The New England Collegiate Baseball League is summer baseball at its best, representing the most competitive brand of amateur wooden bat summer baseball in the country. With 13 teams located in all six New England States and nearly 150 Major League Baseball alumni, the league entertains our region for two months every summer. Student-athletes, who come from all parts of the country, partner with some of the region’s most scenic communities to offer summer baseball at its finest. Now celebrating over a quarter of a century of excellence, the New England League continues to transcend communities and give the best student-athletes from across the country a chance at their dream, which ties directly into the league's mantra -- Keep Your Eye on the Dream!
The NECBL -- now more commonly known as "The New England League" -- was founded in 1993 under the leadership of Emmy Award-winning television producer/director Joseph Consentino, former St. John's University and Boston Red Sox minor league outfielder. George Foster, former Cincinnati Reds and New York Mets All-Star HR and RBI leader, was the NECBL’s first Commissioner. Play started in 1994 and today the NECBL has become a nationally recognized top-tier league that plays in all six New England states and recruits players attending U.S colleges and universities not only across New England, but the entire country and foreign countries, as well.
The New England League starts its summer season in early June and plays an eight-week regular season schedule of approximately 40 games in length. The league champion is determined by a playoff in early August comprised of the top teams from both divisions playing for the right to host the iconic Fay Vincent Sr. Cup.
The New England League has long prided itself on its ability to transcend communities with the region’s love of baseball, a common denominator in all walks of life, combined with some of the nation’s elite up-and-coming prospects who share one common goal. Together, we all make baseball -- and our communities -- better thanks to a passionate fan base and the dedication of each of our member franchises, from host families, to volunteers, to front offices and everyone in between.
Of course, the talent that passes through the league and its franchises each summer is undeniably some of the best nationwide, and that fact is is made more obvious with the league's success in the MLB Draft each June. Providing a platform for players to showcase their skills in front of scouts from every Major League Baseball (MLB) organization, the New England League has sent nearly 150 alumni to the Major Leagues and has had nearly 100 alumni drafted in each of the last 10 MLB Drafts.
Any student who wishes to play in our League must be currently enrolled in a NCAA sanctioned College or University, be in good academic standing, have completed one year of athletic eligibility and have at least one year of eligibility remaining. The league strongly suggests that student athletes have their College coach and/or a MLB scout recommend them to any or all of our General Managers. Their phone numbers and email addresses can be found at their team's pages.
A Year-By-Year History of the New England Collegiate Baseball League
The New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL) was conceived in early 1993 by Emmy Award winning television producer/director Joseph Consentino who dreamed of forming a summer collegiate league to bridge the gap between the New York based Atlantic Collegiate League and the Cape Cod League. The goal also was to give student athletes who lived and/or went to school in New England a better chance to have their talents recognized by major league scouts.
Despite initial skepticism, several groups and towns were attracted as well as a number of area professional scouts. The concept was solidified when former Major League superstar George Foster signed on to be the League’s first Commissioner and ESPN Senior Vice President Loren Matthews agreed to become the first NECBL President.
The League enjoyed immediate success. The Eastern Tides, from Willimantic, CT, won the first League Championship in 1994 from a field of five Connecticut teams that included the Bristol Nighthawks, Fairfield Stallions, Middletown Giants and Waterbury White Sox.
Fairfield’s shortstop Joe Nathan, from Stony Brook College, went on to be the first NECBL alum to make the Majors, becoming an All-Star closer.
In 1995, the Fairfield owners went on to form an independent league, and two new teams joined. The Central Mass Collegians and Danbury Westerners immediately made their presence felt. Central Mass won the 1995 League Championship while the Westerners unveiled an organization that became the model and set the standard for future NECBL teams. The Waterbury White Sox became the Barons. Joel Cooney was elected President and led a successful delegation to the ABCA (American Baseball Coaches Assoc) in Nashville, TN, which applied for and received NCAA sanctioning and MLB financial support.
The debut of the third New England State to field a NECBL team came in 1996 when the Rhode Island Reds joined the league. On the field, it was a repeat of the previous year with the Central Mass Collegians winning the League Championship.
