Former Vermont Catamounts Infielder Matt Duffy Called Up By Houston Astros

(photo credit: Brian Jenkins/Houston Astros/MLB)

Becomes 11th Former UVM Player to Reach The Big Leagues

Contact: Bruce Bosley

bbosley.vbca@gmail.com

Former University of Vermont baseball standout Matt Duffy (Milton, Mass.) had his contract purchased by the Houston Astros on Sunday, September 13, 2015 and will join the American League West-leading club when it takes on the Texas Rangers the next day. Duffy made his debut versus the Rangers on Wednesday, September 16, 2015 to become the 11th former UVM player to reach the big leagues and the first since pitcher Kirk McCaskill, who wrapped up his 11-year career with the Chicago White Sox in 1995.

Duffy recorded his first big league hit, a two-out RBI double against Oakland on September 19 keying an Astros come-from-behind victory over the A's. CLICK HERE for video of his double courtesy of MLB.com.

2015 POSTSEASON UPDATE: Duffy was added to Houston's Wild Card roster for its win over New York at Yankee Stadium on October 6, 2015. He was featured in the Houston Chronicle on his impact on the Astros in their stretch drive to the 2015 Postseason. CLICK HERE for Evan Drellich's story on October 6, 2015.

The 26-year old corner infielder had an outstanding season with the Triple A Fresno Grizzlies earning Pacific Coast League Most Valuable Player honors and a spot on the PCL All-Star Team. Duffy was the first minor leaguer in 2015 to reach 100 runs batted in and finished with a PCL-leading 104 RBI. He also led the loop with 94 runs scored while hitting .294 with 20 homers, 29 doubles and a .486 slugging percentage. Drafted in the 20th round of the 2011 June Draft, Duffy has been an all-star at each stop in the minor leagues starting with Tri-City of the New York Penn League.

A graduate of St. Sebastian's School in suburban Boston, Duffy had two outstanding seasons at UVM before the program was discontinued in 2009, spending his final two collegiate seasons at Tennessee of the powerful SEC. His freshman season (2008) he was named to the America East All-Rookie Team, the America East All-Championship Team and the Louisville Slugger Freshmen All-American Team. As a sophomore he led the America East in hitting  (.388), RBI (57), runs scored (57), on base percentage (.495) and slugging percentage (.713) while hitting a Vermont single-season record 13 home runs. He was named the 2009 America East Player of the Year and was a first team All-New England and ABCA All-Northeast Region All-Star. He also was named to the PING Baseball.com All-American Team. 

Both of his collegiate coaches were Vermonters: Bill Currier of Essex Junction at UVM and Todd Raleigh of Swanton at Tennessee.

Duffy's contract was purchased by the Astros Sunday and he will be added to Houston's 40-man roster on Monday. The move was first reported by Drellich of the Houston Chronicle Sunday in the paper's Ultimate Astros Blog. 

"We feel like he can help us," Astros manager A.J. Hinch said to Drellich in the Chronicle's blog. "And he certainly brings an added benefit to our team, otherwise we wouldn't do it. Especially with him still playing (with Fresno). So, we obviously see that he can do some things for us that warrant a call-up. So we'll see how it plays out.

"We have those positions covered. He might just be a bat off the bench initially. But who knows? Never say never. Sometimes you get sparks when guys get up here and get their first taste of the big leagues."

Duffy joined baseball's elite winning the PCL Most Valuable Player Award, historically one of the most prestigious in the minor leagues. Established in 1927, previous winners include Hall of Famers Joe DiMaggio and Tony Perez, former greats like Dom DiMaggio, Lefty O'Doul, Tim Salmon and Paul Konerko, and current big league stars such as Nelson Cruz and Joc Peterson, the 2014 winner.

CLICK HERE for Duffy's major league statistics courtesy of www.baseball-reference.com

Exposure Widens for Vermonters At Successful Fourth Annual VBCA Junior Showcase

July 1, 2015

CASTLETON, Vt. -- For the fourth straight year the annual Vermont Baseball Coaches Association Junior Showcase was a success as the underclass athletes worked out in front of coaches from 21 collegiate programs. This year's showcase was held Thursday, June 18, 2015 at Castleton State College's Spartan Field.

