Nearly 80 Vermont High School Products on 2021 NCAA Baseball Rosters

Contact: Bruce Bosley, VBCA director

For the second straight season close to 80 former Vermont high school baseball players were members of NCAA baseball programs for the 2021 season. Several others with ties to Green Mountain State high schools and colleges are on collegiate coaching staffs including 11 head coaches, three at the Division I level.

Vermont student-athletes from 35 different high schools from all four of the state's divisions, 12 of the 14 counties, dotted the rosters of 37 different college programs in 2021. A majority of these players attended a VBCA Junior Showcase event that will return to the field in 2022.

Six student-athletes are on Division I programs including one in the ACC,  the 13th straight season a former Vermont high school player is at an Atlantic Coast Conference program, one of the top Division I baseball conferences in the nation.

Many of the student-athletes and coaches received honors this season highlighted by Babson pitcher Jordy Allard from Woodstock and Hartford High who was selected as an ABCA D-III First Team All-American. Junior Sky Rahill of Burlington was one of several to participate in the NCAA tournament and he helped lead Salisbury (Md.) to the 2021 Division III National Championship. Fairfield head coach Bill Currier from Essex Junction was named MAAC Coach of the Year and is a candidate for regional and national honors after leading the Stags to a 39-5 overall record and a trip to the NCAA D-I Regional Final after knocking off perennial power Arizona State.

Two pitchers with Vermont high school or collegiate ties, Theo McDowell of Essex Junction (South Burlington High) and Colby Morris of Middlebury College are with minor league organizations with affiliated major league teams. McDowell is in the Texas Rangers system and Morris is with the New York Mets.

Please note that some players who are at NCAA schools may have opted out of the 2021 school year due to COVID-19, and are not on on 2021 rosters and are not on this list. Also class years on rosters may be reclassified later with an extra year of eligibility. If you know of any others on four-year NCAA collegiate rosters, please e-mail Bruce Bosley, director of the VBCA, at bbosley.vbca@gmail.com with the link to a 2021 roster.  

Division I:
Boston College (ACC): Will Hesslink, Sr., LHP, Rice Memorial (Shelburne);
Holy Cross (Patriot): Jack Ambrosino, Fr., RHP, South Burlington;
Maine (America East): Leif Bigelow, So., RHP, Brattleboro (Guilford);
Merrimack (NEC): Brayden Howrigan, Jr., RHP, Enosburg Falls;
St. Bonaventure (Atlantic-10): Elijah Baez, Jr., RHP, Essex;
Siena (MAAC): Donovan Montgomery, So., IF, Burlington;

Divison II:
Concordia-Calif. (PacWest): Henry Conroy, Jr., RHP, Rice Memorial (Shelburne);
New Haven (NE-10): Tyler Wells, So., IF/OF, St. Johnsbury (Danville);
Saint Michael's (NE-10): Brady Perron, So., C, Lake Region (Barton); Brady Clark, Fr., IF, Springfield; Andrew Lanthier, Fr., OF, Fair Haven (Orwell); Danny Rickert, Fr., RHP, Essex (Williston);
West Virginia Wesleyan (Mtn East): Jake Hakey, Sr., RHP, BFA-Fairfax (Georgia);
 

