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)

Tuesday, June 7, 2022

Twin State Baseball Classic Returns To Diamond on June 25, 2022

       

Annual Classic Slated For Saturday June 25 at Garrity Field in Northfield

After a two-year absence, the Twin State Baseball Classic between high school seniors from Vermont and New Hampshire returns to the diamond on Saturday, June 25 at Garrity Field on the campus of Norwich University in Northfield, Vt. The Vermont Baseball Coaches Association made the announcement today.


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 Vermont coaches are Nick DeCaro (Danville), Mike Howe (Otter Valley), Tim Root (Essex) and Jason Tarleton (Woodstock). The New Hampshire coaches are  Dan Curnyn (Inter Lakes), Jim Marron (Campbell) and Tom Brennan (Wilton). The Vermont roster will be announced next week. 


The classic was last played in 2019, and a year ago the VBCA recognized its seniors with the 2021 Vermont North-South Classic at Bellows Falls Union High’s Hadley Field. 


Originally held from 1983 to 2004, the Twin State Baseball Classic returned to its current double-header format in June of 2015. The two states split a pair in 2019, New Hampshire taking game one, 4-1, and Vermont winning game two, 11-3, the fourth split in five classics.  Vermont recorded the lone sweep in this stretch in 2018 after the three previous splits featured all one-run games. 


Special thanks this year go out to Norwich University Athletics and Cadets head coach Frank Pecora for hosting the event. Prior to becoming a coach at Norwich in 2013, Pecora was the head coach at Northfield High for 37 years, and a member since its inception of the Vermont Baseball Coaches Association.


Click HERE for photo gallery of Norwich's Garrity Field

2021 Vermont High School All-Star Teams:

 2021 Vermont High School All-Star Teams:

(originally posted July 1, 2021)


Capital League:

Player of the Year: Owen Kellington, Sr., U-32;

Capital League First Team:

Harwood: Chris James, Jr., Skyler Platt, Jr.; Lake Region: Shane Stevens, So.; Lamoille: Matt Selby, Sr.; Lyndon: Trevor Lussier, Jr., Dylan Miller, Jr.; Montpelier: Marshall Donahue, Sr.; Thetford: Ryan Malloy, Jr., Ethan Marshia, Jr.; U-32: Alex Keane, So. 

Capital League Second Team: 

Harwood: Liam Guyette. Lake Region: Gabe Gardner, Logan Ingalls. Lamoille: Will Mlcuch. Lyndon: Cam Berry. Montpelier: Andrew Tringe. Thetford: Jackson Kingsbury. U-32: Tony Concessi, Carter Hoffman, Shane Starr.

Capital League Honorable Mention:

Lake Region: David Piers. Lyndon: James Sanborn, Whit Steen. Montpelier: Cabot Hart. North Country: Bryce Gunn, Jack Young. Randolph: Wyatt Messier. Thetford: Mack Briglin. U-32: Kevin Dowling.


  

Lake Division:

League Champion: Spaulding

Player of the Year: Justis Orton, Sr., Enosburg Falls

Coach of the Year: Dan Kiniry, Spaulding

All-Lake:

Enosburg Falls: Shea Howrigan, Jr., Kam Lovelette, Sr., Justis Orton, Sr., Brandon Parent, Jr., Dylan Pattee, Sr.; Milton: Kayden Burke, So., Evan Gorton, So., Hunter McClellan, So.; Missisquoi Valley: Garrett Fregeau, So., Ethan Messier, So., Jackson Porter, Sr., Patrick Walker, Sr.; Mount Abraham: Neil Guy, Jr., Colby Lathrop, Sr., Adam Mansfield, Jr., Zeke Savage, Sr.; Spaulding: Trevor Arsenault, So., Hayden Kennedy, Jr., Danny Kiniry, So., Kieran McNamara, So., Zach Stabell, Sr., Zack Wilson, So.; Vergennes: Barret Barros, Sr., Jarrett Muzzy, Sr., Tucker Stearns, Sr.

All-Lake Honorable Mention:

Enosburg Falls: Joey Pennell, Sr.; Missisquoi Valley: Eli Calhoun, So.; Mount Abraham: Ryan Whitcomb, Sr.; Spaulding: Dylan Bachand, So., Cole McAllister, So.; Vergennnes: Elijah Duprey, So. 


Metro Division:

Coach of the year: Tim Albertson, Champlain Valley.

Player of the year: Tanner Wolpert, Rice.

Pitcher of the year: Oliver Pudvar, Champlain Valley.

