Original link: http://www.necbl.com/view/necbl/news-1185/news_537044
With the 2021 New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL) regular season ending, the playoffs are ready to begin and all 14 teams across the North and the South are eager to continue their quest for the Fay Vincent Cup.
All squads except the North and South Division champs will play in winner take all contests on Tuesday, August 3, starting at 6:00pm.
Northern Division Wild Card Matchups:
Keene Swamp Bats (1) vs. TBD
For the second year in a row, the Swamp Bats have been crowned Northern Division champions, touting a 2021 regular-season record of 26-15, thus giving them a wild card bye and home-field advantage through the postseason. With the help of a 10-game winning streak in the middle of the season, Keene was able to finish the summer with a three-game lead atop the division. The Swamp Bats are hopeful to make it far in the postseason with the help of student-athletes such as All-Star right-handed pitcher Michael Bacica (University of Maine Orono), who finishes the regular season with a 3.52 ERA, 42 strikeouts and a 2-0 record through nine appearances, and fellow All-Star shortstop Zach Bushling (University of Connecticut), who wraps up the summer with a .271 batting average, 36 total hits, 23 walks, 22 RBI and seven home runs. Other All-Star players such as outfielders Tommy Joseph (Jacksonville University) and Troy Schreffler (University of Maryland) and shortstop Daniel DiGerogio (Rutgers University) will surely be leaned on from here on out.
Upper Valley Nighthawks (2) vs. Winnipesaukee Muskrats (7)
The second-place Upper Valley Nighthawks will host the Winnipesaukee Muskrats in an exciting wild card matchup in White River Junction. The Nighthawks ran away with the 2021 season series versus the Muskrats by a record of 5-2 and hope to avoid being upset by Winnipesaukee on their home turf while the ‘Skrats are eager to make it happen on Tuesday, August 3, starting at 6:00pm.
The Upper Valley Nighthawks conclude the regular season with a record of 23-18 and just three games behind the first-place Keene Swamp Bats at the top of the Northern Division. The ‘Hawks are equipped with plenty of All-Stars to propel them to the next round of the postseason, including 2021 NECBL All-Star Game MVP infielder Max Viera (Northeastern University), who touts a .310 average, 39 total hits, 15 RBI and seven extra-base hits. Upper Valley’s offense is also led by All-Star outfielder Alan Roden (Creighton University) and infielder Gehrig Anglin (Wright State University). All-Star pitcher Nick Cantone (Marist College) who completes the summer with a 3.86 ERA, 36 strikeouts, 15 relief outings and three saves will hope to lead his squad to NECBL lore, plus with the help of Jordy Allard (University of Richmond) and southpaw Jack Keenan (Marist College).
Despite the Muskrats experiencing a down season this year, there’s plenty for this team and its fans to be excited about in this matchup. Despite owning a 14-26 record and a last-place Northern Division finish, three All-Star players are nothing to laugh about. All-Star outfielder Cole Johnson (Kansas State University) completes the regular season with a .336 batting average, 36 total hits, 19 stolen bases, 17 RBI, 10 home runs and seven doubles. Fellow All-Star fan selection and outfielder Jake LaPrairie (Tulane University) boasted a .262 average, 28 total hits, 18 walks, 17 RBI, 20 runs, 7 stolen bases, 5 home runs and five doubles. All-Star pitcher Reese Sharp ends the regular season with a 2.66 ERA through nine outings and one start, 27 strikeouts, over 20 innings pitched, three saves and a 2-1 record. Winnipesaukee is not ready for their 2021 season to end just yet, despite being the underdogs.
North Adams SteepleCats (3) vs. Sanford Mainers (6)
The North Adams SteepleCats will host the Sanford Mainers in what should be an exciting wild card matchup at Joe Wolfe Field for the chance to continue toward the postseason. The Mainers narrowly won the season series against the SteepleCats by a record of 4-3 and look to extend that number despite being the underdogs on Tuesday, August 3, at 6:30pm.
