Vermont Lake Monsters

Vermont Rallies For 11-10 Walkoff Win Saturday

boxscore

BURLINGTON, VT  — Vermont’s 200th Futures League regular-season victory was a memorable one as the Lake Monsters rallied from an 8-3 deficit by scoring four times in both the bottom of the eighth and ninth innings for an 11-10 walkoff victory over the Westfield Starfires on Delta Dental Diamond at Centennial Field.

Jack Fitzgerald (Montevallo) got the comeback started with a two-run homer to left in the eighth, his third home run in the last three games. The Lake Monsters followed the homer with four straight base hits, including a Brad Johnston (Swarthmore) infield RBI single and Tyler Wiltsey (Rutgers) RBI fielder’s choice.

Will Briggs restored a three-run lead for Westfield with a 401-foot two-run homer (his fourth of year) in the top of the ninth, but Vermont quickly loaded the bases with a pair of singles and a walk to open the bottom of the frame. Malcolm Whitfield (Tufts) plated the first run with an RBI single to right and Travis Stroh (Fairleigh Dickinson) followed with RBI groundout putting runners at second and third with two outs. 

Wiltsey then hit a potential game-ending groundball to third, but the throw pulled the Starfires first baseman off the bag allowing James Schaffer (Stony Brook) to score the tying run and Whitfield the winning run from second base. 

MONSTER PERFORMANCES
*  Fitzgerald 2-for-5, R, HR, 2 RBI
* Whitfield 3-for-4, BB, 3 R, RBI
* Bryan Richman (Cal Poly Pomona) 3×5, 2 R, RBI

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE 
* Lake Monsters are now 200-117 (.631) in regular-season games since joining the FCBL in 2021 
* Both starting pitchers went the first five innings, allowing a combined 5 runs on 8 hits before the bullpens combined to allow 14 runs on 15 hits over final four frames 
* Alvin Gomez (AIC) allowed 2 runs on 3 hits with 1 walk and 2 strikeouts over 5 IP for Vermont
* Whitfield’s 3 hits and 3 runs scored come in his 2026 Lake Monsters debut
* 1st walkoff victory and win when trailing after 8 innings since August 7, 2025
* 2nd time in last four games that Lake Monsters have won with both teams scoring in double figures (won 17-11 at Nashua on June 2nd)
* Vermont is now averaging 8.40 runs per game and lead the league in batting average at .320 (140×375)
* Lake Monsters are 7-3 overall thru 10 FCBL games for the second straight year 

UPCOMING 
Next Game: Sunday at Lowell (FCBLnetwork.com)
Next Home Game: Tuesday, June 9th vs. Worcester, 6:35pm