1997 featured the addition of the Torrington (CT) Twisters who pleasantly surprised everyone in the league with their tremendous fan support, beginning with an unprecedented home opener attendance of over 3,000 enthusiastic fans. The Twisters won the regular season title before being bested by the Middletown Giants in a dramatic, hard-fought championship series. In late 1997, the NECBL drew national attention with the announcement that Fay Vincent, Jr., former Major League Baseball Commissioner, was taking over as League President and Chairman of the Board. Joel Cooney became the Commissioner.
1998 featured the fourth New England state, New Hampshire, throwing its hat into the NECBL ring with the advent of the Keene SwampBats. Not to be outdone by last year’s success in Torrington, the Swamp Bats and their fans served notice that they were a serious venture by also drawing over 3,000 fans to opening night and going on to set a league attendance record of over 26,000 for the season. A second team from Rhode Island also joined the League. The Rhode Island Gulls played in Cranston and were in the playoff hunt until the last three days of the season. In late 1998 Lou Gorman, former GM of the Red Sox and Mets became Chairman of the Board of the Gulls. In the Playoffs the Middletown Giants became the second back-to-back champs.
In 1999, the Middletown Giants accomplished a “threepeat” winning the League Championship a third consecutive year and receiving the new Fay Vincent, Sr. Cup. The Championship trophy was named in honor of NECBL President Fay Vincent’s father, a noted sports figure in New England.
The year 2000 saw two new teams join the league, the Mill City All-Americans in Lowell, MA and the Manchester Silkworms in Manchester, CT. The All-Americans made the playoffs their first season. The Silkworms, playing in a brand new facility at Northwest Park, played gamely only to lose 11 one-run games and four two-run games. The All-Star Game in Keene had as an honored guest Carlton Fisk, just days after he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. In the playoffs, Keene edged the Gulls 1 to 0, scoring in the 8th inning of the final game. In October 2000 new ownership took over the Reds and the team became the Riverpoint Royals, continuing play in West Warwick, RI.
In 2001, Concord, New Hampshire, became the second Granite State town to field a team. The Concord Quarry Dogs made the NECBL a 10-team league divided into two divisions. Their fan support led the league with a season attendance of over 31,000. The Gulls moved from Cranston to Newport, beginning play in historic Cardines Field. The Gulls avenged last year’s LCS defeat by beating the Swamp Bats 2 games to 1 and established themselves as the team to beat in the NECBL.
2002 saw the Eastern Tides change their name to the Thread City Tides honoring the local thread industry that once produced the red stitching for baseballs. Massachusetts gained a new team in the heart of the picturesque Berkshire Mountains. The North Adams SteepleCats enjoyed an inaugural winning season. The Sanford Mainers, playing in Goodall Park, where Babe Ruth hit his last home run for the Boston Red Sox, expanded the league to twelve teams and three divisions. Newport defeated Keene for the Championship.
2003 realized the dream of having a team in all six New England states when the Vermont Mountaineers began play in the state capitol, Montpelier. Over 2,400 fans cheered their new team at the Recreation Field home opener where Hall of Famer Robin Roberts once pitched. Keene overcame Torrington to win the Championship. Kevin MacIlvane became the Commissioner.
In 2004, new ownerships moved the Middletown Giants to Holyoke, MA and the Thread City Tides to Western Massachusetts where they became the Berkshire Dukes, named for team owner and former Boston Red Sox GM Dan Duquette. The season culminated in a thrilling playoff series between the Newport Gulls and the Sanford Mainers in front of packed houses in both ballparks. The Mainers prevailed escaping a bases-loaded no outs Gulls bottom of the ninth. The year culminated with a festive celebration as the NECBL honored retiring President Fay Vincent. Bob Costas hosted the affair with such notables as Negro Leagues legend Buck O’Neil, George Foster, Hall of Fame pitcher Robin Roberts, Hall of Fame President Dale Petroskey among others. Former U.S. President George H. W. Bush made an appearance via a video tribute and current President George W. Bush sent a letter honoring Mr. Vincent.
In 2005 the NECBL settled as a 12-team league with the departure of the Royals. The Dukes became the Pittsfield Dukes as they moved to historic Wahconah Park. The Southern Division All-Stars beat the South 7-2 in front of 2,856 fans from all over New England at Cardines Field in Newport. Keene and Newport won the regular season of the North and South Divisions. The Gulls went on to sweep the Vermont Mountaineers for the 2005 League Championship.
