Vermont Mountaineers vs. Mystic Schooners
Final Score: Schooners 4, Mountaineers 2
Mystic, CT – The Mystic Schooners opened the 2026 season with a 4-2 victory over the Vermont Mountaineers on Thursday night. Vermont struck first in the top of the third inning when Alex Benevento (Brown) launched a solo home run to give the Mountaineers an early 1-0 lead. The Schooners answered immediately in the bottom half of the inning. After James Harley (Stetson) drew a walk and Gabriel Natividad (Winthrop U) singled, Bryce Detwiler (Connecticut) blasted a three-run home run to put Mystic in front 3-1.
Vermont cut into the deficit in the fifth when Matthew Minckler (Delaware (U of)) doubled and later scored on an RBI groundout by Sebastian Collender (Middle Georgia State), making it a one-run game. The Mountaineers threatened throughout the contest, but Mystic's pitching staff held them scoreless over the final four innings.
The Schooners added an insurance run in the seventh. Camden Righi (Connecticut) singled and advanced into scoring position before coming home on a combination of stolen bases and a Vermont error, extending the lead to 4-2.
Mystic closer Liam Chamberlain (Portal) entered in the ninth and struck out the side to secure the save and seal an Opening Day victory. Dominic Pontbriant (South Florida) recorded the win for the Schooners, with Max Weber (Felician) taking the loss for the Mountaineers.
The Schooners travel to Martha’s Vineyard tomorrow and look to improve to 2-0, while the Mountaineers will aim to bounce back in their next contest against the Bristol Blues.
Keene SwampBats vs. Danbury Westerners
Final Score: SwampBats 4, Westerners 3
Keene, NH – The Keene SwampBats opened the 2026 season with a hard-fought 4-3 victory over the Danbury Westerners on Thursday night at Alumni Field.
Keene received contributions throughout the lineup, with Michael O’Brien helping spark the offense and providing key at-bats in crucial situations. The SwampBats were able to capitalize on scoring opportunities early and maintain pressure on the Westerners throughout the evening.
On the mound, the SwampBats pitching staff delivered when it mattered most. Andrewe Lepine and the Keene bullpen worked through several tense moments, limiting Danbury's offense and keeping the game within reach. The defense also came up with timely plays behind the pitching staff to preserve the one-run advantage.
Danbury continued to battle late, cutting the deficit and threatening in the final innings, but Keene answered each challenge. The SwampBats secured the final outs to seal a 4-3 Opening Day victory and begin the 2026 season with a win. With the victory, Keene starts its championship defense at 1-0 and will look to carry the momentum into upcoming matchups as the summer season gets underway.
The SwampBats will return to Alumni Field on Saturday, June 6th to take on the North Adams SteepleCats.
Ocean State Waves vs. Bristol Blues
Final Score: Bristol 4, Ocean State 2
Bristol, CT – The Blues were able to hold on to an early lead, never trailing in Thursday night’s season opener.
On Opening Day, the Blues got off to a quick start, taking a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Antonio Ducatelli (Central Connecticut) scored on a wild pitch, followed by an RBI from Nicholas Francuzenko (Towson University). The Waves quickly answered when Gavin Marchese (Monroe University) delivered an RBI of his own in the top of the second.
The Waves rallied again in the seventh, with Charlie Saul (Bryant University) scoring on a single by Jack LaRose (UConn), but Ocean State was unable to catch the Blues, who added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth when Westin Boyle (Purdue) scored on a wild pitch.
Pitching was key for the Blues throughout the night. Frank Spirito (UConn) threw three innings of relief, allowing no runs and no walks while striking out five and surrendering just two hits. John Hughes (Michigan) also delivered a scoreless inning of relief with three strikeouts. Justin Silverstein (High Point) earned his first win of the season, while Thomas Galusha (Bryant University) recorded his first save.
The Waves travel home to Old Mountain field to host the Danbury Westerners and The Blues stay at Muzzy field to host the Vermont Mountaineers tomorrow, Friday June 5th.
Upper Valley Nighthawks vs. Sanford Mainers
Final Score: Sanford 5, Upper Valley 4 (10 Innings)
Sanford, ME – The Sanford Mainers won their season opener 5-4 in 10 innings over the Upper Valley Nighthawks on Thursday night. The Mainers trailed 4-0 through seven innings of play before scoring four runs over the final two innings to force extras, capped by a walk-off single from Troy Carpenter (University of Maine) in the 10th.
