Vermont, New Hampshire Split 2019 Twin State Baseball Classic

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

June 22, 2019

Game One: New Hampshire 4, Vermont 1

Game Two: Vermont 11, New Hampshire 3

WHITE RIVER JUNCTION, Vt.— Strong pitching by Josh Beayon of Otter Valley and seven runs in the middle innings lifted Vermont to an 11-3 win over New Hampshire in the second game of the 2019 Twin State Baseball Classic at the Maxfield Complex Saturday.  Starter Derrick Stanhope of Stevens allowed just two hits over three scoreless innings as New Hampshire grabbed the lid lifter, 4-1.

Beayon, who also went 2-for-2 with a double in game one, was named the Most Valuable Player for the Green Mountain State. The lefty came on in the second allowing just one batter to reach in three scoreless innings as Vermont turned around an early 3-1 deficit. He walked the first hitter he faced in the second inning before retiring nine straight including five strikeouts. Stanhope, who also walked one and struck out four in the opener, was named the New Hampshire MVP.

The Granite State jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the first game on a two-run triple by Kegan Silovich of Hanover. After Matt Dodd of Monadnock and Caleb Yianakopolos of Hopkinton led the third with singles, an RBI-grounder by Cam Magerer of Belmont made it 3-0. 

Vermont picked up its lone run in the fifth as Adam Newton of Brattleboro led with a double before coming home on a one-out base hit by Wyatt Cameron of Middlebury. A RBI single by Yianakopolos in the seventh capped the scoring.

Stanhope picked up the victory in the opener and Kyle Pelletier of Lebanon retired six of the seven batters he faced for the save. Yianakopolos went 4-for-4 as New Hampshire out-hit Vermont by an 8-6 margin. Beayon had a long double among his two hits while Colby Brouillette of BFA St. Albans belted a long triple.

Tyler Skaflestad of Champlain Valley led the nightcap with a triple and came home on a single by Chandler Pouk of Burr and Burton as Vermont jumped out to a 1-0 lead. New Hampshire rallied with three unearned runs in the bottom half, taking advantage of three infield errors and two walks. 

Vermont took control with a four-run third, sending nine hitters to the plate. Cameron rapped a two-run single and Becket Hill of Mount Mansfield added a RBI-base hit. Pouk made it 6-3 with a RBI-groundout in the fourth before they added two more in the sixth on a two-run single by Skaflestad. They capped it with three more in the top of the seventh on five hits including run-scoring singles by Aaron Szabo of Fair Haven, Tyler Millette of Essex and Skaflestad. 

Vermont's offense turned it around with a 16-hit attack in game two led by Skaflestad with four (4-for-5), Szabo had three and Hill and Pouk added two apiece. New Hampshire had just two singles, one by Devlin Costa of Plymouth in the first and by Pelletier in the seventh as Beayon, Cody Grant (two scoreless innings) of Oxbow and Brouillette shut the door after the three-run first. The Green Mountain State infield atoned for its three early errors with a pair of nice double plays in the fifth and the seventh.

It is the fourth split in the fifth year of the annual border series that resumed in 2015 after an 11-year hiatus. Vermont had the lone sweep last year after the two teams split six one-run games in the first three meetings after the revival. 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 to the Town of Hartford Recreation Department and the Upper Valley Nighthawks for hosting the Twin State Baseball Classic for the second straight year. The classic will likely again return to the Maxfield Complex in June of 2020.

2019 Vermont Twin State Baseball Classic Team Announced

Annual Classic Slated For Saturday June 22 in White River Junction

June 14, 2019

Contact: Bruce Bosley (bbosley.vbca@gmail.com; 802-324-8334)

Eighteen of the top senior baseball players from the Green Mountain State have been selected to represent Vermont against New Hampshire in the 2019 Twin State Baseball Classic on Saturday, June 22 in White River Junction, Vt. The Vermont Baseball Coaches Association announced its roster today.