The same 12 teams kicked off the 2006 season, the only change being the All-Americans changing their name from Mill City to Lowell. Tommy John was the honored guest at the All-Star Game in Keene as Swamp Bat Cheyne Hurst led the North Squad to a 6-2 win and was named the first John Watterson All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award winner. The trophy was named after New Hampshire’s “Mr. Baseball.” Vermont and Newport won their divisions but Torrington went on to face the Mountaineers in the Championship Series with Vermont winning its first league title. Former Danbury Westerners’ General Manager Mario Tiani succeeded Kevin MacIlvane as Commissioner.
The league continued its success in 2007 becoming, in its short history, one of the top summer collegiate leagues in the country. USA Baseball continued their annual visit playing NECBL teams in front of large, enthusiastic crowds. Two no-hitters highlighted the season with the biggest day being the 14th Annual All-Star Game in North Adams. Over 4,000 fans watched the South team shut out the North squad 8-0. Holyoke and Torrington won their divisions but it was the second place Mountaineers and Newport Gulls who made it to the Championship Series with Vermont winning their second consecutive championship.
The Concord Quarry Dogs ceased operation at the end of the 2007 season but the NECBL continued as a 12-team league with the Holyoke Giants moving to beautiful Frasier Field in Lynn, Massachusetts and becoming the North Shore Navigators. A new organization came to Holyoke naming the team the Blue Sox. Team USA again toured the league as well as the squad from the People’s Republic of China in preparation for the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing. Sanford and Newport won their divisions and met in the Championship Series. Sanford prevailed winning their second NECBL Championship.
The same 12 teams returned in 2009, with the Dukes becoming the Pittsfield American Defenders. A new attendance record was set as the Holyoke Blue Sox hosted the All-Star Game and the host West squad outlasted the East 6-5. Newport and Keene won their divisions and Newport went on to defeat Vermont in the Championship Series becoming the first four-time champion. In June Stephen Strasburg became the first NECBL alum to be picked first overall in the MLB Draft.
In 2010, two new organizations took over existing teams. The Manchester Silkworms moved to Laconia, NH and the Muskrats played at renovated Robbie Mills Park. Pittsfield became the Bristol Collegiate Club and played at historic Muzzy Field in Bristol, CT. The 2010 All-Star Game took place in Newport and the North Shore Navigators bested the Danbury Westerners winning their first NECBL championship. The NECBL's inaugural Hall of Fame Dinner took place on November 6, 2010. Inducted were LA Dodgers right-fielder Andre Ethier, Colorado Rockies catcher Chris Iannetta, former Devil Rays and Red Sox reliever Mark Malaska as well as league founder Joseph Consentino and former MLB Commissioner and NECBL President Fay Vincent.
2011 saw moves by two teams. Bristol relocated in Connecticut as the Mystic Schooners and the Lowell All-Americans became the Old Orchard Beach Raging Tide in Old Orchard Beach, Maine. The Eastern Division won the All-Star Game 3-1 at North Shore in a game dominated by pitching. Keene won their third ever NECBL title by besting cross-New Hampshire rival Laconia two games to none in the NECBL Finals. In a championship preview in mid-July Laconia’s Chris Costantino, the NECBL’s strikeout leader, no hit Keene. It was the NECBL’s first no-hitter since 2007. Once again, Team USA toured the NECBL and a season highlight came on June 27th when Team NECBL, behind strong pitching of Keene’s Jeff Thompson and a home run over the Green Monster by Holyoke’s Tom Murphy, beat the National squad 3-2 at Fenway Park. Earlier in June, three NECBLers were selected in the first two rounds of Major League Baseball’s Draft. Ex-Swamp Bat Andre Ethier made his second straight All-Star team en route to setting a Major League record for the longest hitting streak in the month of April.