Fifty Vermont high school baseball student-athletes displayed their skills and participated in a simulated and controlled game for over 20 New England and Northeast region college baseball coaches from 21 different programs from all three NCAA divisions and a junior college. 

Coaches from the following collegiate programs were on hand to evaluate the prospects: Castleton State, Lyndon State, Norwich, Saint Michael's, Siena, Fairfield, Plattsburgh State, Wheaton, Endicott, Nichols, St. Lawrence, Clarkson, Franklin Pierce, Assumption, St. Joseph's (Maine), Keene State, Union, Skidmore, RPI, Union and Western Oklahoma State.

Among the highlights of the prospects skills were:  fastest 60-yard time: Curtis Gauthier (Williamstown, OF/LHP);  top catcher POP time: Ethan McCollister (Union 32, C) and Andrew Gonyaw (North Country, C); top pitcher-velocity, Henry Conroy (Rice Memorial, RHP); and top pitcher-accuracy, Joe Brown (Poultney, RHP). Three junior hurlers at the showcase averaged 84 mph or better in their outings: Conroy, Derek Sanderson (Colchester, RHP/SS) and Sam Mikell (Champlain Valley, RHP/3B).

Special thanks for their efforts for the fourth annual showcase go out to: Ted Shipley of host Castleton State College for the use of his program's facility; veteran Vermont umpires Larry Riegert and Denny Barnard for donating their time; Tim Mitchell of Mitchell Tees in Brandon; and the many head coaches and assistants from VBCA member schools for volunteering at the showcase.

For the third straight season nearly 90 former Vermont high school players from all four divisions statewide were represented on 2015 NCAA Division I, II and III baseball rosters. Many of the freshmen and sophomores on the 2015 rosters participated in the first two VBCA Junior Showcases.

For more information, please contact Bruce Bosley, VBCA Executive Director at:  bbosley.vbca@gmail.com

2015 Vermont High School Baseball All-League Teams and Awards

contact: bbosley.vbca@gmail.com

2015 Vermont State Champions:

Division 1: Rice Memorial (18-2)

Division 2: Lamoille Union (18-2)

Division 3: BFA Fairfax (19-1)

Division 4: Blue Mountain Union (14-5)

Click HERE for past state champions on www.vpaonline.org (courtesy of Paul Stanfield)

2015 Capital League All-Stars:

Co-Capital Players of the Year: Dylan Bailey, Harwood; Riley Fitzgerald; Lamoille

All-Capital League, First Team:

Dylan Bailey, Harwood

Jon Blakeney, Thetford

Alex Delhagen, Randolph

Riley Fitzgerald, Lamoille

Leland Goodenough, Randoph

Josh Guyer, Lyndon

Eric Hoadley, Lamoille

Kody Jones, Lamoille

Adam Lamson, Harwood

Tristan Longmoore, Oxbow

Eddie White, Oxbow

All-Capital League, Second Team:

Connor Baker, Randolph

Jordan Hansen, U-32

Nick Jickling, Randolph

Sawyer Ladensack, Harwood

Ethan McCollister, U-32

Jorge Rosado, Montpelier

Jayden Royer, Lamoille

Matt Samhalter, Thetford

Aidan Trombley, Lamoille

Chris Underhill, Oxbow

Honorable Mention:

Sam McGinty, Harwood; Nate Selby, Reid Somners, Lamoille; Eric Gerders, Northfield;  Connor Brown, Noland Howard, Thetford; Jackson Root, Justin Vincent, U-32

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2015 Mountain League All-Stars:

2015 Mountain League Player of the Year: Matt Messier, Lake Region

All-Mountain League, First Team:

Nick Audet, Peoples Academy

Cam Caforia, Enosburg

Alex Chapman, BFA Fairfax

Kyle Combs, BFA Fairfax

Jacob Cunningham, Richford

Dillon Gile, Lake Region

Asa Hoover, BFA Fairfax

Deli Hue, Richford

Tucker Judkins, Peoples Academy

Caleb Laroche, Enosburg

Evan McGregor, BFA Fairfax

Matt Messier, Lake Region

Kiley Moody, Peoples Acadeny

All-Mountain League, Second Team: 

Alec Burns, Enosburg

Kunny Doan, Richford

Jake Hakey, BFA Fairfax

Jackson Hussey, Hazen

Cameron Kelley, Peoples Academy

Matt Larose, BFA Fairfax

Colton Loura-Bumps, Danville

Connor Johnson, Danville

Derek Richardson, Hazen

Noah Swainbank, Enosburg

Honorable Mention:

Jared Quick, Tanner Benoit, BFA Fairfax; Tyler Wells, Travis Grosse, Danville; Nate Murray, Enosburg; Denver Bodette, Lake Region; Jeremy Small, Peoples Academy; Kyle Doan, Richford; Mark Billado, Winooski.

