By Marisa Dawson
The Bennington Badgers opened their 2026 baseball season in commanding fashion, blanking the Lincoln Northwest Falcons 10-0 in five innings on Thursday afternoon at Pruess Field in Bennington.
The non-conference victory showcased a complete team effort for the Badgers. Bennington’s offense erupted for 10 runs on 9 hits, while their pitching staff delivered a shutout, allowing just one hit and no runs across the shortened contest. The Badgers committed zero errors in the field, maintaining flawless defense.
On the mound, senior Dominic Mendicino set the tone with a strong outing, tossing 4.0 innings, scattering one hit, issuing three walks, and striking out five. Sophomore Max Swoboda closed out the game in the fifth, striking out all three batters he faced to seal the mercy-rule win.
Offensively, the Badgers’ seniors led the charge. Charlie Swoboda went 3-for-4 with two runs scored, three RBI, a double, and a stolen base. Carson Kortan added three hits in four at-bats, scoring once and driving in two, while Myles Gifford contributed three hits in three at-bats with one RBI. The team capitalized on six walks and efficient situational hitting, plating runs in the first (1), third (5), and fifth (4) innings.
Following the dominant performance, coach Collin McClain reflected on the strong start. “Our guys put in a lot of time during the offseason and first few weeks of practice to be prepared,” McClain said.
He noted the team’s mindset after the win: “We always feel good after starting out with a win. There is still some work to do, and the guys know that. The goal is to try to get to 1-0 each day.”
With several key seniors departed from last year’s squad, McClain praised the current senior class for stepping up. “Last year’s roster had a lot of good leaders. This year’s seniors had the opportunity to learn from last year’s seniors which was beneficial. They have stepped up in a big way, and it showed in the offseason. They lead hitting sessions and put in a lot of work on their own.”
McClain highlighted several positives from the game while identifying areas for growth.
“Our pitchers threw really well. Dominic and Max threw a lot of strikes for their first outing, and that puts you in position to win games. We still need to get more comfortable playing with one another, so the more we can get outside and get game-like reps, the better we will be.”
The shutout victory continues a strong trend for Bennington against Lincoln Northwest, marking their sixth consecutive win in the series. With solid pitching, timely hitting, and leadership from the seniors, the Badgers appear poised for another competitive season as they build momentum early.