2012 was a downright offensive year. NECBL teams scored double-digit runs 61 times in the regular season as most of the League’s major offensive milestones fell. Laconia 3B Danny Collins, the League MVP, set new marks in homers (19), slugging percentage (.818), extra base hits (29) and total bases (130). Vermont INF Rob Kelly (45) established a new RBI record. New Bedford 3B Zach Stone set a new standard for runs scored (45) while Newport C Jeff Melillo set a single season record in on base percentage (.548). The League’s steals leader, North Adams OF Jeff Roy, set a record for base stealing efficiency (24-of-25 attempts) while becoming the first NECBL’er to hit 11 doubles and steal 20 bases in a summer. Opening Day foreshadowed special things on offense this summer when North Adams OF Conor Biggio, Craig’s son, hit for the cycle. But there were some pitching highlights. Vermont LHP Alex Haines, the League’s top pro prospect, was one win away from clinching the pitching Triple Crown. On June 19th, Swamp Bats Kevin McAvoy, Tyler Gauthier and Ryan Horstmann combined to no-hit Danbury.
Newport and Keene won the Eastern and Western Divisions with 30 and 29 wins, respectively. Newport swept Danbury to win the Fay Vincent Cup. In the All-Star Game, the West defeated the East 11-6, in front of 40 scouts at Montpelier’s Recreation Field. Eleven alumni made their Major League debuts, bringing the total number of alumni to make The Show to 88. 45 different graduates suited up in the Majors through August 20th. Stephen Strasburg, Bryan LaHair and Joe Nathan made the Major League All-Star game. 85 alumni were selected in the shortened Major League Draft, including two- ex-Gulls Mark Appel and Pat Light- in the first round.
The 2013 season featured one of the most memorable second-half turnarounds in league history, as Keene roared back from last place in the Western Division to claim the No. 1 seed in the postseason. Meanwhile, in the East, Newport claimed another divisional title with a league-leading 30 wins in the regular season. Sure enough, those two teams met for the Fay Vincent Cup, as Keene completed its incredible comeback for the ages to win the series in three games and claim the franchise's fourth NECBL championship.
That summer also saw three new teams enter the league to bring the NECBL's ranks to 13, as well as two more regular season games added to each team's docket for a 44-game regular season slate. The state of Rhode Island welcomed its second franchise with the addition of the Ocean State Waves based out of South Kingston, who would call Old Mountain Field home. Just a short ride up I-95, the Bay State saw the addition of the Plymouth Pilgrims at Forges Field. Finally, for the first time in league history, the league expanded beyond its New England borders -- but close enough! Eastern New York State heralded in the Saratoga Brigade into the fold to round out the trio of expansion franchises. The NECBL All-Star Game was hosted by the Laconia Muskrats at Robbie Mills Field, which was won by the East Division, 2-1, thanks to a splendid display of pitching by the league's elite arms.
The summer of 2014 saw a slight contraction as the league reverted to a 12-team format for the first time since 2011, as well as a 42-game regular season schedule, as the Saratoga franchise ceased operations and left the league with six teams in the newly anointed Northern and Southern Divisions. The North saw traditional rivals North Adams, Keene, Vermont and the newly anointed Valley (formerly Holyoke) Blue Sox remain together, while New Hampshire and Maine rivals Laconia and Sanford also entered the Division. That meant former Western Division franchise Danbury would join Mystic, New Bedford, Newport, Ocean State and Plymouth to round out the South.
On the diamond, the Pilgrims grabbed headlines throughout the summer on the way to a franchise-record 31 wins in only their second year of existence. That helped the second-year franchise easily win the South by a six-game margin, while the North was more hotly contested before eventually being won by Vermont. But it would be the No. 2 seeds in each division -- Sanford and Newport -- that would meet up in the NECBL Championship Series, and in the end, the Gulls won the Fay Vincent Sr. Cup for the sixth time in league history.
Valley hosted the 2014 NECBL All-Star Game and the city of Holyoke provided a fantastic backdrop for a game played in front of nearly 3,000 fans, all of which witnessed an entertaining Midsummer Classic that ended with the North rallying from a run down with two scores in the bottom of the ninth to win it in walk-off fashion. And, most importantly, Nick Martinez -- a former Vermont Mountaineer -- became the league's 100th NECBL alum to reach the Major Leagues in April.