The 2019 Vermont team consists of: Colby Brouillette (C), BFA St. Albans; Zach Paul, (IF/OF), Black River; Adam Newton (IF/RHP), Brattleboro; Daniel Hatheway (IF) and Chandler Pouk (IF), Burr and Burton; Ian Parent (1B/LHP), Aiden Johnson (IF) and Tyler Skaflestad (IF), Champlain Valley; Robby Meslin (OF) and Tyler Millette (C), Essex; Aaron Szabo (OF), Fair Haven; Wyatt Cameron (IF/RHP), Middlebury;  Becket Hill (IF/RHP), Mount Mansfield; Josh Beayon (1B/LHP), Otter Valley; Cody Grant (OF/RHP), Oxbow; Matt Guyette (IF/RHP) and Griffin McDermott (IF/RHP), Rice Memorial; and Justin Aker (OF), Rutland.

The Vermont coaches are Nick DeCaro (Danville), Shawn French (Oxbow), Edward Lewicki (Burr and Burton) and Roy Sargent (Missisquoi Valley).

The Green Mountain State's squad is made up of student-athletes from 13 different high schools from all corners of the state and represents all four of the state's divisions. 

For the second straight year, the classic takes place at the Maxfield Complex in White River Junction with pre-game festivities starting at 9:30 a.m., followed by the first pitch of game one of a pair of seven-inning contests. Admission is free.

Originally held from 1983 to 2004, the Twin State Baseball Classic returned to the diamond in June of 2015. Vermont swept a pair last season, 8-1 and 10-3, the first sweep since its resumption, after the two teams split six one-run games in the three previous years.

2019 VBCA Underclass Showcase To Be Held Wednesday June 19 at Castleton

Previous showcases have widened exposure for many Vermont high school underclass student-athletes

The eighth annual Vermont Baseball Coaches Association Junior Showcase will be held on Wednesday June 19, 2019 at Castleton University's Spartan Field in Castleton, Vermont. Vermont high school baseball student-athletes who are in the class of 2020 (junior in 2018-19) will have the opportunity to display their skills and participate in a controlled game for New England and Northeast region collegiate baseball 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, payable to the VBCA.  Student-athletes can contact their coach for more information and for registration forms. Have players dressed- baseball gear- 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.

Questions- and requests for registration forms- can be sent to Bruce Bosley, VBCA executive director, at bbosley.vbca@gmail.com

The deadline for registration is June 17, 2019. Please, no walk-in registrations, We need the forms in advance to provide a roster for college coaches in attendance.

The seventh annual VBCA Showcase was held in June 2018. Fifty underclass student-athletes displayed their skills in front of coaches from collegiate baseball programs at all levels from throughout the Northeast. Nearly 70 players from Vermont high school programs were on collegiate rosters in the 2019 season: http://www.vermontbaseball.org/2019/05/nearly-70-former-vermont-high-school.html

The showcase will be administered by VBCA member coaches. Please contact Bruce Bosley (bbosley.vbca@gmail.com) to volunteer. We need additional volunteers this year to record throwing velocity of all infielders, outfielders and catchers.

Nearly 70 Former Vermont High School Baseball Players on Collegiate Rosters for 2019 Season

Close to 70 former Vermont high school baseball players are members of NCAA or USCAA four-year collegiate baseball programs during the 2019 season. In addition two more are with major league organizations awaiting assignment to minor league affiliates. Several others with ties to Green Mountain State high schools and colleges are on collegiate coaching staffs this season including eight head coaches, two at the Division I level.

This also is the 11th straight season a former Vermont high school player is playing baseball at an Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) program, one of the top Division I baseball conferences in the NCAA.

As well as the eight collegiate head coaches, Jack Leggett, a South Burlington High School alum and longtime Clemson, Western Carolina and UVM head coach, is the head coach of the USA Baseball U-18 National Team that will compete internationally this summer.

Nearly all the collegiate players have participated in the Vermont Baseball Coaches Association's Underclass Showcase, now in its seventh year, held each June at Castleton University's Spartan Field. This year's showcase will be Wednesday, June 19, 2019.

