) – CT Hurricanes 17U

Catcher – Ty Nogiec (2026) – Swanson Baseball 14U

First Base – Angel Rodriquez (2025) – CT Mayhem 14U

Second Base – Nick Jacoby (2022) – Yorktown Rebels

Third Base – Morrie Fried (2026) – Rip City Baseball 14U

Shortstop – Shayne Godin (2024) – Ocean State Outlaws 16U Showcase

Left Field – Tanner Wolpert (2022) – 603 Bandits

Center Field – Jacob Paschetto (2022) – Powerhouse Bulldogs

Right Field – Gavin Thorburn (2022) – CT Hurricanes 17U

Recap: This weekend was a fantastic way to kick off our final tournament of the year. We want to thank all the coaches, parents and players that came out and participated in this year’s tournament and made it such a competitive and enjoyable event. To the college, high school and town facility staff that prepared us with such great venues for the weekend to host this top talent we would like to thank you sincerely. Finally, the college coaches and MLB scouts that came to evaluate these prospects and make the experience that much more fulfilling, we thank you and look forward to seeing you again soon.