The same 12 teams returned for the 2015 campaign, as the divisional alignment remained the same. Both divisions were hotly contested from start to finish, but in the end, Vermont repeated as regular season champions in the North, while Newport edged Mystic by a game to claim the South. The Mountaineers would top North Adams in the Divisional Finals round of the postseason to advance to the NECBL Championship Series. There they met Mystic, which stunned the reigning champs by sweeping them in the South Divisional Finals, to set up a fantastic finish to the summer. Vermont rallied after losing Game 1 of the best-of-three series, and it took a squeeze play in the top of the 10th inning to score the deciding run for the Mountaineers, who won the franchise's third championship and first since 2007.
The Sanford Mainers were set to host a spectacular All-Star Game, but untimely rain showers forced the game to be canceled. The league's top pitchers who were invited to the showcase still had the opportunity to pitch bullpen sessions in front of the many MLB scouts who were in attendance, however. Finally, in September, Brian Bogusevic made history when he debuted with the Phillies, meaning that the NECBL now has had a former player on every single MLB team at some point in time.
The 2016 NECBL season saw the league return to 13 teams after the addition of the Upper Valley Nighthawks based out of Hartford, Vermont, adding a seventh franchise to the North Division. Each team played was scheduled to play a 46-game regular season, however due to weather, teams played anywhere from a 43- to 46-game regular season. The top-four teams in each division advanced to the playoffs, which featured three rounds of best-of-three series. The Mystic Schooners went on to claim their second championship and first since 1994 by defeating the Sanford Mainers in a two-game sweep in the NECBL Championship Series.
Newport hosted a highly successful All-Star Game at historic Cardines Field in July of 2016. Both offenses were on display, as the South rallied from an 8-1 deficit with seven runs over the final two innings in an eventual 8-8 draw.
The 2017 NECBL season saw the same 13 teams from 2016 return, as well as the same divisional alignment from the prior summer. The playoff format, however, was tweaked slightly to emphasize the importance of regular season division champions. The number of qualifying playoff teams was reduced from eight teams to six, meaning a bracket structure where the top seed in each division earned a first-round bye, with the second and third-seeded teams battling in a one-game "Wild Card" matchup.
Those playoff changes brought great excitement down the stretch, but in the end the Kings of the North -- the Valley Blue Sox -- went on to rule the league with a dominant postseason. The Blue Sox went on to claim their first-ever league title after a pair of upsets, first against an upstart Upper Valley squad that, in just their second season of existence, won 29 games to win the regular season divisional title before sweeping the Ocean State Waves in the Finals. Making that latter sweep so much more impressive was the fact that the Waves were consistently ranked among the most elite summer collegiate baseball squads all season -- earning a No. 1 nationwide ranking at one point -- and went on to win 31 games, one shy of the league record.
The NECBL All-Star Game's 23rd edition was played at Joe Wolfe Field in North Adams, Massachusetts, home of the North Adams SteepleCats. The Northern and Southern Division teams battled to a 5-5 tie as the NECBL's version of its Midsummer Classic ended in a draw for the second year in a row.
As the New England League celebrated its silver anniversary, it did so with full hearts; on January 19, 2018, the New England League lost one of the most influential figures in its 25-year history after the passing of its co-founder, Joe Consentino. In 1993, he and fellow co-founder, former Cincinnati Reds outfielder and National League MVP George Foster, envisioned a summer league in New England where college players would have a chance to develop their skills in front of MLB scouts. That dream became a reality, and 25 years later, the “New England League” is more prosperous than ever. The 2018 New England League season was played in Joe’s memory, and all players and coaches paid tribute to our co-founder by wearing his initials on their caps all summer long.
Meanwhile, on the field, the Valley Blue Sox made it twice as nice a year later, as the 2018 season ended with a familiar sight: the Blue Sox on top of the NECBL.
The momentum from the 2017 postseason never stopped for the Blue Sox, who carried that right into the next summer with a dominant regular season. Valley won a franchise-record 30 games to just 12 losses, finishing two wins shy of the league's single-season record for total victories. In the South, the Plymouth Pilgrims edged Ocean State for the regular season crown, but it was the Waves who returned the favor with a sweep in the playoffs to set up a rematch of the previous season's championship series matchup. But, for the second year in a row, Valley went unbeaten in the playoffs, capping off a 5-0 postseason record with an emphatic sweep in the Finals to hoist the Fay Vincent Sr. Cup yet again.