The North Adams SteepleCats placed third in the Northern Division standings this season, finishing with an overall record of 21-17-2. Two early summer ties against the North Shore Navigators may have prevented the ‘Cats from completing the regular season on a higher note. North Adams All-Star catcher Jeremy Lea (University of the Pacific), who ends the summer with a .285 batting average, 39 total hits, 26 runs, 18 RBI, 10 walks, eight doubles and five home runs, will hope to continue to lead his team to success through the playoffs and into the postseason, with the help of fellow All-Star first baseman John Marti (University of Albany), who finishes the 2021 summer with a .233 average, 28 total hits, 28 walks, 24 runs,13 RBI, five extra-base hits and five stolen bases. Pitchers such as righty Brian Zeldin (University of Pennsylvania), Kaleb Sophy (Shippensburg University) and Jake Cubbler (University of South Carolina) will presumably see the bump in hopes of becoming North Adams heroes.
As for the underdog Sanford Mainers, who finished in sixth place in the Northern Division with a record of 16-25, are eager to continue on the path to hoisting the Fay Vincent Cup. All-Star southpaw Jacob Edwards (University of North Carolina Asheville), who touts a 1.63 ERA through nearly 28 innings pitched, 27 strikeouts, just eight walks allowed and a 1-0 record will be ready to guide his team to the rest of the postseason. All-Star center fielder Calvin Hewett (Vanderbilt University) finishes the summer with a .300 even batting average, 30 total hits, 19 runs, 15 RBI, 11 walks, 10 extra-base hits and 10 stolen bases alongside All-Star infielder Martin Higgins (St. John’s University) who boasts a .303 average, 20 total hits, 12 runs, 9 RBI, eight extra-base hits and five walks will lead Sanford’s offense in this exciting wild card affair in North Adams.
Vermont Mountaineers (4) vs. North Shore Navigators (5)
The Vermont Mountaineers will host the North Shore Navigators in Montpelier for a shot to continue to the postseason in what should be a memorable matchup. The Navigators ran away with the season series against the Mountaineers by a record of 5-2 and are ready to make it six wins despite being narrow underdogs as Vermont will look to protect their home turf on Tuesday, August 3, at 6:30pm.
The Vermont Mountaineers finish the regular season with an overall record of 21-20 and in fourth place in the Northern Division. All-Stars such as catcher Matt Oldham (North Carolina State University), who finishes 2021 with a .260 batting average, 32 total hits, 26 runs, 23 RBI and nine home runs, and shortstop Keagan Calero (University of Dayton), who owns a .248 average, 29 total hits, 27 runs, 28 walks, 18 RBI, 12 stolen bases, four doubles and three home runs, will each look to lead their home team to the remainder of the postseason in the NECBL. The Mountaineers’ three All-Star pitchers are ready to lead their squad on the mound, including Alex Bryant (College of the Holy Cross), who touts a 3.13 ERA through seven starts and nearly 32 innings, 34 strikeouts and a 1-2 record, along with Enzo Stefanoni (University of Connecticut) and Cole Roland (Dartmouth College).
As for the North Shore Navigators, the Massachusetts team placed fifth in the Northern Division standings and owns an overall record of 20-20-2. The Navigators’ two early-season ties against the North Adams SteepleCats may have, unfortunately, hurt their placement. However, North Shore has a plethora of incredible talent both in the batter’s box and on the diamond. With three 2021 All-Stars including pitcher Jackson Emus (Princeton University), who owns the NECBL regular-season best ERA of 2.27 through 35.2 innings pitched and nine outings, 36 strikeouts and a 3-1 record, infielder Logan Bravo (Harvard University) who batted .287 with 39 total hit, 35 runs, 32 RBI, 19 walks, 14 home runs (2021 NECBL high), six doubles and two triples, along with outfielder Joseph Lomuscio (Stanford University) who finished the regular season with a .310 batting average, 44 total hits, 28 RBI, 26 runs, 11 walks, six home runs, six stolen bases, four doubles and two triples, the Navs are eager to make their presence felt in this year’s installment of the playoffs and hopefully postseason.