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:
Boston College (ACC): Will Hesslink, So., LHP, Rice Memorial (Shelburne);
Connecticut (AAC): Leif Bigelow, Fr., RHP, Brattleboro;
Iona (MAAC): Henry Conroy, Jr., RHP, Rice Memorial (Shelburne);
St. Bonaventure (Atlantic-10): Elijah Baez, Jr., RHP, Essex;

NCAA Division II:
Merrimack: Brayden Howrigan, Fr., RHP, Enosburg Falls;
Saint Michael's: Max McDowell, Sr., RHP, South Burlington (Essex); Brady Perron, Fr., C, Lake Region (Orleans);
Southern New Hampshire Univ: Matthew Messier, Sr., RHP, Lake Region (North Troy);

NCAA Division III and USCAA:
Babson: Jordy Allard, So., RHP, Hartford;
Castleton: Dylan Bailey, Sr., IF, Harwood (Duxbury); Pat Mumford, Sr., OF, Mill River (Chippenhook); Deegan Poland, Sr. OF, Champlain Valley (Williston); Charlie Stapleford, Sr., RHP, Vergennes; Davis Mikell, Sr., RHP/1B, Champlain Valley (Williston); Andrew Graciano, Jr., OF, St. Johnsbury; Josh Skoskie, So., RHP, South Royalton; Andy Kenosh, So., RHP, Rutland; Max Olmstead, So., LHP, Landmark (East Montpelier); Parker Brown, Fr., RHP, Lake Region (Glover); Reece DeCastro, Fr., IF, Rutland; Jake O'Brien, Fr., IF, Harwood (Duxbury);
Clarkson: Mark Connor, Jr., RHP; BFA St. Albans;
Colby-Sawyer: Alec Burns, So., 2B, Enosburg Falls; Kristian Vilanjen, Fr., LHP, Stowe/Peoples Academy;
Dean (Ma.): Stanley Grandfield, Fr., RHP, Harwood (Waterbury); Ben Tate, Fr., RHP, South Burlington;
Endicott: Joseph Brown, Jr., RHP, Poultney;
FDU Florham: Jake Alercio, Sr., IF, Rutland;
Husson: Alex Chapman, Sr., OF/LHP, BFA Fairfax (Westford); Dylan Covey, Sr., OF, Milton; Matt Graziano, Jr., OF, St. Johnsbury; Brandon Brunell, Fr., RHP, Lyndon;
NVU-Lyndon: Tyler Davis, Sr., RHP, Blue Mountain (Groton); Sam Ongenoff, Jr., IF/RHP, Brattleboro;  Matt Page, Jr., RHP, Blue Mountain (Groton); Codi Smith, Jr., OF/RHP, Hartford; Cameron Flinn, So., IF/RHP, Williamstown (Barre); Caleb Laroche, So., OF, Enosburg Falls (Franklin); Tyler Roberge, So., OF, Essex; Ryder Thornton, So., C, Essex; Kyle DeRosia, Fr., LHP, Union-32 (Worcester); Edgar Koval, Fr., IF/OF, Essex; E.J. Patch, Fr., IF, Mill River (Clarendon); T.J. Santaw., Fr., RHP/IF, North Country (Newport);
Maine-Farmington: Nathan Poulin, Fr., RHP, Williamstown; Danny Terhune, Fr., C/OF, South Burlington;
Mass. Coll. Of Liberal Arts (MCLA): Brody Farnum, Jr., RHP, Mount Anthony (Bennington);
New England College: Colby Howe, Sr., RHP, Bellows Falls;
Norwich: Chris Leach, Jr., C, Vergennes; Dylan Czachor, So., OF, Fair Haven (Castleton); Cale Bombardier, Fr., RHP, Champlain Valley (Williston); Jacob Preston, Fr., IF, Northfield; Hayden Roberge, Fr., OF, Union-32 (Middlesex)
Penn State-Harrisburg: Nick Fitzgerald, Fr., RHP, Lamoille (Johnson)
Plattsburgh State: Jordan Godfrey, Sr., OF, Rutland;
Rensselaer (RPI): Patrick McMackin, Sr., RHP, South Burlington; Noah Normyle, Jr., IF, Mount Anthony (Bennington);
Salisbury (Md.): Sky Rahill, Fr., OF, Burlington;
College of St. Joseph's (Vt.- USCAA): Jason Albert, Jr., IF/RHP, Green Mountain (Chester); Lincoln Pritchard, So., Ut, Mill River (N. Clarendon); Joe Ruby, Fr., C/OF, Rutland;
Saint Lawrence: Patrick Greenan, So., LHP, Saint Johnsbury; Liam Reiner, Fr., RHP, Champlain Valley;
Skidmore: Will Potter, Sr., RHP/OF, Champlain Valley (Charlotte);
Southern Maine: Thomas Vesosky, Fr., OF, Colchester;
Thomas (Maine): Ezra Caron, Jr., IF/RHP, Mt. Anthony (Pownal);
Union: Chris O'Brien, So., 1B, Champlain Valley (Williston);
Utica: Jacob Gaboriault, Sr., C/OF, Essex (Colchester);
West Virginia Wesleyan: Jake Hakey, So., RHP, BFA-Fairfax (Georgia);
Williams: Ryan Young, Fr., Ut, Essex
Worcester Poly (WPI): Rob Chase, Sr., RHP, Colchester (Grand Isle);