Division III:
Babson+ (NEWMAC): Jordy Allard, Sr., RHP, Hartford (Woodstock);
Castleton (Little East): Max Olmstead, Sr., LHP, Landmark (East Montpelier); Reece DeCastro, Jr., IF, Rutland; Jake O'Brien, Jr., IF, Harwood (Waterbury Center); Richard Walker, Jr., RHP, Missisquoi Valley (Swanton); Adam Newton, So., RHP, Brattleboro;  Hunter Perkins, So., OF, Hartford (Quechee); Aubrey Ramey, Fr., RHP, Fair Haven (Castleton):
Clark (NEWMAC): Cory Giannelli, Fr., LHP/OF, Essex;
Clarkson (Liberty): Colby Brouillette, So., C; BFA St. Albans (Georgia);
Colby Sawyer (GNAC): Alec Burns, Sr., IF, Enosburg Falls; Jake Choiniere, Jr., C/IF, St. Johnsbury; Cooper  O'Brien, So., IF, Vergennes; Michael Roy, So., IF/RHP, BFA Fairfax;
Dean (GNAC): Samuel Grandfield, Jr., RHP, Harwood (Duxbury); Ben Tate, Jr., RHP/IF, South Burlington;
Endicott (CCC): Ian Parent, So., LHP, Champlain Valley (Williston);
Gordon (CCC): Dalton Cody, Fr., IF, Williamstown (Barre);
Husson (NAC)+: Brandon Brunell, Jr., RHP, Lyndon; Zach Whitmore, Jr., LHP, Randolph; Jared Cushing, So., RHP, Blue Mountain (Ryegate);  Hunter O'Connor, So., LHP, Vergennes (Waltham);
Johnson & Wales (GNAC): Clayton McAllister, Fr., C, BFA St Albans (Swanton);
Keene State (Little East): Josh Beayon, So., LHP, Otter Valley (Pittsford); Lucas McClanahan, So., RHP/UT, Colchester; Patrick McKeighan, So., RHP/UT, Otter Valley (Pittsford); Nathaniel Hudson, Fr.., RHP/UT, Otter Valley (Florence);
NVU Lyndon (NAC): Sam Ongenoff, Sr., IF/RHP, Brattleboro; Tyler Roberge, Sr., OF, Essex; Codi Smith, Sr., OF/RHP, Hartford; Ryder Thornton, Sr., C, Essex; Cameron Flinn, Sr., RHP, Williamstown (Barre); T.J. Santaw., Jr., RHP/IF, North Country (Newport); Matt Brault, So., OF/RHP, Milton; Joe Rafus, So., LHP, Twin Valley (Whitingham); Nolan Barber, Fr., IF, Mt. Mansfield (Jericho); Keith Herman, Fr., RHP, Lake Region (Barton);  Shea McCaffrey, Fr., Ut/RHP, Lyndon; Parker Perron, Fr., IF/OF, Lake Region (Barton);
Maine-Farmington (NAC): Danny Terhune, Jr., C, South Burlington;
Maine-Presque Isle (NAC): Collin Racine, Jr., IF, Rutland; Zach Butterfield, Fr., RHP, Hartford;
Mass Dartmouth (Little East): Chase Carey, Fr., RHP, Colchester;
Middlebury (NESCAC): Baker Angstman, Fr., IF, Champlain Valley (Williston);
New England College (NECC): Wyatt Cameron, So., RHP, Middlebury (Salisbury); Dylan Merrow, Fr., IF, Springfield;
Norwich (GNAC): Hayden Roberge, Jr., OF, Union-32 (Middlesex); Ryland Richardson, Fr., SS, Windsor; Nick Beavin, Fr., IF, Montpelier; Zeb Perreault, Fr., C, White River Valley (Chelsea); Timber Russell, Fr., RHP/IF, White River Valley (Randolph);
Penn State-Harrisburg (NEAC): Nick Fitzgerald, Jr., RHP, Lamoille (Eden);
Plymouth State (Little East): Connor Philbrick, Fr., RHP, Mt. Mansfield (Jericho);
Saint Lawrence (Liberty): Patrick Greenan, Sr., LHP, Saint Johnsbury; Liam Reiner, Jr., RHP, Champlain Valley (Williston);
Salisbury Md.+ (C2CC): Sky Rahill, Jr., OF, Burlington;
SUNY Canton (NAC): Zach Bates, Jr., IF/RHP, Rutland;
SUNY Cobleskill (NAC): Dominic Liscinsky, Fr., OF, BFA St. Albans;
Southern Maine+: Thomas Vesosky, Jr., OF, Colchester;
Union+ (Liberty): Chris O'Brien, Sr., Champlain Valley (Williston) ; Storm Rushford, Fr., RHP, Champlain Valley (Williston);
Wentworth (CCC): Orin Mahikoa, So., RHP, Oxbow (Corinth);
Williams (NESCAC): Ryan Young, Jr., IF, Essex.

