Saturday, June 24, 2023

Vermont Eases Past New Hampshire in 2023 Twin State Baseball Classic

Contact: Bruce Bosley (bbosley.vbca@gmail.com/)

 

June 24, 2023

 

Vermont 15, New Hampshire 0

 

NORTHFIELD, Vt.— Evan Dennis of Blue Mountain drove in a pair of runs, and led a strong pitching staff, and Shane Starr of Union-32 added a three-run homer as Vermont blanked New Hampshire, 15-0, in the 2023 Twin State Baseball Classic Saturday morning at Norwich University’s Garrity Field. Due to inclement weather, the teams played only one nine-inning contest instead of the scheduled double-header of two seven-inning games.

 

The shutout was the first in seven classics since the border rivalry in its current format was renewed in 2015.

 

Dennis, who led Blue Mountain to the Vermont D4 state title two weeks earlier, picked up Most Valuable Player honors for the Green Mountain State. Along with his RBI-triple he walked and scored, and drove in a run with a sacrifice fly. Karter Deming of White Mountains Regional was the Most Valuable Player for New Hampshire hurling two solid innings and reaching base twice with a single and a walk. Like Dennis, Deming led his school to a state championship earlier in June, the New Hampshire D3 crown.

 

Vermont scored in every inning but the fourth, led 7-0 after three and broke it open with a four–run fifth.  It rapped out 11 hits while its pitchers limited New Hampshire to four singles. Dennis tripled and scored in the second and Starr belted his homer, a long shot to right field, in the third. Also with extra base hits were Malakai Callahan of Colchester and Trevor Arsenault of Spaulding with RBI-doubles, and a double by Burr and Burton’s Trevor Greene.

 

Deming, Liam Shaw of Colebrook, John McDevitt of Derryfield and Sam Caldwell of Prospect Mountain had the hits for New Hampshire.

 

All 18 players for Vermont reached base at least once, with nine different players having at least one hit. Arsenault was the lone player with two hits. In the field, Vermont had just one error while several miscues hurt the Granite State.

 

Dennis started on the mound and allowed one hit in two innings, Deming’s single, striking out two. Austin Wheeler of Lyndon followed in the third and fourth, allowing one baserunner with three strikeouts. Chris Robinson of Champlain Valley (one hit and one K) and Evan Lamothe of South Burlington (two hits, four strikeouts) each hurled two clean innings. Connor Hannan of Mount Anthony set down New Hampshire in the ninth striking out two. Vermont pitchers walked just three while its hitters drew seven walks.

 

Vermont won a pair in Northfield last year after the classic returned to the diamond after a two-year absence. Vermont’s team is from all four divisions (64 schools) and the team from the higher-populated Granite State is made up of schools from its Division’s 2, 3 and 4.


Thanks for the 2023 Twin State Baseball Classic go out to host Norwich University, especially head baseball coach Frank Pecora and his staff, and director of athletics Ed Hockenbury. While at Northfield High, Pecora was a Vermont Twin State coach several times and Hockenbury as a senior at Northfield, played in the classic. 

Thursday, June 15, 2023

2023 VBCA Underclass Showcase To Be Held Wednesday June 21 at Castleton

Previous showcases have widened exposure for many Vermont high school underclass student-athletes  

Deadline for Registration is Monday, June 19, 2023!

Contact: Bruce Bosley (bbosley.vbca@gmail.com)

The 10th Vermont Baseball Coaches Association Underclass Showcase and Junior All-Star Game will be held on Wednesday, June 21, 2023 at Castleton University's Spartan Field in Castleton, Vermont. Vermont high school baseball student-athletes who are in the class of 2024 (junior in 2022-23 school year) will have the opportunity to display their skills and participate in a controlled game for New England and Northeast region collegiate baseball coaches.

The showcase will be administered by VBCA member coaches.

On-field registration for the student-athletes begins at 11:30 a.m. with the first showcase workouts beginning at noon. Rain date for the event is the following week. The cost per student-athlete is $40, checks payable to the VBCA.  Student-athletes can contact their varsity high school coach for more information and for registration forms. At the showcase, players must be dressed and ready to play. T-shirts and batting helmets will be provided. Also any catchers need to bring their gear and all student-athletes should bring a water bottle.

The showcase registration form is attached in PDF. Please share with interested (and eligible) student-athletes. A few spots may be available for a class of 2025 (sophs). We will know closer to the showcase if there is room for the 2025s (only class of 2024- juniors will pitch). Details for student-athletes are on the form.