Affiliated Minor League Baseball organizations:
Colorado Rockies: Rayne Supple*, RHP, Champlain Valley (Shelburne)
Texas Rangers: Theo McDowell*, RHP, South Burlington (Essex Junction)
*at extended spring training awaiting minor league assignment

Head Coaches:
Eastern Connecticut: Brian Hamm, head coach, (Middlebury College alum)
Fairfield: Bill Currier, head coach, Essex (UVM alum);
Manhattan College: Mike Cole, head coach (UVM alum); 
MIT: Andy Barlow, head coach, Burlington (UVM alum);
NVU-Lyndon: Reece Tanguay, head coach, Essex (NVU-Lyndon alum);
Norwich: Frank Pecora, head coach, former Northfield High coach;
Saint Michael's: Mat Pause, head coach, Hartford (Castleton alum);
Wentworth: Steve Studley, head coach (Castleton alum);

USA Baseball U-18 National Team: Jack Leggett, head coach, South Burlington;

Assistant Coaches:

Ball State: Nick Swim, BFA St. Albans (NJIT/Castleton);  Castleton: George Buteau, Burlington (Saint Michael's); Coast Guard Academy: Eric Degre, North Country/ former Lake Region coach; Colby Sawyer: Tom White (former NVU Lyndon head coach); Keene State: Cagney Brigham, Enosburg (Castleton); MVU-Lyndon: Sam Matthews, St. Johnsbury (Lyndon), Andre Eason, Jr. (NVU Lyndon), Ryan Cordiero (NVU Lyndon); Middlebury: Mike Phelps (Castleton), Devin Hayes, Vergennes (Castleton); Norwich: Billy Whaley, Northfield (Norwich), Brian Baker (Norwich); College of St. Joseph: Cam Curler, Vergennes (Castleton); Aaron Bloomer, Rutland (Castleton); Southern New Hampshire: Zach Labarron, Mt. Anthony (SNHU).

Dates Set for 2019 VBCA Underclass Showcase and 2019 Twin State Baseball Classic

Dates Set for 2019 VBCA Underclass Showcase and 2019 Twin State Baseball Classic

The 2019 Vermont Baseball Coaches Association Underclass Showcase will be held Wednesday, June 19, 2019 at Spartan Field at Castleton University. Registration starts at 12:30 p.m. and the pro-style showcase begins at 1 p.m.

The 2019 Twin State Baseball Classic that pits the senior all-stars from Vermont and New Hampshire will be held Saturday, June 21, 2019 at the Maxfield Complex in White River Junction, Vt. Opening ceremonies for the doubleheader start at 9:30 a.m. with game one first pitch to follow. The 2019 Vermont coaching staff is Shawn French of Oxbow, Roy
Sargent of Missisquoi Valley, Edward Lewicki of Burr and Burton and Nick DiCaro of Danville.

More information on both events and showcase registration forms will be available soon.

Bruce Bosley, VBCA

bbosley.vbca@gmail.com

2019 VBCA Clinic and Annual Meeting On Tap for Sunday Feb 10

The 2019 Vermont Baseball Coaches Association Clinic and State Association Meeting will be held Sunday, February 10, 2019 at Essex High School in Essex Junction, Vt. Baseball coaches at all levels are invited to attend. The clinic fee is $25 per person and registration starts at 8:45 a.m. 

The clinic will begin at 9:30 a.m.  with former Northfield legend and current Norwich head coach Frank Pecora leading the speakers along with Castleton University head coach Ted Shipley. The annual state meeting will be held during the segment breaks and if necessary, a brief meeting immediately following the clinic.
 
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 in the Twin State Baseball Classic as well as participation in the annual VBCA Underclass Showcase.   

 For more information and a registration form, 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