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2015 All Metro Division All-Stars and Awards

Coaches of the Year: Tim Albertson, Champlain Valley; John Learned, Milton

Player of the Year: Rayne Supple, RHP/SS, Champlain Valley

Statistical Awards (regular season only):

Most RBI: Joey Robertson, Essex (26)

Most HR: Colin Myrick, North Country (8)

Most Stolen Bases: Anthony Phillip, Rice (22)

Most Strikeouts (pitching): Will Hesslink, Rice (68)

All-Metro Division, First team

C: Sean Remillard, Rice

1B: Shea Ireland, Champlain Valley

2B: Richard Walker, Missisquoi Valley

3B: Joey Robertson, Essex

SS: Colin Myrick, North Country

DH: Tyler Tatro, BFA-St. Albans

OF: Brandon Arel, Colchester

OF: Connor Bradley, South Burlington

OF: Anthony Phillip, Rice

OF: Deagan Poland, Champlain Valley

Pitchers: Henry Conroy, Rice; Will Hesslink, Rice; Tyler Lamphere, Milton; Patrick McMackin, South Burlington; Will Potter, Champlain Valley;  Derek Sanderson, Colchester

All-Metro Division, Second team

C: Jacob Gaboriault, Essex; Kyle Leggett, Mt. Mansfield

1B: Nathan Peura, Mt. Mansfield

2B: First team only. 

3B: Austin Purinton, Rice. 

SS: Elijah Baez, Essex

DH: Holden Ackerman, Burlington

OF: Spencer Lieberman, South Burlington

OF: Ian Walsh, Missisquoi Valley

OF: Luke Covey, Milton

OF: Brian Godard, Essex 

OF: Josh Flory, Spaulding

Pitchers: Sam Mikell, Champlain Valley; Eddie Hockenbury, South Burlington; Zach Mazuzan, Burlington; Noah Baez, Essex; Rob Chase, Colchester; Mark Connor, BFA-St. Albans

Honorable Mention:

Matt Sanders, Levi Stanley, BFA-St. Albans;  Jack Lenihan, William Ackerman, Burlington;  Dan Poodiack, Landon Carpenter, Champlain Valley; Jared Antoniak, Jared Rylant, Colchester; Maverick King, Jeremy LeClair, Essex; Kyle Apgar, Logan Bean, Milton; Logan Day, Ryan Marquis, Missisquoi Valley;  Ernie Brouillard, Michael Jerome, Mt. Abraham; Alec Pelton, James Gaboriault, Mt. Mansfield; Andrew Gonyaw, Nick Sicard, North Country; Chris Jansen, John Boardman, Rice; Garrett MacDonald, St. Johnsbury;  Theo McDowell, Henry Cunningham, South Burlington;  Zach McWain, Cameron Flinn, Spaulding; Hunter O'Connor, Vergennes

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2015 Marble Valley League All-Stars

All-MVL A Division, First Team: 

Jordy Allard, Hartford

Jordon Godfrey, Rutland

Jon Iris, Burr and Burton

Andy Kenosh, Rutland

Skylar LaFerriere, Rutland

Shea Mooney, Mount Anthony

Noah Normyle, Mount Anthony

Jacob Perkins,  Hartford

Codi Smith, Hartford

Griff Stalcup, Burr and Burton

Coach of the Year: Jarrod Grassi, Hartford

Honorable Mention:
Tyler Kraehling, Adam Maitland, Burr and Burton; Hunter Perkins, Hartford; Austin Condo, Carson Cushman, Pat Powers, Mount Anthony; Dylan Hotchkiss, Rutland.