Other questions- and additional requests for registration forms- can be sent to Bruce Bosley, VBCA executive director, at bbosley.vbca@gmail.com or bosleyb@comcast.net. The deadline for registration is June 19, 2023.

The 2022 VBCA Showcase returned to the diamond last June after a two-year absence. Fifty underclass student-athletes displayed their skills in front of coaches from close to 20 collegiate baseball programs at all levels from throughout the Northeast.

Around 70 former Vermont high school players were represented on 2023 NCAA Division I, II and III  four-year baseball rosters, with as many as 10 on D-I rosters. Several earned all-conference honors and participated or will participate with schools advancing to the NCAA Baseball Championship. Many  of these student-athletes participated in previous VBCA events.


Thanks!

Vermont Announces 2023 Twin State Baseball Classic Team

 

Annual Classic To Be Held Saturday June 24 at Norwich University's Garrity Field

June 15, 2023

For Immediate Release

Contact: Bruce Bosley (bbosley.vbca@gmail.com)

Eighteen of the top senior baseball players from the Green Mountain State, representing all four divisions, make up the team that will represent Vermont against New Hampshire in the 2023 Twin State Baseball Classic on Saturday, June 24 at Norwich University's Garrity Field in Northfield, Vt. The Vermont Baseball Coaches Association announced its roster today.

The 2023 Vermont team is: Jamison Nystrom of Bellows Falls; Evan Dennis of Blue Mountain; Trevor Greene of Burr & Burton; Chris Robinson of Champlain Valley; Malakai Callahan and Matai Callahan of Colchester;  Tyler Rivard of Hazen; Austin Wheeler of Lyndon Institute; Owen Pinaud of Mount Mansfield;  Evan Gorton of Milton; Connor Hannan and Josh Worthington of Mount Anthony; Jordan Beayon of Otter Valley; Evan Lamothe of South Burlington; Trevor Arsenault and Danny Kiniry of Spaulding; Shane Starr of Union 32; and Eli Duprey of Vergennes.

The Vermont coaches are Tim Root (Essex), Mike Howe (Otter Valley), Dan Kiniry (Spaulding) and Jason Tarleton (Woodstock).

The Green Mountain State's squad is made up of student-athletes and coaches from 15 different high schools from all corners of the state.

First pitch of game one of a pair of seven-inning contests is at 10 a.m., preceded by brief pregame ceremonies. Admission to the twin-bill is free.
 
Vermont took two from New Hampshire at Garrity Field in 2022, as the classic returned to the diamond after a three-year absence. Prior to the Vermont sweep, there have been four twin-bill splits in six classics- with nine games decided by two runs or less, since returning in its current format in 2015.

Sunday, June 26, 2022

Vermont Takes Pair from New Hampshire in 2022 Twin State Baseball Classic


Contact: Bruce Bosley (bbosley.vbca@gmail.com)


June 25, 2022


Game One: Vermont 9, New Hampshire 7

Game Two: Vermont 19, New Hampshire 4


NORTHFIELD, Vt.— Clutch hitting by Sully Beers of South Burlington led a game one comeback and a 10-run inning broke open the nightcap to lift Vermont to a doubleheader sweep over New Hampshire in the 2022 Twin State Baseball Classic Saturday at Norwich University’s Garrity Field. Vermont came back in the top of the seventh to win the opener, 9-7, and then cruised to a 19-4 victory in game two. The sweep was just the second in six classics since the border rivalry in its current format was renewed in 2015.


Beers two-run double capped a three-run rally with two outs in the seventh to capture the lid-lifter. He added another run-scoring double in Vermont’s 10-run second inning in the second game to pick up Most Valuable Player honors for the Green Mountain State. Dominic Van Laere-Nutting of Fall Mountain Regional was the Most Valuable Player for New Hampshire after a strong two games at the plate, reaching base four times in six trips going 2-for-3 with a double, two walks, two runs scored, a stolen base and two RBI.


The first game, a back and forth affair, opened with strong pitching from hurlers bound for NCAA Division I programs. Tyler Hicks (White Mountain Regional) from NH who is heading to Maine, and Manhattan College-bound Ollie Pudvar (Champlain Valley) for Vermont. In the first three frames, Hicks allowed two hits and a walk, one earned run while striking out four while Pudvar set down the side in order in the first with two strikeouts. 


