MANCHESTER, Conn. — Stony Brook right-hander Ben Fero intended to spend his summer pitching in the Valley League in Virginia. That league, however, canceled play due to COVID-19.

So Fero adjusted and played in the Connecticut Collegiate Baseball League in his home state.

On Sunday, Fero celebrated a summer-league championship with his Brass City Bombers teammates. The team defeated the top-seeded Manchester Eagles, 13-1.

Fero, a Trumbull, Conn., native, contributed two perfect innings in the victory.

In seven appearances (three starts), Fero went 2-0 with a 2.50 ERA, 27 strikeouts and a .174 opponent batting average in 18 summer-league innings.

"With everyone's leagues getting canceled, there were a lot of great players in the CCBL this year," Fero said. "I played with kids who are going to get drafted, and against kids like that as well."

Fero, a rising junior at Stony Brook, owns a career 5-2 record and 2.56 ERA in two seasons with the Seawolves. He earned America East All-Rookie honors in 2019.

"Ben has been working tirelessly on his own since the COVID shutdown," Stony Brook pitching coach Tyler Kavanaugh said. "I am proud of how he has gone about his business and look forward to him continuing his growth when we get back on campus."

Said Fero: "I do not believe I would have grown the same anywhere else, with the great coaching we have. I still have a lot to work on, but I'm confident going into junior year, especially with Coach Kav being so invested in his pitchers."