All-MVL B Division, First Team: 

Ryan Darling,  Mill River

Carson Fullam, Bellows Falls

Ethan Illingworth, Bellows Falls

Ian Misencik, Fair Haven

Pat Mumford,  Mill River

Lincoln Pritchard,  Mill River

Russell Simonds, Windsor

Austin Stack, Bellows Falls

John Winslow, Otter Valley

Coach of the Year: Gary MacDonald, Mill River

Honorable Mention:

Brady Illingworth, Zach Streeter, Bellows Falls; Taylor Kyhill, Nathan Bathalon and Sam Eaton, Fair Haven; Mike Morgan, Mill River; Emmett Thurston, Otter Valley; Conner Gould, Nick LeBeau, Windsor.

All-MVL C Division, First Team: 

Joe Brown, Poultney

Josh Donna, Leland & Gray

Joe Epler, Green Mountain

Connor Hill,  Poultney

Kyle Kemp, Green Mountain

Corey Nystrom, Leland & Gray

John Peloso, Leland & Gray

Ben Tubbs,  Springfield

Kyle White, Springfield

Coaches of the Year: Dan Williams, Poultney; Rich Saypack, Springfield

Honorable Mention:
Kyle Cyr, Green Mountain; Alex Field, Poultney; Lack Tubbs, Springfield; Joe Bianchi, Woodstock.

All-MVL D Division, First Team: 

Derrick Almond, Proctor

Jeremy Avoli, West Rutland

Eric DeBlasio, Mount St. Joseph

Jonah Farrow, Mount St. Joseph

Kyle Miles, Proctor

Sam Molner, Twin Valley

Kyle Murdock, Twin Valley

Joey Noble, Black River

Josh Smith, West Rutland

Ethan Van Guilder,  Black River

Josh Wasilewski, Mount St. Joseph

Coach of the Year: Jacob Downey,  Mount St. Joseph

Honorable Mention: 

Adam Sears, Arlington; Rye Greineder, Black River; Nate O'Shea, Shane Protivansky, Mount St. Joseph; Tyler Carrington, Proctor; Brett Swanson, Twin Valley; Matt Bathalon, Taylor Lio, Hunter Mason, West Rutland.
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2015 Central Vermont League All-Stars: 

All-CVL First Team:

Ben Beaudin, Williamstown

Bryden Bonasera, Chelsea

Taylor Call, Concord

Ben Cole, Williamstown

Tyler Davis, Blue Mountain

Kolin Huntington, Rivendell

Caleb Martin, Twinfield

Dalton Mcdougall, South Royalton

Hunter McLaughlin, Williamstown

Mark Puffer, Blue Mountain

Honorable Mention:

Matthew Page, Blue Mountain; Buddy Durkee, MaCaden Lyford, Camden Morrison,  Chelsea; Logan Quimby, Concord; Brandon Locke, Craftsbury; Dashiel Fukushima, Rivendell; Kevin Kingsbury, Ben Wardwell, Rochester; Sam Berk, Keanan Thompson, South Royalton.

Vermont, NH Split 2015 Twin State Baseball Classic Twin Bill

2015 Twin State Baseball Classic:

Game One: New Hampshire 3, Vermont 2

Game Two: Vermont 5, New Hampshire 4

June 20, 2015

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

NASHUA, N.H. -- A two-run single in the bottom of the sixth by Kyle Combs (BFA Fairfax) lifted Vermont to a 5-4 game two win over New Hampshire in the 2015 Twin State Baseball Classic doubleheader Saturday at Holman Stadium. New Hampshire took the lidlifter, 3-2, before Vermont bounced back with its comeback-win in the nightcap. 

The annual matchup between the border rivals resumed after an 11-year absence. It pitted seniors from Vermont's four divisions and division's three and four from the much larger Granite State. 

Lincoln Pritchard (Mill River) was named the Vermont MVP on the day and Hunter Kretchmar (Somersworth) picked up the honors for New Hampshire. Pritchard retired all nine hitters he faced on the mound in game two and had three hits in both games. Kretchmar, a catcher, also had three singles in two games and threw out two runners on the base paths. 

In the back and forth nightcap, Combs, who also picked up the win on the mound, singled in Sean Remillard (Rice) and Anthony Phillip (Rice) in the bottom of the sixth after New Hampshire scored a pair of unearned runs to take a 4-3 in the top half. The speedy Phillip was a catalyst for Vermont in both games with three hits, three steals and three runs scored in both contests.