Appropriately enough, the Valley Blue Sox hosted the NECBL All-Star Game at Mackenzie Stadium for the second time in franchise history and first since the 2014 season. In the end, the Southern Division's All Stars' pitching was too much for the Northern Division, winning by a final score of 4-3. Randy Taveras of the Danbury Westerners was awarded the Most Valuable Player award for the game. He hit a triple that proved to be the difference maker in the close game. Earlier in the day, Brett Rodriguez of the Mystic Schooners was crowned the Fastest Man in the NECBL after posting the fastest time in the 60-yard dash. In addition, Keene's Lorenzo Hampton hit a total of 19 home runs in the Home Run Derby to take home that title.
The 2019 NECBL season was one for the history books. Numerous records were broken, including David Bedgood (Keene) scoring the most runs in a season (47), Terry Bowens (Mystic) claiming the RBI record with 53, and Austin Gautheir going 19-19 on stolen base attempts. Team records were also broken, as the Martha’s Vineyard Sharks broke the base on balls record with 254, and the eventual champion Keene SwampBats set the at-bats record with 1562, as well as the total bases record with 730. This would also be the last season of the New Bedford Bay Sox before the addition of the Bristol Blues for the 2021 season.
The Vermont Mountaineers hosted the 2019 NECBL All-Star Game in Montpelier, VT. The North Division took the win 1-0 after help from Mother Nature, as the game was unfortunately suspended during play. In the playoffs, the top seeds from each division earned a first-round bye while four teams, two from each division, earned wild-card berths. The top seed from each division ended up in the championship series, with Keene representing the North and the Sharks for the South. As a record-setting team, the 2019 SwampBats easily secured the Fay Vincent Sr Cup with a two-game sweep of the Sharks to put the cherry on top of a historic season.
Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, there was unfortunately no NECBL season in 2020.
After a summer off, the NECBL excitedly resumed play. 2021 saw a new team join the league with Bristol’s inaugural season. Additionally, Travis Honeyman (Ocean State) set a new batting average record among qualified starters, finishing the season with a .430 average. The Gulls hosted the All-Star game at historic Cardines Field in Newport, RI, with the North Division All-Stars taking a 6-2 win over the South. Max Viera (Upper Valley) won the MVP award and, as of August 2025, plays in the Colorado Rockies' minor league system.
The playoff format for 2021 expanded from 2019, now featuring twelve of the league’s fourteen teams. With the top seeds in the North and South receiving byes, the first round featured five single-elimination matchups. The second round saw a reseeding, placing the lowest remaining seeds against the highest. With more teams competing, this playoff format brought higher chances for upsets, and that’s exactly what we got. In a shocker, the lower-seeded North Shore Navigators knocked out the top-seeded Keene SwampBats, while the four-seed Danbury Westerners also swept the three-seed Blue Sox. The playoffs continued the upset theme with Westerners upsetting the top-seed Sharks for the South Division title, and the fifth-seed Navigators, who finished 20-20, swept the two-seed Nighthawks for the North Division title. In a championship matchup not many were expecting, the lower Danbury Westerners swept the Navigators in two games, taking the 2021 Fay Vincent Sr Cup after just squeaking into the playoffs.
2022 brought many changes, starting with a new divisional format featuring three divisions instead of two. The league now featured a Coastal, West, and North division. The West division also had three teams as opposed to five in the North and Coastal divisions. Additionally, this was the last season of play for the Winnipesaukee Muskrats, a longtime member of the NECBL.
The 2022 NECBL All-Star Game was held at the Shark Tank in Martha’s Vineyard for the first time in league history. The South Division All-Stars would easily take the win 13-2, with Thomas Bramley, the catcher for Martha’s Vineyard, earning the MVP after going 2-for-2 with a home run in both at-bats. The simpler playoff format from 2019 would return, with only three rounds and six teams participating. Bristol and Vermont both finished 23-12 in their respective divisions, earning the first-round bye. Sanford would beat Newport, and the Sharks took down the Mystic Schooners to take on the top seeds in their respective divisions for the semifinal matchups. The one seed Mountaineers beat the Mainers in a Northern New England battle two games to one, and the red-hot Sharks swept the Blues in two games to advance to the 2022 Fay Vincent Sr Cup. This was the season of the Sharks: They dominated the playoffs, hosted the All-Star Game, and swept Vermont in two games to win their first NECBL Championship.
