Bees Win First Game of 2025 to Close Three-Game Opening Homestand
By Connor Wilson
The Bees opened up their 2025 season with a three game homestand at New Britain Stadium. After getting swept in a two-game set against the Vermont Lake Monsters, the team picked up its first win of the new year with a victory over the Westfield Starfires.
In the opener on a rainy Wednesday night, New Britain fell 8-4 to Vermont. After trading zeroes early, the Lake Monsters jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the fourth inning and never looked back. The Bees scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the frame to get on the board and rallied in the eighth after the lead was extended to 8-1 thanks to an RBI groundout from Nolan Risedorf (Southern New Hampshire/Barkhamsted, CT) and a two-run single from JT Clark (Eastern Connecticut State/Bristol, CT).
On the mound for the home team, second year Bee Ben Oliveira (Wheaton/Somerset, MA) got the Opening Day nod for Matt Gedman and struck out four in 3.2 innings, but picked up the loss. Ian Brown (Navy/Ridgefield, CT) and Pat McKenzie (Villanova/Newtown, CT) each had scoreless outings in their Bee debuts.
After a quick turnaround on Thursday morning, New Britain lost a 1-0 pitcher’s duel in front of over 4,000 fans for the first Education Day of the year. Colin Blake (Southern Connecticut State/Wallingford, CT) got the start and threw 4.1 scoreless innings with four strikeouts. Evan Mello (Wheaton/New Bedford, MA) punched out a pair in his Bees debut in relief. Zach Zajac (RPI/Cromwell, CT) allowed the game’s lone run in the seventh as a part of his two innings of work.
Myles Gythfeldt (Colby/Ridgefield, CT) and Ryan Perez (Coastal Carolina/Greenwich, CT) each had multi-hit outings in the defeat.
On Friday night, New Britain secured its first win of the season defeating Westfield 6-2. Highly touted right hander Tyler Stone (Virginia Tech/Hamden, CT) got the start and struck out five over four strong innings of work. The Bees bats woke up early, rallying for all six of their runs in the first inning. Easton Masse (Boston College/Manchester, CT) and James Fagnant (Richmond/East Granby, CT) each contributed two-RBI singles in the frame and Chaz Wright (St. John’s/Mountain Top, PA) stole home late in the inning as a part of a double steal. All in all, New Britain swiped a season high seven bags.
Relief pitchers Carson Parrott (Tennessee Tech/Monroe, TN) and Jack Welsch (Stonehill College/Cary, NC) combined to throw five innings of one run ball out of the bullpen, with Parrott getting credited with the win.
On Saturday, the Bees play their first of four straight on the road when they travel up to Westfield to take on the Starfires at 6:30 p.m. The next home game at New Britain Stadium is slated for Thursday, June 5, at 10:35 a.m. against the Starfires.