Phillip was hit by a pitch to lead the Vermont half of the first in game two, promptly stole second and went to third on a groundout before scoring on an infield throwing error. They added another with two down in the third when Pritchard singled and he rode home on a triple to deep left by Connor Bradley (South Burlington).

New Hampshire tied it in it its half of the fifth on RBI-singles by Joey Levesque (Belmont) and Zach Byers (Campbell) while Vermont regained its lead in the bottom on a run-scoring ground out by Tyler Davis (Blue Mountain) to set up the deciding sixth.

Phillip had two of Vermont's 11 hits in game two with Bradley's booming triple the lone extra base hit. Four Vermont pitchers limited N.H. to just four singles but the three hitters it walked all scored.  

In game one Vermont scored one in the first as Tyler Lamphere (Milton) led with a walk and later scored on a two-out single by Pritchard. New Hampshire bounced back with two in its first taking advantage of a pair of walks, a hit batter and two wild pitches. They added an unearned run in the third on a sacrifice fly by Evan O'Keefe (Hopkinton). Base-running by Phillip made it 3-2 as he led the fourth with an infield hit, stole second and third before coming home on a groundout by Joey Robertson (Essex).

New Hampshire had six hits and Vermont had five in game one with a double by Vermont's Sean Remillard (Rice) the lone going for extra-bases, Drew Colbert (Somersworth) had a single and walk while Byers reached twice and scored twice. Ben Rexford (White Mountains) picked up the game one victory for New Hampshire allowing just two hits and the first inning run.  Davis, the third Vermont hurler, allowed just one hit and struck out two facing just six hitters in two innings.

The annual series returns to Vermont next summer.

Vermont Announces 2015 Twin State Baseball Classic Team

Eighteen of the finest senior baseball players from the Green Mountain State will compete for Vermont in this year's Twin State Baseball Classic against New Hampshire on June 20 in Nashua, N.H. The Vermont Baseball Coaches Association announced its roster today.

The 2015 Vermont team consists of: Brandon Arel, OF, Colchester; Dylan Bailey, IF, Harwood; Connor Bradley, OF/LHP, South Burlington; Kyle Combs, IF/RHP, BFA Fairfax; Tyler Davis, RHP/IF, Blue Mountain; Shea Ireland, 1B/C, Champlain Valley; Skyler LaFerriere, C, Rutland; Tyler Lamphere, SS/RHP, Milton; Patrick McMackin, RHP/1B, South Burlington; Kiley Moody, IF, Peoples Academy; Patrick Mumford, IF/OF/RHP, Mill River; Anthony Phillip, OF, Rice Memorial; Deagan Poland, OF, Champlain Valley; Will Potter, IF/RHP, Champlain Valley; Lincoln Pritchard, RHP/OF, Mill River; Sean Remillard, C, Rice Memorial; Joey Robertson, 3B/RHP, Essex; and Austin Stack, 1B/OF, Bellows Falls.

The squad is made up of student-athletes from 13 different high schools from all four divisions across the state. Each of the Vermont's five leagues is represented as well.

Jeff Stetson of Mount Abraham is the Vermont head coach and assisting him will be Kevin Bellomo (Rutland), Scott Blood (Blue Mountain) and Mike Brown (BFA Fairfax).

Originally held from 1983 to 2004, the 2015 Twin State Baseball Classic returns to the diamond at Nashua's Holman Stadium on Saturday, June 20. First pitch of game one of the doubleheader (two seven-inning games) will be at 11 a.m. 

The rain date for the 2015 classic is Sunday, June 21. The site of the game will alternate between states each year. Built in 1937 and renovated in 2002, Nashua's Holman Stadium has been the longtime home of several affiliated and independent minor league teams.

For more information, please contact Bruce Bosley of the VBCA at: bbosley.vbca@gmail.com

2015 VBCA Junior Showcase To Be Held Thursday June 18 at Castleton

Registration Open for Popular Fourth Annual Event

The fourth annual Vermont Baseball Coaches Association Junior Showcase will be held on Thursday, June 18, 2015 at Castleton State College's Spartan Field in Castleton, Vt. Vermont high school baseball student-athletes who are in the 11th grade in 2014-15 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 $25, payable to the VBCA. Student-athletes can contact their coach for registration forms and more information. 