Southern Division Wild Card Matchups:
Martha’s Vineyard Sharks (1) vs. TBD
Your 2021 Southern Division champions Martha’s Vineyard Sharks receive home-field advantage through the postseason and a wild card bye thanks to their 24-27-1 regular season overall record. Thanks to many mini-winning streaks of five or so games throughout the summer, the Sharks will have a solid chance to make it deep in this year’s postseason. Five 2021 All-Stars this season was no surprise for the stellar Sharks who have made waves since they entered the NECBL just a couple of years ago. All-Star pitchers Ryan Ramsey (University of Maryland), who touts a 1.88 ERA through six outings and 24 innings pitched, 38 strikeouts and a 2-0 record alongside Adam Boucher (Duke University) and Jackson Nezuh (Florida State University), are hoping to help lead their squad to postseason lore. All-Star first baseman Ryan Hernandez (University of Houston) and All-Star shortstop Jake Berger (Harvard University) were regular-season offensive leaders for Martha’s Vineyard and will look to continue that trend through the next week.
Valley Blue Sox (2) vs. Bristol Blues (7)
The Valley Blue Sox are eager to host the Bristol Blues in one of the Southern Division’s wild card matchups at MacKenzie Stadium. The Blue Sox nearly swept the season series against the Blues by a record of 5-1 and are looking to extend that record as Bristol is ready to knock down Valley on their home turf on Tuesday, August 3, at 6:35pm.
The Valley Blue Sox finished second in the Southern Division standings, just one singular game behind the first-place Martha’s Vineyard Sharks, with an overall record of 23-18. With five All-Stars in 2021, the Blue Sox came to play. All-Star pitcher Ryan Towle (University of Massachusetts Lowell) completed the regular season with a 0.96 ERA through 17 outings and 28 innings pitched, allowing just three earned runs and allowing 10 walks while striking out 46 batters and recording six saves. With 2021 NECBL Home Run Derby champion, All-Star and first baseman Luke Franzoni (Xavier University) helping lead the lineup with 37 total hits, 27 runs, 21 RBI and walks, 11 doubles, 10 home runs and four stolen bases alongside All-Star catcher Cole Andrews (Miami University), All-Star shortstop Mason LaPlante (Yale University) and All-Star fan vote winner and lefty-handed pitcher Antonio Balducci (University of Richmond), Valley is eager to defend their home field in this wild card matchup.
The last-place Bristol Blues experienced a disappointing season, finishing with a 12-29 record and a handful of touch losing streaks to begin the season. Nonetheless, a five-game win streak near the tail-end of the summer and a plethora of exciting players and an All-Star made Bristol’s first season with the NECBL a memorable one. All-Star outfielder Austin White (Coastal Carolina University) completed the regular season with a .280 batting average, 39 total hits, 23 runs, 16 walks, 14 stolen bases, 11 RBI, and five doubles and Home Run Derby participant and first baseman Brennen Dorighi (Wofford College) ended the 2021 regular season with a .235 average, 32 total hits, 20 runs, 19 RBI and walks, 10 doubles, six stolen bases and three home runs. Pitchers such as righty Mark Faello (Hofstra University), who ends the summer with a 3.27 ERA through 33 innings pitched and seven starts plus three strikeouts and Jack Moore (Emory University), who finishes the regular season with a 3.82 ERA through nine appearances and 42.1 innings pitched, 38 strikeouts and a 1-4 record, look to lead Bristol to the postseason on the mound.
Mystic Schooners (3) vs. Ocean State Waves (6)
The Mystic Schooners are ready to host the Ocean State Waves in one of the Southern Division’s wild card matchups at Fitch High School. The Schooners handled the Waves in the teams’ season series by a record of 6-1 and are looking to extend that record on Tuesday, August 3, at 6:05pm in Mystic, while Ocean State will hope to stifle the Schooners.
