Summer baseball heats up in league’s 90th year

LITCHFIELD, Conn. — The Tri-State Baseball League is back for its 90th year.

Since 1934, when it was called the Interstate Baseball League, teams of players aged 16 and up have faced off in New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts. Each team is comprised of mostly local players, but four out-of-towners are permitted on each team to balance the rosters.

The Tri-State league of 12 teams includes many retired college athletes, some of whom went on to be drafted into the Major League. Bold high schoolers and current college players take part as well to stay active in the off-season.

The full nine-inning games are played with wooden bats at town parks and are free for spectators. On Saturday, June 15, the Amenia Monarchs matched up against the Tri-Town Trojans at Community Field in Litchfield.

The Trojans, featuring players from Northwest Connecticut, defeated the Monarchs in decisive fashion with a final score of 22-0.

Sammy Rigolino, a rising senior at Pine Plans High School, started the game on the mound for the Monarchs. The youngest player on the team, Rigolino got reps in against top talent in the region.

The Amenia Monarchs date back to the 1890s and were once a semi-pro team. Future and former big leaguers played over the years, including Jim Bouton, who played for several MLB teams between 1962 at 1970. He retired to Amenia and liked the team so much he decided to join at the age of 50.

Some ex-Monarchs have been inducted into the Dutchess County Baseball Hall of Fame. The team’s storied legacy continues today with a summer full of games.

For the schedule of upcoming league games, visit tristatebaseballct.com.