Other questions- and requests for a registration form- can also be sent to Bruce Bosley, VBCA executive director, at bbosley.vbca@gmail.com or bosleyb@comcast.net. The deadline for registration is June 15, 2015

The third annual VBCA Showcase was held in June 2014. Nearly 50 underclass student-athletes showcased their skills in front of coaches from 16 collegiate baseball programs at all levels.

Over 80 former Vermont high school players were represented on 2015 NCAA Division I, II and III, and USCAA four-year baseball rosters. Several earned all-conference honors or participated on teams that advanced to the NCAA Baseball Championship.

Over 80 Vermonters On Four-Year Collegiate Rosters For 2015 Campaign

For the fourth-plus straight season, over 80 former Vermont high school baseball players were student-athletes and coaches on NCAA Division I, Division II and Division III, and USCAA (four-year) collegiate baseball rosters for the 2015 season. 

The list includes six Vermonters with NCAA Division I programs and three former Vermont high school products as NCAA head coaches, two in D-I.  In all divisions, several student-athletes played on teams that earned spots in the NCAA Baseball Championship tournaments (the 2015 D-I field will be announced later in May) and several others earned all-conference honors. A complete honor roll will be posted on www.vermontbaseball.org later this spring.

The list was compiled by the Vermont Baseball Coaches Association. The student-athletes and coaches come from close to 40 different Vermont high school programs representing all four VPA divisions, and come from all areas of the Green Mountain State. This year's list features four Vermonters on the roster of the College of St. Joseph's of Rutland, Vt., whose varsity baseball team returned to the diamond after close to a decade's absence.

If you know of any others on four-year collegiate rosters, please e-mail Bruce Bosley, executive director of the VBCA, at bosleyb@comcast.net or bbosley.vbca@gmail.com.  

NCAA Division I:

Clemson: Mike Triller, Jr.-rs, OF, Rutland;  

Fairfield: George Molner, Jr., RHP, Twin Valley (Wilmington);  

UMass:  Adam Picard, Sr.-rs, OF, Essex; 

Siena: Ed Lewicki, Sr., RHP, Burr and Burton (Arlington); Ryan Bellomo, Fr., RHP, Rutland; 

South Dakota St.: Cody Sharrow, Jr., IF, Mt. Mansfield (Jericho).

NCAA Division II:

Notre Dame College (Ohio): Devon Rollins, Jr., IF, Winooski
Saint Michael's: Nicky Elderton, Sr., OF, Rice Memorial (Shelburne); George Buteau, Sr., 1B, Burlington (South Burlington); Curt Echo, Jr., RHP, Champlain Valley (Shelburne);  Zach Lanzillo, Fr., LHP, Mt. St. Joseph (Rutland)

Southern New Hampshire: Sam Fuller, Sr., RHP, Spaulding (Barre).

NCAA Division III/USCAA: 

Bowdoin: Kyle Stanley, Fr., RHP/OF, Champlain Valley (Shelburne);

Castleton State: Matt Ravey, Sr., RHP, Colchester; Nate Swahn, Sr., C, Rutland; Tyler Hoare, Sr., SS, Harwood (Waterbury); Tyler Lord, Sr., OF, South Burlington; Ethan Hanson, Jr, RHP, South Burlington; Conner Johnson, Jr., RHP, Fair Haven (Castleton); Chris Jurnak, Jr., C/OF, Essex; Sam Spencer, Jr., RHP, Mt. Mansfield (West Bolton); Nick Swim, So.-rs, IF, BFA St. Albans;  Zach Bahan, So., 3B, Mt. Anthony (Shaftsbury); Dylan Watts, So., IF , Spaulding; Collin Curler , So., IF, Vergennes; Michael LaBeau, So., RHP, Bellows Falls; Luke Salerno, So., RHP, Essex; Steve Jurkiewicz, So., LHP, Essex; Devin Hayes, So., RHP, Vergennes; Soren Pelz-Walsh, So., IF, Brattleboro (Dummerston); Zach Dichard, Fr., IF, South Burlington; Wyatt Prue, Fr., 1B, North Country (Westfield); Aaron Smith, Fr., LHP/OF, Middlebury;

