New England Collegiate Baseball League

The New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL) is a 13-team collegiate summer baseball league founded in 1993 and sanctioned by the NCAA and Major League Baseball. Each NECBL team plays an eight-week, 44-game schedule during June and July, with a playoff in early August. Like the Cape Cod Baseball League and other amateur leagues, the NECBL is a showcase for top college-level players, giving professional baseball scouts a chance to see prospective pros playing against each other. Along with the Cape Cod Baseball League, Northwoods League, and Coastal Plain League, it is considered one of the top summer leagues in the country and is a part of the National Alliance of College Summer Baseball. In 2019, the Collegiate Summer Baseball Register ranked the NECBL as the 2nd best collegiate summer baseball league, behind only the Cape Cod League.[1][2][3]

New England Collegiate Baseball League
Current season, competition or edition:
2019 NECBL Season
SportBaseball
Founded1993
MottoKeep your eye
on the dream
No. of teams13
Country United States
Most recent
champion(s)		Keene Swamp Bats (5)
Most titlesNewport Gulls (6)
Official websitewww.necbl.com

Founded in 1993, the NECBL began its direction under George Foster, former Cincinnati Reds and New York Mets All-Star and Major League Baseball home run leader, and Emmy Award-winning television producer/director Joseph Consentino. Play started in 1994 and today the NECBL has become a strong twelve-team league that plays in all six New England states.[4] It recruits players attending U.S. colleges from New England, the other 44 states, and foreign countries, provided that they come from NCAA-sanctioned colleges or universities, are in good academic standing, have completed at least one year of athletic eligibility, and have at least one year of eligibility remaining.

The NECBL's current commissioner is Sean McGrath, former general manager of the North Adams SteepleCats. McGrath replaced Mario Tiani, who retired following the 2012 season.

League structure

The NECBL became a 13-team league in 2013 with the addition of teams in Rhode Island (Ocean State Waves), Massachusetts (Plymouth Pilgrims) and New York (Saratoga Brigade) (the league's first team to operate outside New England), but reverted to 12 teams after the Brigade folded. On October 30, 2015, the league announced that the Upper Valley Nighthawks would begin play in 2016 in Hartford, Vermont, bringing the league back to 13 teams.[5] The Plymouth Pilgrims ceased operations after the 2018 season[6] but were replaced by the Martha's Vineyard Sharks, a former member of the Futures Collegiate Baseball League (FCBL). The New Bedford BaySox ceased after the 2019 season, replaced by the Bristol Blues, who also moved from the FCBL.[7]

Current franchises

(see individual team websites below)

New England Collegiate Baseball League
Division Team Founded City Stadium Capacity
North
Keene Swamp Bats 1997 Keene, New Hampshire Alumni Field 4,800
North Adams SteepleCats 2002 North Adams, Massachusetts Joe Wolfe Field 1,800
Sanford Mainers 2002 Sanford, Maine Goodall Park 950
Upper Valley Nighthawks 2016 Hartford, Vermont Maxfield Sports Complex
Vermont Mountaineers 2003 Montpelier, Vermont Montpelier Recreation Field 1,200
Winnipesaukee Muskrats 2000 Laconia, New Hampshire Robbie Mills Field 1,200
Division Team Founded City Stadium Capacity
South Bristol Blues 2015 Bristol, Connecticut Muzzy Field 4,900
Danbury Westerners 1995 Danbury, Connecticut Rogers Park
Martha's Vineyard Sharks 2010 Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts The Shark Tank
Mystic Schooners* 1994 Groton, Connecticut Fitch Senior High School 1,053
Newport Gulls 1999 Newport, Rhode Island Cardines Field 3,250
Ocean State Waves 2013 South Kingstown, Rhode Island Old Mountain Field
Valley Blue Sox 2001 Holyoke, Massachusetts Mackenzie Stadium 4,100
  • An asterisk (*) denotes a charter franchise of the league
  • The Bristol Blues founded in 2015, joined this league for the 2020 season

