Burlington Hunters Win First Championship With Double Shutout

The Burlington Hunters just proved that some victories are worth the wait. On Saturday afternoon at Municipal Stadium in Waterbury, the team captured their first Tri-State League championship ever with a 2-0 victory over Wolcott, completing a historic sweep.

What made this championship series truly remarkable was the Hunters' complete defensive dominance. Over two games, Burlington didn't allow a single run, gave up only nine hits, and struck out an incredible 28 batters.

Derek Duffy, the league's 2025 Cy Young Award winner, carried his team through Saturday's nail-biter. The Farmington native pitched all nine innings, striking out 11 batters and keeping Wolcott scoreless while his teammates struggled to score.

The championship hung in the balance until the top of the ninth inning. With two outs, Tim Krol singled and teammate Steve Caruso beat out an infield grounder to put runners on base.

That's when catcher Taylor Donofrio delivered the moment Burlington fans had been waiting for. His two-run double to center field broke the scoreless tie and gave the Hunters their first lead of the game.

Duffy wasted no time closing things out. He struck out two of the final three batters to seal Burlington's first championship and a franchise-record 24 wins for the season.

The Ripple Effect

Duffy's performance showcased more than just athletic skill. Manager Andrew Bunger marveled at his pitcher's composure during eight scoreless innings without run support. "He didn't say two words," Bunger said. "That's not him. He knew what his job was."

Duffy also picked off three Wolcott baserunners during the game, never letting the Scrappers advance past second base. His combination of strikeouts and strategic defense kept his team in position to win.

The championship caps an extraordinary season for Burlington, finishing 24-3 overall. Since the league returned to a best-of-three championship format in 1987, no team had ever won with consecutive shutouts until now.

For a community that's supported this team through the years, Saturday's victory brought long-awaited celebration and a new chapter in Burlington baseball history.