Clark: Luke Crocker, So., RHP, Hartford (Strafford);

Colby-Sawyer: Justin Devoid, So., 1B, Hartford (Quechee);

Elmira: Sean Shephardson, Fr., 1B, Poultney;

Endicott: Zac Poland, Sr., LHP, Rice Memorial (Essex); Nick Berno, Fr., IF, BFA St. Albans; Brett McAllister, Fr., RHP, Richford; 

Fisher: Scott Bigelow, Sr., RHP, Spaulding (Randolph)

Hamilton: David Rose, Jr., IF, Burlington;

Husson: Darik Messier, Jr., 1B, Lake Region (North Troy);

Keene State: Kevin Guild, Jr., RHP, Essex; Noah Rizio, Fr., RHP, Burr and Burton (Manchester Center); 

Lyndon State: Mike Cartularo, Sr ., IF/OF, Lyndon Institute (Lyndonville); Brandon Flood, Sr., RHP, Blue Mountain (Ryegate); Ian Murdock, Sr., 1B, Twin Valley (Wilmington); Ian Sackett, Sr., OF, Danville (Lyndon); Dylan Newton, Jr., 1B/OF, BFA-St. Albans (St. Albans); Reese Tanguay, Jr., IF, Essex (Essex Junction); Zach Hale, So., IF, St. Johnsbury; Shane LaCroix, So P, St. Johnsbury; Nate Stewart, So., C, North Country (Newport); Ben Brooks, Fr., OF/P, Lyndon Institute; Colin Clark, Fr., OF, Rutland; Davis Guyer, Fr., RHP, Lyndon Institute; David Laroche, Fr., C, Missisquoi Valley (Franklin); Josh Laroche, Fr., OF, Missisquoi Valley (Franklin); 

UMass Dartmouth: Sean Callahan, So., RHP, Colchester; 

Maine-Farmington: Brett Elliott, Fr., RHP, Danville; 

Maine-Presque Isle: Mitch Thayer, So., C/IF, Colchester; 

McDaniel (Md.): Calvin Benevento, Sr., LHP, Champlain Valley (Williston); 

Middlebury: Mark Dickerson, Sr., RHP, Mt. Abraham (Bristol); Sawyer Olson, Jr., P, Brattleboro (Guilford); Jake Stalcup, So., RHP, Burr & Burton (Manchester);

New England College; Brighton Bischofberger, Fr., RHP, Green Mountain (Londonderry);

Nichols: Ross Caswell, Fr., C, Randolph; 

Norwich: Billy Whaley, Jr., RHP/1B, Northfield; Brandon Pedley, So., C, Northfield; Kyle Lamorey, So., SS, Northfield; Kyle Farquharson, So., RHP, Blue Mountain (So. Ryegate); 

Plattsburgh State: Matt Meunier, Sr., OF, BFA-St. Albans (Swanton);

Rivier: Eddie Soucie, So., RHP, Blue Mountain (So. Ryegate);

U. Rochester: Will Conroy, So., OF., Rice Memorial (Burlington); 

St. Lawrence: Ben Jenkins, Gr., RHP, South Burlington; Frank Grady, Jr., RHP, Burlington;

College of St. Joseph: Derek Osborne, Jr., RHP, Springfield; Tyler Kunzmann, So., RHP/1B, Mt. Anthony (Bennington); Russ Krebs, So., RHP, Mt. Anthony (Bennington); Brett Patterson, So., RHP, Otter Valley (Brandon);

Skidmore: Hayden Smith, Fr., C, Champlain Valley (Williston)

Thomas (Me.): Tom Blake, Sr., RHP, North Country (Coventry); Casey Covey, Jr., C, Middlebury;

Utica: Ian Machia, Fr., IF, Enosburg Falls (Montgomery)

Western New England: Nick Salerno, Sr., RHP, Essex (Essex Junction)

NCAA Coaches: 

Clemson: Jack Leggett, head coach, South Burlington; 

Fairfield: Bill Currier, head coach, Essex;  

MIT: Andy Barlow, head coach, Burlington;
Norwich: John Rhoades, head coach, Woodstock;
Keene State: Cagney Brigham, asst. coach, Enosburg Falls;

Lyndon State: Greg Mehuron, asst. coach, Harwood Union;

