The New Britain Bees captured their first Futures Collegiate Baseball League of New England championship, completing a 2-1 series win over the Vermont Lake Monsters with an 11-0 rout in the decisive game.
The final matchup, played at a packed home field in New Britain, saw the Bees unleash a barrage of hits and disciplined pitching that left the opposition scoreless through seven innings.
Dominant Pitching and Offensive Outburst
Garret Garbinski, a right-hander from Clinton, delivered a shutout, striking out seven while allowing just three hits and two walks. His performance anchored a pitching staff that kept the Monsters at bay throughout the contest.
At the plate, Owen Rich of Wallingford went five-for-five, smashing three doubles, driving in three runs and scoring four times. His consistency at the top of the lineup set the tone for the Bees’ offensive onslaught.
The Bees closed the regular season with a franchise-best 42-22 record, having won a team-record 38 consecutive games during the stretch that propelled them into the playoffs.
All-Conference Recognition
Several Connecticut-based players earned All-NECBL honors, highlighting the depth of talent on the championship roster. Kyle Garbowski of New Fairfield was named first-team at first base, leading the league with 47 hits.
Outfielder Alex Benevento from New Canaan earned first-team honors as an outfielder/designated hitter, posting a slash line of .383/.516/.585 and drawing 22 walks. He was complemented by Thomas Galusha of Middlebury, who took first-team reliever honors with a 0.75 ERA and six saves in 12 appearances.
UConn alumnus Drew Smith went 3-1 with a 2.84 ERA, earning first-team selection for the champions. Reliever Richie Kerstetter of Sacred Heart University posted a 1.59 ERA and 35 strikeouts, landing on the second team, while Gavin Donohue also from Sacred Heart led the league with 10 home runs and ranked second with 37 RBIs.
Charlie Hale, a UConn pitcher, received second-team accolades after a 1.57 ERA and 1.17 WHIP over 23 innings, underscoring the program’s strong showing across the board.
The championship not only marks a historic milestone for the franchise but also cements New Britain’s reputation as a hotbed for collegiate baseball talent, with multiple local players receiving conference-wide recognition.