The Nighthawks wasted little time getting to Mainers starter Joshua Kopetski (Rhode Island). After a single and stolen base from Alex Kelsey (St. Joseph’s), cleanup hitter Jake Bell (Bellarmine) knocked an RBI single to center field. Despite the Mainers loading the bases with one out in the bottom half, Mateo Wells (High Point) struck out the next two batters to end the inning unscathed.
After Kopetski recorded the first two outs in the second inning, Cole Huett (Bellarmine) lined a triple to right field. Following a walk from Anthony Greco (William & Mary), Nicholas Quagliato (Fairleigh Dickinson) added an RBI single to make it 2-0.
Upper Valley added to its lead in the third inning, with Levi Jones (San Diego State) driving in a run on a groundout before Tim Dickinson (St. Joseph’s) followed with an RBI double to extend the lead to 4-0. Kopetski’s outing ended after recording the final out of the inning.
Mateo Wells exited in the fifth inning after allowing two Sanford baserunners, turning things over to Karl Ralamb (Bellarmine), who finished the inning and tossed two additional scoreless frames out of the bullpen.
However, Tyler Hemmesch (Minnesota) ran into trouble in the ninth inning, hitting two batters and allowing the Mainers to chip away at the deficit. A passed ball allowed Brennan Staubley (Southern Connecticut) to score from third and make it 4-1.
The Mainers brought the tying run to the plate with two outs in the ninth. Nick Zamperion (Stony Brook) delivered an RBI single to center field before Staubley completed the comeback with a two-run single to tie the game at 4-4.
After a scoreless top of the 10th from Sanford, Carpenter delivered the game-winning RBI single with two outs to secure the Opening Day victory.
Andrew Kapica (Fordham) earned the win for the Mainers after pitching a scoreless 10th inning, while Micah Wells (St. Joseph’s) took the loss for Upper Valley.
Sanford will remain at home on Saturday, June 6th to host the North Shore Navigators at 6:30 PM EDT. Upper Valley travels to Rhode Island on Friday, June 5th to face the Newport Gulls.
Newport Gulls vs. Valley Blue Sox
Final Score: Newport 2, Valley 2
Holyoke, MA – The Newport Gulls and Valley Blue Sox battled to a 2-2 tie through 11 innings on Opening Night of the New England Collegiate Baseball League season. The Gulls trailed 2-0 entering the ninth inning after being held hitless through the first seven frames.
Despite Mason Christopher (Seton Hall) allowing only two baserunners across three innings, Newport turned to Mickey McClaskey (Gonzaga) in the fourth inning. McClaskey walked three of the first four batters he faced, loading the bases with one out. After striking out Scott Donahue (UMass Lowell), a two-out walk to Nico Soul (Appalachian State) broke the scoreless tie before Chris Cancel (UConn) followed with an RBI single to make it 2-0.
Bryce McCain (Austin Peay) settled things down for Newport with three strong innings out of the bullpen, allowing just one baserunner during his outing. Mason Ligenza (Pitt) recorded a single to begin the eighth inning, but the Gulls were unable to generate a rally.
Newport finally broke through in the ninth after a single and stolen base from Chris Klug (Navy). Devan Zirwas (Eastern Michigan) ripped an RBI double past a diving Soul to cut the deficit in half. Following an error by second baseman Jack Myers (Georgia Southern), Ryan Jaros (Rutgers) tied the game with an RBI single.
Both teams were held scoreless in the 10th and 11th innings despite beginning each extra frame with a runner on second base under NECBL extra-inning rules.
Newport returns home on Friday, June 5th to host the Upper Valley Nighthawks at 6:35 PM EDT, while Valley will host the Ocean State Waves on Saturday, June 6th at 6:30 PM EDT.
The New England Collegiate Baseball League is a wooden bat college summer league that fields teams in all six New England states. Partially funded by Major League Baseball, the New England League started play in 1994 and has sent over 240 alumni to the Major Leagues, with nearly 30 alumni taken in the first round of the MLB Draft. For continuing coverage of the NECBL, visit NECBL.com and follow the league on X/Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