Middlebury: Mike Phelps, asst. coach, Middlebury Union; 

Plattsburgh St.: Kris Cauchon, asst. coach, Colchester; 

Saint Michael's: A.J. Dusablon, asst. coach, Burlington; 

Thomas (Me.): Matt Eisenhuth, asst. coach, Leland and Gray;

Southern New Hampshire:  Zach Labarron, asst. coach; Mt. Anthony

Vermont New Hampshire Twin State Baseball Classic Returns to Diamond in 2015

March 11, 2015

Vermont New Hampshire Twin State Baseball Classic Returns to Diamond in 2015 

contact: Bruce Bosley (bbosley.vbca@gmail.com or bosleyb@comcast.net)

After an 11-year hiatus, the Twin State Baseball Classic featuring many of the top high school seniors from Vermont and New Hampshire will return to the diamond this June. Representatives from the Vermont Baseball Coaches Association and the New Hampshire Baseball Coaches Association made the announcement today.

Originally held from 1983 to 2004, the renewal of Twin State Baseball Classic will take place at Holman Stadium in Nashua, New Hampshire on Saturday, June 20, 2015. First pitch of game one of the doubleheader (two seven-inning games) will be at 11 a.m. The Vermont squad will be the top seniors from the all four divisions of the state while for the immediate future the Granite State will be made up of New Hampshire's top seniors from its Division III and IV. Both rosters will be announced in early June.

'Having grown up in Vermont, I always looked at the Twin State games as the ultimate rivalry game for high school baseball,' said Brent Demas, a native of the Montpelier, Vermont-area who is now the head baseball coach at Londonderry High in New Hampshire, 'I always felt there was a big hole when this event was discontinued. Being able to help bring these games back has been a very satisfying experience, and one that we are very excited about,' added Demas who is a driving force behind the classic's return.  

'I am extremely pleased that the Vermont and New Hampshire coaches have agreed to resume the Twin State Baseball Classic to make it part of the high school baseball experience. This opportunity for our baseball seniors has been sorely missed for the past 11 years,' said Jeff Stetson, longtime coach at Mount Abraham Union High in Bristol, Vermont, who will head up the 2015 Vermont squad. 'The honor of representing the state is something that our student-athletes remember forever. I have had players from the game twenty or so years ago thank me for the tremendous experience they had at the Twin State Baseball Classic.

Joining Stetson, who had previously been on several Vermont coaching staffs, will be fellow coaching veterans Mike Brown of BFA Fairfax, Kevin Bellomo of Rutland High and Scott Blood of Blue Mountain Union of Wells River. The New Hampshire coaching staff will be announced at a later date. 

The rain date for the 2015 classic is Sunday, June 21. The site of the game will alternate each year between the two states. Built in 1937 and renovated in 2002, Nashua's Holman Stadium has been the longtime home of several minor league teams and is currently the home of the Nashua Silver Knights of the summer Futures Collegiate Baseball League.

Annual VBCA Spring Baseball Clinic and State Meeting To Be Held March 14, 2015

Bruce Bosley: bbosley.vbca@gmail.com or bosleyb@comcast.net

The annual Vermont Baseball Coaches Association spring clinic and state association meeting will be held Saturday, March 14 at the Essex High School gymnasium. Baseball coaches at all levels are invited to attend. The clinic fee is $25 per person and registration starts at 8:30 a.m. 

Following registration and the annual state association meeting that begins at 9 a.m., the annual coaches clinic will be held in the Essex High gymnasium. Highlighting the clinicians and speakers are a pair of presentations by Aaron Izayrk, current Bridgton Academy baseball coach and manager of the Sanford Mainers of the NECBL. There also will be a presentation by area coaches regarding social media and baseball teams.

All high school and amateur coaches are encouraged to become a member of the VBCA, an organization that promotes, publicizes and enhances baseball in the state of Vermont. Membership dues are $25 per school or amateur team. High School membership entitles your school's coaches and senior baseball players for post-season all-star consideration as well as participation in the annual VBCA Junior Showcase.  

Please share this notification with other baseball coaches in your community and encourage them to attend. For more information, please contact VBCA executive director Bruce Bosley at bbosley.vbca@gmail.com or bosleyb@comcast.net, or Jeff Stetson of the VBCA at jstetson@anesu.org