With a tied-for-second-place finish in the South for Mystic, entwined with the Valley Blue Sox for one game behind the first-place Martha’s Vineyard Sharks and owning a 23-18-1 record, the Schooners are excited to prove themselves in this wild card contest. Touting four position player All-Stars in 2021 infielder Addison Kopack (University of Rhode Island), infielder Danny Crossen (Northeastern University) and outfielders Barry Walsh (Boston College) and Brendan Cumming (Princeton University), Cumming possessing the second-best batting average in the NECBL this season with a .398 average, Mystic is eager to get the playoffs started and hopefully move forward to the postseason. Cumming totaled 53 hits, 36 runs, 20 RBI, 14 walks, 12 stolen bases, two triples and one home run in his magnificent season for the Schooners.
The Ocean State Waves, who placed fifth in the Southern Division with an 18-24 overall record, are looking to stay alive as underdogs in their wild card matchup just west of Rhode Island in Mystic, Connecticut. With a whopping seven 2021 All-Stars and one Home Run Derby participant, Ocean State is confident in their ability to progress forward to the postseason and take down the Schooners. The Waves will most certainly be led by All-Star left fielder and 2021 NECBL batting champion Travis Honeyman (Boston College), who boasted a .430 regular-season batting average for Ocean State who tallied 40 total hits, 26 runs, 26 RBI, 15 walks, 14 stolen bases, eight doubles, seven home runs and one triple. Fellow All-Stars in infielder/catcher Nick Hassan (Kennesaw State University), infielder Kyle Maves (Quinnipiac University), catcher Johnny Tuccillo (Stony Brook University), and pitchers Shaun Gamelin (Rhode Island College), Nick Payero (Seton Hall University) and Ryan Gleason (Virginia Tech University) are ready to prove themselves and their team in their wild card affair.
Danbury Westerners (4) vs. Newport Gulls (5)
The Danbury Westerners will host the Newport Gulls at Rogers Park in their wild card matchup as both teams so close in seeding hope to outlast the other in Rhode Island. The Westerners swept the season series versus the Gulls by a record of 7-0 and are ready to extend that undefeated record at home to stay alive and enter the 2021 postseason.
The hosting Danbury Westerners finished in third place in the South with an overall record of 23-19, just one-and-a-half games back of the first-place Martha’s Vineyard Sharks. Boasting three 2021 NECBL All-Stars in infielder John Anderson (Georgia Tech), catcher Jack Payton (University of Louisville) and outfielder Cameron Masterman (University of Louisville), Danbury is ready to continue to prove themselves after an exciting regular season; finishing with just one less win than the division champions is something to talk about. Other players such as infielder Nicholas Lorusso (University of Maryland), who finished the regular season with a .302 batting average and 29 total hits, 16 walks, 12 runs and RBI, seven doubles and two home runs alongside fellow infielder Banks Griffith (Stetson University), who possesses a .301 average and 31 total hits, 29 runs, 17 walks, 14 RBI, nine doubles and one home run, plus pitchers including Tyler Roche (St. John’s University) and Josh Brown (University of Houston) will aid in the Westies’ Tuesday postseason hopes.
The Newport Gulls placed fourth in the Southern Division with a 22-20 overall record, and at one point in the season were comfortably sitting in first place, but eventually suffered a 10-game losing streak near the later part of the summer that pushed them down the standings and in the position they are now: on the road and fighting for a place in the postseason in a wild card matchup. Nonetheless, the Gulls possess an immense amount of talent in all phases of the game thanks to five 2021 All-Stars in pitchers Kellan Tulio (University of Louisville) and Grant Umberger (Virginia Tech University) plus infielder Justin Guerrera (Fairfield University), outfielder Sam Cochrane (College of Charleston) and coach’s selection Dawson Brigman (Santa Clara University). Cochrane notably finished with a .285 batting average, 45 total hits, 32 runs, 23 walks, 23 stolen bases, 22 RBI, six doubles, two home runs and one triple for Newport.
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