2023 followed the same divisional format as the previous year, with North, West and Coastal Divisions. The Gulls dominated all season, finishing with a league-best 31-11 record. Vermont won the North again, and the Blue Sox were the top team in the South. The All-Star game took place at North Shore’s Fraser Field in Lynn, Massachusetts. Teams were split into the East and West, and the latter dominated the contest, beating the East 5-1. Kevin Bruggeman (Upper Valley) won MVP after going two-for-two and driving in two runs with the bases loaded on a single with two outs. The playoff format returned to a more expansive and inclusive bracket with four opening round matchups, but no bye for the top seeds. Despite the new format, Newport steamrolled their way to the championship, taking down the Waves two games to one and sweeping Danbury in the semifinals. Bristol beat the division-best Blue Sox and swept the Mainers, advancing to the 2023 Fay Vincent Sr Cup to take on the Gulls. Newport’s momentum continued, as the Gulls swept the Blues in two games to obtain the 2023 NECBL Championship Title.
2024 saw a Coastal, North and West division system for the new season, with the inclusion of a couple of new league records! Jonathan Hogart (Valley) set the record for most sacrifice flies in a season with eight, and Martha’s Vineyard attracted an average of 3,056 fans per game for a new league record as well. The All-Star game was hosted by the Bristol Blues at Muzzy Field and was won by the East All-Stars 3-0. Colin Barczi (Sanford) earned the MVP after going 1-for-2 and driving in a run. For the second year in a row, Newport won the Coastal Division, finishing 27-16. Vermont led the league with a 30-11 record and finished first in the North, while Bristol finished top in the West at 24-18.
The postseason saw surprises left and right with the underdog Mainers sweeping Keene and the North-best Mountaineers to reach the championship. Meanwhile, the Coastal Champion Newport Gulls completed their own sweeps of Valley and Bristol to reach their second consecutive NECBL championship series. Still feeling the momentum, Sanford took game one in Newport 7-1. Game two saw Newport gain a 7-0 lead before a rainout that caused the game to get pushed back a day. That didn’t stop the Gulls, as the Mainers would only score 3 and Newport won game two 7-3. A nailbiter game three saw back-and-forth offense from both squads, forcing the game into extras. The red-hot Newport Gulls would outlast Sanford, walking it off to win the game 8-7 and claim the 2024 Fay Vincent Sr Cup Title.
2025 brought many improvements, such as the return of just the North and South Divisions in a thirteen-team league. New records were set once again, including the Vermont Mountaineers earning the most stolen bases in a season with 157. The Martha’s Vineyard Sharks also scored the most runs in a game by one team on June 27th, plating twenty-seven runs against the North Adams SteepleCats. The Upper Valley Nighthawks hosted their first NECBL All-Star Game and Home Run Derby for 2025 in White River Junction, VT. On a beautiful summer day, the North Division, led by All-Star Game MVP Jack Herring (Keene), outlasted the South in a pitcher’s duel to take the win 3-1. Glenn Green (Danbury) surprised everyone by winning the home run derby despite recording just three at-bats on the season.
The playoffs in 2025 again saw a new format, with four teams from each division earning berths. In each division, the one seeds would host the fours, while the twos would take on the threes. The North Division and league-best Keene SwampBats steamrolled their way through the playoffs, sweeping Upper Valley and then Sanford to make their first Fay Vincent Sr Cup since 2019. In the South, Vineyard blanked Bristol Blues with a combined 17-0 score across two games for a three-over-two upset. The three-seed Sharks then took down the one-seed Gulls in two games to one, moving on to play the SwampBats in the 2025 Fay Vincent Sr Cup. In a rematch of the 2019 finals, we saw a legendary game one. Keene rallied from eight runs down to secure a 13-12 victory, as Ripken Reese hit a walk-off grand slam to grab the series lead for Keene. Reese continued his postseason heroics, hitting two homers and a double in game two to lead the SwampBats to another championship win.
