Vermont Wraps up Regular Season with 3-1 Win over Upper Valley; Take Governor's Cup Series for Second-Straight Year

Published on July 30, 2023 under New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL)
Vermont Mountaineers News Release


MONTPELIER, Vt. - The Vermont Mountaineers ended the regular season on a high note and won the Governor's Cup Series by defeating the Upper Valley Nighthawks, 3-1, on Sunday afternoon.

It was the second-straight season the Mountaineers, who wrapped up the regular season with a 25-15-1 record, took the in-state rival series and now lead 4-3 in the seven years of existence. The Nighthawks ended the season at 18-24.

Vermont clinched the North Division and the No. 2 seed of the 2023 NECBL Postseason with the Sanford Mainers losing earlier in the day. It was the second straight year the Mountaineers won the division. The Mountaineers will host the No. 7 seed Danbury Westerners on Monday, July 31 in game one of a best-of-three game series at Montpelier Recreation Field. Vermont took the regular season series against the Westerners. You can follow all the action on the NECBL Broadcast Network here.

Box Score

After two scoreless innings dominated by both pitching staffs, Vermont threatened in the third inning. Two walks and a hit batter loaded the bases, but Jordan Goldman got a double play, including an out at the plate. After another walk, he got a pop up to leave the bases loaded.

The fourth inning started the same way the third started for the Mountaineers, but this time they took a 1-0 lead. A leadoff walk by Aaron Whitley started the frame and he moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and third on a groundout, both to the pitcher. A grounder to third off the bat of Nathan Waugh took a funny bounce by the third baseman, scoring Whitley and making it 1-0.

After a second stellar inning of relief by Joseph Violi, the Mountaineers looked to tack on more in the bottom of the fifth. Tyler Cox walked and moved to third on a single by Nate Stocum. A fielder's choice hit by George Rosales pushed Cox across the plate for a 2-0 lead.

That run became very important as Upper Valley started the sixth with a double by Adarius Myers. A wild pitch and a walk put runners on the corners, chasing Samuel Rosenfield off the mound and bringing Cox to pitch. A wild pitch scored Myers and advanced Ryan Cesarini to second. Cox stranded the tying runner at second to keep a 2-1 Vermont lead.

The Mountaineers got that run back in the sixth. Waugh walked with one out and moved to third on a ground out and throwing error by the first baseman. Jack Renwick blooped a single to shallow right field to make it 3-1.

Cox got two quick outs in the seventh. He stranded the tying runner at the plate to hold on for the win and his first save of the summer.

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



New England Collegiate Baseball League Stories from July 30, 2023


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central