All-Metro First Team:

First base: Braedon Jones, Champlain Valley. Second base: Stefan DiGangi, Essex. Third base: Shreyas Parikh, Mount Mansfield. Shortstop: Andrew Goodrich, Essex. Catcher: Eli Bostwick, Essex; Will Gumbrell, Burlington. Outfield: Sully Beers, South Burlington; Ryan Eaton, Champlain Valley; Matt Gonyeau, BFA-St. Albans. Pitchers: Ryan Canty, Champlain Valley; Colby Fane-Fushing, Colchester; Ethan Moore, South Burlington; Christian Vallee, BFA-St. Albans; Gabe White, Essex.

All-Metro Second Team:

First base: Parker Ballard, Burlington. Third base: Mike Mansfield, Colchester. Shortstop: Tyler Holm, St. Johnsbury. Outfield: Ben Knapp, Colchester; Jackson Littlefield, Burlington; Kyle Tivnan, Champlain Valley. Pitcher: Cole Tarrant, Rice.

All-Metro Honorable Mention:

BFA-St. Albans: Joe Nachaczewski, Noah Place. Burlington: Davis Hobbs, Cooper Smith. Champlain Valley: Angelos Carroll, Asa Roberts. Colchester: Bryce Carey, Jack Talbot. Essex: Ryan Garrow, Nick Taylor. Mount Mansfield: Evan Hazen, Ben Powell. Rice: Nicholas Ravaschiere, Kyle Tanis. St. Johnsbury: Will Fowler. South Burlington: Evan LaMothe, Kiefer McGrath.


Mountain Division:

Co-players of the year: Ben Alekson, Peoples; Lyle Rooney, Hazen.

Mountain Division First Team:

Blue Mountain: Evan Dennis, Ricky Fennimore. Hazen: Tyler Rivard, Lyle Rooney, Ethan Shopland. Northfield: Adam Gertes. Peoples: Ben Alekson, Landon Dubie. Richford: Xavier Wood. Williamstown: Max Dexter.

Mountain Division Second Team:

Blue Mountain: John Dennis, Jr., Collin Punderson. Danville: Jacob Baesemann, Joe Schlesinger. Hazen: Jadon Baker. Northfield: Carter Allen. Peoples: Hayden Frazee, Augie Leven, Jack Lund. Richford: Nathan Lafromboise, Will Steinhour. Williamstown: Gabe Dexter.

Mountain Division Honorable Mention:

Blue Mountain: Ryan Gardner, Ethan Gilding. Danville: Jon Morgan, Caleb Nelson. Hazen: Tyson Davison, Jr., Andrew Menard. Northfield: Jameson Presten. Peoples: Chandler Follensbee, Alex Lanpher. Richford: Jacob Clawson, Benjamin Greenwood. Williamstown: Jaymeson Locarno.


Southern Vermont League:

SVL A Division Coach of the Year: Chris Groeger, Brattleboro.

SVL A Division First Team All-Stars: 

Brattleboro: Jack Pattison, Zinabu McNiece. Burr and Burton: Will Addington, Trevor Greene, Coleman Reece. Mount Anthony: Caleb Hay, Ethan Labatt. Rutland: Jevan Valente, Tyler Weatherhogg.


SVL B Division Coach of the Year: Kris Keelty, Hartford.

SVL B Division First Team All-Stars: 

Fair Haven: Sawyer Ramey, Evan Reed. Green Mountain: Jack Boyle, Kagan Hance. Hartford: Alex Bushway, Jacob Dwinell, Colin Vielleux. Otter Valley: Fraser Pierpont, Alex Polli. Windsor: Ethan Belvin.


SVL C Division Coach of the Year: Devin Cilley, White River Valley.

SVL C Division First Team All-Stars: 

Bellows Falls: Elliott Graham, Ethan Kelly, Jamison Nystrom. Leland & Gray: Dylan Greenwood, Kristian Pierson. White RIver Valley: Curtis Barry, Jacob Barry, Tyler Ballentine, Carder Stratton. Woodstock: Tom Bissaillon.


SVL D Division Coach of the year: Jamie Wright, Arlington.

SVL D Division First Team All-Stars:

Arlington: Griffin Briggs, Cannon Petry, Taylor Therriault. Mount St. Joseph's: Cole Blanchard, T.J. Euber, Braedon McKeighan. Poultney: Ryan Alt, Brennan Crossman, Connor McKearin, Camden Richardson. Rivendell: Ty Newman. West Rutalnd: Mike Goodnough.