Vermont’s two runs in the top of the second were matched by New Hampshire’s two in the bottom half paced by Van Laere-Nutting’s double. Fritz Hauser (St. Johnsbury) led the fourth with an infield hit and came around to score to give Vermont a 3-2 lead. 


New Hampshire would take a 4-3 lead with two in the fifth capped by a sacrifice fly by Kevin Putnam (Monadnock). After a two-run triple by Trevor Lussier (Lyndon) pushed Vermont back on top, 6-4, in the top of the sixth, the Granite State answered in the bottom half with three runs on just one hit, a single by Janai Cruz (Derryfield). 


With Braedon Jones (Champlain Valley) on second with two down in the seventh, and New Hampshire one strike away from the win, John Dennis (Blue Mountain) singled to score Jones to tie it. Dennis and Adam Mansfield (Mount Abraham), who walked, rode home on Beers long double to left center. Andrew Goodrich (Essex) retired the side in order in the bottom of the seventh to save it for winning pitcher Carter Hoffman (Union-32).


Vermont out-hit New Hampshire, 9-3, in game one but the Granite State took advantage of five walks, a hit batter and three errors. Brody LaBounty (White Mountain Regional) had the other hit for New Hampshire while for Vermont, Lussier and Goodrich each went 2-for-2, and Nolan Simon (Burlington) doubled and walked in three trips.


Ryan Latsha (Campbell) led the nightcap with a walk and after stealing second, scored on a single by Putnam. Van Laere-Nutting plated Putnam with a sacrifice fly to give New Hampshire an early 2-0 edge. Vermont broke it open with 10 runs in the bottom of the second sending 16 hitters to the plate. In addition to Beers RBI-double, Jones had two hits in the inning, a two-run double and a RBI-single. 


New Hampshire added two more in the sixth on a Putnam RBI-double and a sacrifice fly by Troy Brennan (Wliton-Lydeborough). Of the team’s seven hits in game two, Putnam went 2-for-4 and Cruz went 2-for-3 adding a triple.


Vermont rapped out 15 hits in the nightcap. In addition to Jones and Beers, Hauser went 3-for-3 with a double and Lussier went 2-for-3, both with four hits on the day. Will Fowler (St. Johnsbury) was 2-for-2 with a triple, reaching three times and scoring three runs, and Turner Clews (Brattleboro) added two hits, scoring three times. Matt Gonyeau (BFA St. Albans) allowed two hits in two scoreless innings to get the win, and Clews tossed a scoreless seventh to lead five Vermont pitchers in game two. 


In the two games, all 18 players for Vermont reached base at least once, with 13 different players having at least one hit.


The classic returned to action after a two-year absence. Vermont’s team is from all four divisions (64 schools) and the team from the higher-populated Granite State is made up from its Division’s 2, 3 and 4.


Special thanks for the 2022 Twin State Baseball Classic go out to host Norwich University, especially head baseball coach Frank Pecora and his staff, and director of athletics Ed Hockenbury. While at Northfield High, Pecora was a Vermont Twin State coach several times and Hockenbury as a senior at Northfield, played in the classic.



2022 Twin State Baseball Classic MVPs: Sully Beers, Vermont (L) and Dominic Van Laere-Nutting, New Hampshire (R).

Wednesday, June 15, 2022

2022 Vermont Twin State Baseball Classic Team Announced

Classic Returns To Diamond Saturday June 25 at Norwich's Garrity Field

Eighteen of the top senior baseball players from the Green Mountain State have been selected to represent Vermont against New Hampshire in the 2022 Twin State Baseball Classic on Saturday, June 25 at Norwich University's Garrity Field in Northfield, Vt. The Vermont Baseball Coaches Association announced its roster today.

The 2022 Vermont team is: Griff Briggs (IF/RHP), Arlington; Matt Gonyeau (OF), BFA St. Albans; John Dennis (IF), Blue Mountain; Alex Bingham (SS/RHP) and Turner Clews (C), Brattleboro;  Nolan Simon (IF), Burlington; Braedon Jones (IF/RHP) and Oliver Pudvar (OF/LHP), Champlain Valley; Eli Bostwick (C) and Andrew Goodrich (IF/RHP), Essex; David Piers (IF/RHP), Lake Region; Trevor Lussier (C), Lyndon; Adam Mansfield (IF/RHP), Mount Abraham; Tanner Wolpert (IF/OF), Rice Memorial; Will Fowler (IF) and Fritz Hauser (IF), Saint Johnsbury; Sully Beers (OF), South Burlington; and Carter Hoffman (OF/RHP), Union 32.
 