+team reached NCAA tournament

Affiliated Minor League Baseball organizations:
New York Mets- Brooklyn Cyclones (High A): Colby Morris, RHP, Middlebury College
Texas Rangers*: Theo McDowell, RHP, South Burlington (Essex Junction)
*at extended spring training camp

NCAA Collegiate Head Coaches:
Castleton: Ted Shipley (NVU-Lyndon alum);
Colby-Sawyer: Tom White (former NVU Lyndon head coach);
Eastern Connecticut+: Brian Hamm (Middlebury College alum)
Fairfield+: Bill Currier, Essex (UVM alum);
Manhattan College: Mike Cole (UVM alum);  
MIT: Andy Barlow, Burlington (UVM alum);
NVU-Lyndon: Reece Tanguay, Essex (NVU-Lyndon alum);
Norwich: Frank Pecora, former Northfield High coach;
Saint Michael's: Jim Neidlinger, former Middlebury College assistant;
Stetson: Steve Trimper,  former UVM assistant;
Wentworth: Steve Studley, (Castleton alum);

NCAA Collegiate Assistant Coaches:
Castleton: Aaron Smith, Middlebury (Castleton); Coast Guard Academy: Eric Degre, North Country/ former Lake Region coach; Dartmouth: Cam Curler, Vergennes (Castleton); Dean: Billy Manley (Castleton alum); Keene State: Eric Libardoni, Brattleboro (Saint Michael's);  NVU-Lyndon: Sam Matthews, St. Johnsbury (Lyndon), Andre Eason, Jr. (NVU Lyndon), Nate Stewart, North Country (NVU Lyndon), Dylan Newton, BFA St. Albans (NVU Lyndon); Middlebury: Mike Phelps (Castleton);  Norwich: Mike Czok, Marian HS (Barre)/former Randolph coach, Leland Goodenough, Randolph (Norwich); Saint Lawrence: Justin Devoid (Hartford); Saint Michael's: Matt Meunier, BFA St. Albans, Zac Poland, Rice Memorial, Michael Ewan, former South Burlington assistant; Southern New Hampshire+: Zach Labarron, Mt. Anthony.

North Takes Pair From South in 2021 Vermont North-South Senior Baseball Classic

(photos credit: Doug MacPhee)

June 18, 2021

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

Game one: North 11, South 3

Game two: North 12, South 1 (6 inn)

WESTMINSTER, Vt.— A big inning in each game propelled the North to a doubleheader sweep of the South in the 2021 Vermont Baseball Coaches Association North-South Senior Classic Friday night at Bellows Falls Union High’s Hadley Field. The North won the lidlifter 11-3 and then took the second game 12-1.

The North scored early and often in the opener, with two in the first, six in the second and two more in the third. Justis Orton of Enosburg Falls drove in three in this span and Shreyas Parikh of Mount Mansfield knocked in two, each with a pair of RBI singles. Back to back doubles by Ryan Eaton of Champlain Valley and Spaulding’s Zack Stabell added two more in the third and a double by Parikh capped the North’s scoring in the fourth. 

The South rallied with single runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth behind hits by Brandon Burns of Burr & Burton, Curtis Barry of White River Valley, Jonah Boyea of Mill River, and a pair of singles by Ryan Alt of Poultney, including a two-out RBI hit to cut it to 11-3.  

North starter Christian Vallee of BFA St Albans and Cole Tarrant of Rice Memorial combined for three scoreless frames on the mound. Alt (2.1 innings) and Ethan Lawyer of Windsor finished with three shutout innings of relief for the South. 

