Three West Hartford Little League Teams Win Championships in Greater Hartford Fall Ball Baseball League
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West Hartford Little League 12U Bolts. Courtesy photo
The West Hartford Little League captured the 12U, 10U, and 8U Championships in the 2025 Greater Hartford Fall Baseball League.
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The West Hartford Little League Bolts wrapped up an unforgettable fall by winning the Greater Hartford Fall Baseball League 12U Championship, finishing with an 11-4 record in a division that included teams from West Hartford, Wethersfield, and Newington. The Bolts’ title run was built on balance – powerful hitting, deep pitching, and dependable defense – and it reflected the team’s hard work, cooperation, and shared love for baseball.
For the group of 11-year-olds – Ben Wilmes, Cooper Weigel, Edward Sciallo, James Bushman, Kai Edgar, Lucas Dos Santos, Matthew Kavanagh, Rafi Kest, and Tommy Shaffer – this marked their final Fall Little League season, and they made it a memorable one. Ben swung a clutch bat, leading the team in RBIs. Cooper was a contact machine, consistently moving teammates along the basepaths and ultimately driving in the winning run in the championship. Eddie held down first base in the playoffs and gave the opposition fits with aggressive, heads-up baserunning. James brought speed and spark, leading the team in steals. Kai contributed with both his bat and his arm, leading the Bolts in extra-base hits and sealing the championship with a strikeout on the mound. Lucas combined elite speed with outstanding pitching, throwing four innings in a combined no-hitter against Newington. Matthew anchored the defense and found his swing in the second half of the season, heating up when the team needed it most. Rafi provided strong defense all over the diamond and brought power with the bat throughout the fall. Tommy was the heart of the defense behind the plate, throwing out six baserunners and adding a highlight-reel pickoff at second base in the championship game. Together, this veteran core showed what it means to play the game the right way.
The Bolts were also fueled by their talented 10-year-olds – Ethan Keating, Jack Grandpre, Spencer Kan, and Max Kravitz – who “played up” after representing West Hartford on the 10U District team this summer. Ethan hit with power all season and locked down center field in the playoffs, making a huge catch late in the championship. Jack led the way with his bat, topping the team in batting average and on-base percentage while delivering the Bolts’ lone home run – a solo shot in a 1-0 win over the other West Hartford squad. Spencer was the ace of the pitching staff, starting and earning the wins in both the semifinals and championship. Max showed he was ready for the call-up, leading the 10-year-old group in RBIs and walks while providing clutch relief pitching throughout the season. Playing alongside their older teammates, the 10-year-olds elevated the Bolts with their enthusiasm, composure, and skill.
Together, the players blended experience and emerging talent to capture a championship and close the fall season as true representatives of West Hartford Little League. The Bolts coaching staff included Ethan Kravitz, Jasper Kan, John Weigel, Tyler Renna, Cory Edgar, and Mike Wilmes.
West Hartford Little League 10U Wolverines. Courtesy photo
10U Wolverines
The West Hartford Little League 10U Navy – Wolverines concluded a perfect 13-0 season with a 6-1 victory over West Hartford Little League 10U Royal in the Greater Hartford Fall Ball League (GHFBL) 10U Championship on Field 1 at the West Hartford Little League Baseball Complex.
The Wolverines scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the first inning. Daniel Marinchak walked, advanced to third on a double by Connor Flanagan, then scored on a passed-ball walk to Sawyer Kan. The Royal tied it up 1-1 in the top of the second before pitchers from both teams shut down the opposition until the Wolverines exploded for 5 runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Ariel Shmuel led off with a seeing-eye single, followed by a Marinchak single and a Flanagan triple, and the Wolverines led 3-1.
Consecutive singles by Matthew Fellows and Henry Bentley increased the lead to 5-1, and Bentley closed out the scoring with a steal of home on a passed ball. Grady Jacobs pitched 4 2/3 innings of 2-hit-1-run ball with six strikeouts to lead the Wolverines, while Flanagan closed out the Royal with three strikeouts and one hit in 1 1/3 innings of relief.
The undefeated season was truly a well-rounded team effort, led by Kan’s .875 batting avg and 5 home runs, and Jacobs’ 33 strikeouts and 2.21 ERA in 19 innings. Other contributors throughout the season were Joseph Avallone, Reed Daniels, Mason Delgado, Ben Healy, and Hudson Phillips. The Wolverines balanced attack of pitching, defense, and timely hitting resulted in the GHFBL 10U Championship.
The Wolverines were guided by Coaches Ray Bentley, Tom Flanagan, James Healy, and Jasper Kan.
West Hartford Little League 8U Chicken Jockeys. Courtesy photo
8U Chicken Jockeys
The West Hartford Little League 8U Chicken Jockeys completed a championship run through the GHFBL playoffs by believing in themselves, playing for each other and giving it their best effort with an 8-3 win over Newington in the Championship game.
The Chicken Jockeys capped off an impressive 12-1-1 season on a crisp fall weather day. Their bats continued to stay hot, in the championship game, as they combined to score 31 runs in the three playoff matchups. The season was marked by a lot of learning and a lot of time together as well as perseverance and a ton of fun on the baseball diamond.
The offense was led by the lead-off hitter, Rory Sweeney, who went 3-3 on the day and set the table each time through the order. The No. 3 hitter, Emerson Gagnon, also went an impressive 2-3 at the plate with a bases clearing double in the third that served as the exclamation point on the 5-run inning. Jackson McAdam, also contributed with two base hits, serving as a cleanup hitter at the bottom of the order. All 13 players reached base throughout the game with Benson Scurlock, Noah Gallagher, Harrison McKeenan, Simon Cruz, Charles Rafferty, Bradley Fellows, and Julian D’Angelo hitting their way on and Fitzwallace Kitchens, Carter Daniels, and Matthew Moreira earning their way on with a patient approach at the plate. The Chicken Jockeys combined for 14 hits throughout the game and were aggressive on the base paths with six combined stolen bases.
Defensively, the pitching contingent of Sweeney, Rafferty, and Fellows along with sure-handed catchers D”Angelo and Gagnon combined to throw six innings, allowing three runs on three hits, four strikeouts, and only four stolen bases. The sure-handed Chicken Jockeys combined for 14 defensive put outs in the field which included a rarely seen double play, and an even more elusive outfield assist in the sixth to put the game away.
The total team effort echoed the words of the coaching staff who stressed the importance of being focused on the task at hand, visualizing success, and giving their best effort. Success was earned by the effort provided by each of the players and by the respect they showed for themselves, the coaching staff, their fans and most importantly: West Hartford Little League Chicken Jockeys.
About West Hartford Little League
It is the mission of West Hartford Little League to provide an opportunity for all West Hartford boys and girls ages 4 through 12 to participate meaningfully in the sport of baseball, to learn the rules and strategies of the game, to learn sportsmanship and respect for their fellow players and coaches and to have fun!
Registration for the Spring 2026 season opens Dec. 1, 2025 at westhartfordlittleleague.
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