The Vermont coaches are Nick DeCaro (Danville), Tim Root (Essex), Mike Howe (Otter Valley) and Jason Tarleton (Woodstock).

The Green Mountain State's squad is made up of student-athletes and coaches from 17 different high schools from all corners of the state, and represents all four of the state’s divisions. The New Hampshire roster will be finalized and announced later.

First pitch of game one of a pair of seven-inning contests is at 10 a.m., preceded by brief pregame ceremonies. Admission to the twin-bill is free.
 
The Twin State Baseball Classic was last played in 2019 with the two states splitting a pair, the fourth twin-bill split in five events since returning in its current format in 2015. A year ago, the VBCA recognized its seniors with the 2021 Vermont North-South Classic at Hadley Field in Rockingham, Vt.  


2022 VBCA Underclass Showcase To Be Held Wednesday June 22 at Castleton

Previous showcases have widened exposure for many Vermont high school players

The ninth annual Vermont Baseball Coaches Association Underclass Showcase and All-Star Game returns to diamond and will be held on Wednesday, June 22, 2022 at Castleton University's Spartan Field in Castleton, Vermont. 

Vermont high school baseball student-athletes who are in the class of 2023 (junior in 2021-22 school year) will have the opportunity to display their skills and participate in a controlled game for New England and Northeast region collegiate baseball coaches.

The showcase will be administered by VBCA member coaches.

On-field registration for the student-athletes begins at 11:30 a.m. with the first showcase
workouts beginning at noon. Rain date for the event is the following week. The cost per student-athlete is $40.00, checks payable to the VBCA. Please should arrive dressed (baseball pants and shoes) and ready to play. T-shirts and batting helmets will be provided. Also any catchers need to bring their gear and all student-athletes should bring a water bottle.

Registration is limited to 50 student-athletes, and priority is given to members of the class of 2023 (high school juniors in the 2021-22 school year. Spots may be available for members of the class of 2024. These current sophomores must be varsity starters this season. 

Other questions- and requests for additional registration forms- can be sent to Bruce Bosley, VBCA executive director, at bbosley.vbca@gmail.com. The deadline for registration is June 20, 2022.

The last VBCA Showcase was held in June 2019. Fifty underclass student-athletes displayed their skills in front of coaches from close to 20 collegiate baseball programs at all levels from throughout the Northeast.

Over 60 former Vermont high school players were represented on 2022 NCAA Division I, II and III four-year baseball rosters. Several earned all-conference honors and participated with schools advancing to the NCAA Baseball Championship. Many of these student-athletes participated in previous VBCA events.

Wednesday, June 8, 2022

Volunteers Needed for 2022 VPA State Championships

Again this season the VBCA will need volunteers at the upcoming 2022 VPA Baseball State Championships.

Coaches are needed to staff the t-shirt table and sell 50-50 raffle tickets at all four state title games. This is a great source of revenue for the VBCA and members will be needed to help at any or all the games. The schedule for games at historic Centennial Field in Burlington is below, with games Friday through Monday. A minimum of four volunteers will be needed for each game.

Contact Bruce Bosley at bbosley.vbca@gmail.com or Jeff Stetson at jstetson36@yahoo.com to let us know what game or games you can help.

Let your assistants coaches know that they are also more than welcome to assist. Bring your kids as well. This is a great opportunity to network and socialize with your peers.

Please note that we also will need coaches to volunteer at the 2022 VBCA Underclass All-Star Game and Showcase in Castleton on Wednesday, June 22.

Congrats and best of luck to the eight finalists and thanks in advance to those who can help us out!

2022 VPA Baseball Championship Schedule (all games at historic Centennial Field in Burlington):
Fri June 10, 6:30 p.m. Division IV: #1 Blue Mountain (16-0) vs #2 White River Valley (14-4)
Sat June 11, 11 a.m. Division II: #1 Spaulding (17-1) vs #2 Lyndon (15-3)
Sun June 12, 11 a.m. Division III: #1 Hazen (15-2) vs #3 Peoples (14-2)
Mon June 13, 6:30 p.m. Division I: #2 Brattleboro (13-4) vs #4 Essex (13-5)