NEW BRITAIN, CT — The Lake Monsters were held to four hits including a pair of back-to-back bunt singles, but they would prove key as Vermont scored the only run of the game in the seventh inning for a 1-0 victory over the New Britain Bees in Futures League action Thursday morning at New Britain Stadium.
Scoreless into the seventh, Vermont loaded the bases on a Malcom Whitfield (Tufts) hit by pitch before the back-to-back bunt singles from Aidan Botti (Cuesta College/Proctor HS) and Sam Cavossa (Saint Michael’s). Hunter Kingsbury (Bryant) followed with an RBI groundout to first to plate Whitfield with the only run of the game.
Five Vermont pitchers combined on a five-hit shutout with four walks and 12 strikeouts. Starter John Delgado (Stevenson) allowed two hits with three walks and five strikeouts over the first four innings, while Eli Fleming (Stetson) one hit and one strikeout over two innings to earn the win.
Jack Birtwell (Gordon) and Zander Teator (Babson) both allowed a hit in a scoreless inning, while Sean Gamble (Bethany Lutheran) struckout the side in the ninth to earn his first save of the season.
MONSTER PERFORMANCES
* Delgado 4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 5 SO
* Cavossa 2-for-3 (bunt single, infield single 9th)
* Gamble 1-2-3 9th for save
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE
* Lake Monsters start season 2-0 for the 3rd straight year
* First 1-0 win for Vermont since June 12, 2024 vs. Norwich and 4th in last 5 years
* Lake Monster batters held to 4 hits, but also issued 6 walks (struckout 8 times)
* The 5 Vermont pitchers combined for 4 walks and 12 strikeouts in the shutout
* Gamble, who led FCBL with 7 saves in 2024, now has 13 career Vermont saves
Next Game: Friday at Nashua, 6:00pm
Home Opener: Saturday vs. Worcester, 3:05pm