The North rapped out 14 hits with Orton and Parikh each with three while Eaton had two. Alt had three of the South’s 11 hits in the opener while Elliot Graham of Bellows Falls added two and Boyea reached safely twice with a hit and a walk.

In the nightcap starters Jarrett Muzzy of Vergennes and Brodie Krawcyck each pitched two scoreless innings before the North broke through with five in the bottom of the third. Singles by Marshall Donahue of Montpelier, Tucker Stearns of Vergennes and Vallee fueled the rally along with three walks. 

The North sent 13 hitters to the plate in the fifth to break it open. Eaton’s long RBI double to left capped the seven-run inning that featured six hits, two walks and a sacrifice fly. Alt doubled home Alex Polli of Otter Valley in the top of the sixth to complete the scoring.

Polli had two of the South’s four hits, Lawyer had one and Alt’s double gave him a 4-for-5 twinbill with two RBI. Stearns and Vallee (3 RBI) each went 2-for-2 as the North had 11 more hits in the nightcap. Orton was 4-for-4 in the two games while Parikh went 4-for-5 and Eaton went 3-for-5 with a pair doubles.

Special thanks to Bellows Falls Union High School for hosting the event and the VBCA coaches volunteering their services in team selections and for the games. 

The Twin State Baseball Classic between seniors from Vermont and New Hampshire will return to the diamond in 2022 as well as the VBCA Junior All-Star Game and Showcase.

North-South Senior Baseball All-Star Classic On Tap for Friday June 18

Many of the finest high school baseball seniors in Vermont will wrap up the 2021 spring season at the Vermont Baseball Coaches Association's North-South Senior Baseball Classic to be held Friday, June 18, 2021 in Bellows Falls. Admission is free and the first pitch of game one of the twinight doubleheader (two seven-inning games) is 4 p.m. at Bellows Falls Union High's Hadley Field.

Head coach of the North is Tim Albertson of Champlain Valley. He will be assisted by Tim Root of Essex, Logan Cooke of Montpelier and Troy Busconi of Williamstown. Leading the South will be Mike Howe of Otter Valley. He will be assisted by Bob Lockerby of Bellows Falls, Matt McCarthy of Green Mountain along with Arlington assistant Jamie Briggs and Otter Valley assistant Brayden Shannon.

Here is the North roster: Christian Vallee of BFA St. Albans; Ryan Eaton of Champlain Valley; Colby Fane-Cushing and Jack Talbot of Colchester; Kam Lovelette and Justis Orton of Enosburg; Stefan DiGangi of Essex; Will Mlcuch and Matt Selby of Lamoille; Patrick Walker of Missisquoi; Marshall Donahue of Montpelier; Colby Lathrop of Mount Abraham; Shreyas Parikh of Mount Mansfield; Cole Tarrant of Rice Memorial; Zach Stabell of Spaulding; and Barrett Barrows, Jarrett Muzzy and Tucker Stearns of Vergennes.

The South roster is: Dylan Wright of Arlington; Elliot Graham and Grady Lockerby of Bellows Falls; Brandon Burns and Sam Steinman of Burr & Burton; Jonah Boyea and Matt Haskins, Mill River; Brodie Krawczyk and Ethan LaBatt of Mount Anthony; Alex Polli of Otter Valley; Ryan Alt of Poultney; Ryan Flanders of Rutland; Michael Goodnough of West Rutland; Curtis Barry of White River Valley; and Ethan Lawyer of Windsor.

Two usual annual VBCA events, the Twin State Baseball Classic senior all-star game between Vermont and New Hampshire and the VBCA Junior Showcase and All-Star Game, will return to the diamond in 2022.

Special thanks to Bob Lockerby and Bellows Falls Union High School for hosting this Friday's doubleheader. For more information contact Bruce Bosley of the VBCA at bbosley.vbca@gmail.com