Relocated or renamed teams
Team City Stadium Capacity Years History
Waterbury White Sox Waterbury, Connecticut Municipal Stadium 6,000
1994
 Became the Waterbury Barons
Eastern Tides Willimantic, Connecticut Eastern Baseball Stadium 1,500 1994–2001 Became the Thread City Tides
Thread City Tides Willimantic, Connecticut Eastern Baseball Stadium 1,500 2002–2003 Became the Berkshire Dukes
Berkshire Dukes Hinsdale, Massachusetts Dan Duquette Sports Academy[8]
2004
 Became the Pittsfield Dukes
Pittsfield Dukes Pittsfield, Massachusetts Wahconah Park 4,500 2005–2008 Became the Pittsfield American Defenders
Pittsfield American Defenders Pittsfield, Massachusetts Wahconah Park 4,500
2009
 Became the Bristol Collegiate Baseball Club
Bristol Collegiate Baseball Club Bristol, Connecticut Muzzy Field 4,900
2010
 Became the Mystic Schooners
Middletown Giants Middletown, Connecticut Palmer Field 1994–2003 Became the Holyoke Giants
Holyoke Giants Holyoke, Massachusetts Mackenzie Stadium 4,100 2004–2007 Became the North Shore Navigators
North Shore NavigatorsLynn, MassachusettsFraser Field3,8042008–2011Moved to the Futures League
Rhode Island Reds West Warwick, Rhode Island McCarthy Field 2,500 1996–2000 Became the Riverpoint Royals
Torrington Twisters Torrington, Connecticut Fuessenich Park 1,500 1997–2008 Became the New Bedford Bay Sox
Rhode Island Gulls (baseball) Cranston, Rhode Island Cranston Stadium 4,500 1998–2000 Became the Newport Gulls.
Mill City All-Americans Lowell, Massachusetts Stoklosa Alumni Field 4,000 2000–2006 Renamed the Lowell All-Americans
Lowell All-Americans Lowell, Massachusetts Stoklosa Alumni Field 4,000 2007–2010 Became the Old Orchard Beach Raging Tide
Manchester Silkworms Manchester, Connecticut Northwest Park 2000–2009 Became the Laconia Muskrats
Laconia Muskrats Laconia, New Hampshire Robbie Mills Field 2010-2015 Became the Winnipesaukee Muskrats
Concord Quarry Dogs Concord, New Hampshire Warren H. Doane Diamond 1,200 2001–2007 Became the Holyoke Blue Sox

Defunct teams
TeamCityStadiumCapacityYears
Fairfield StallionsFairfield, ConnecticutAlumni Baseball Diamond1,0001994
Bristol NighthawksBristol, ConnecticutMuzzy Field4,9001994–1995
Waterbury BaronsWaterbury, ConnecticutMunicipal Stadium6,0001994–1996
Central Mass CollegiansLeominster, MassachusettsDoyle Field6,2001995–1999
Riverpoint RoyalsWest Warwick, Rhode IslandMcCarthy Field2,5001996–2004
Old Orchard Beach Raging TideOld Orchard Beach, MaineThe Ball Park6,0002000–2011
Saratoga BrigadeSaratoga Springs, New YorkEast Side Recreation2013
Plymouth PilgrimsPlymouth, MassachusettsForges Field2013-2018
New Bedford Bay SoxNew Bedford, MassachusettsPaul Walsh Field1997–2019

Season structure

For the current season, the league is divided into two six-team divisions, the North Division and the South Division. During the regular season, teams play in-division opponents a total of six times, three games at home and three away. Teams play out-of-division opponents twice, one game at home and one away. These games make up the 44 game regular season schedule. When doubleheaders are scheduled due to inclement weather, NECBL rules dictate that they are two seven-inning games. Until the end of the 2016 season, NECBL regular season games had 2 umpires, while All-Star and playoff games have 3 or 4 umpires. As of the 2017 season, all NECBL regular season games have 3-man umpiring crews. The top four teams from each division qualify for the playoffs. In the division semifinal round the first seeds play the fourth seeds and the second seeds play the third seeds, respectively, in best-of-three series. The winners of the division semifinals advance to the division finals, where they play a best-of-three series against their fellow division finalist. The division champions advance to the NECBL championship series, where they face each other in a best-of-three series to decide the NECBL champion.

Past champions
Total NECBL Fay Vincent Cup Records
Franchise Titles Last Title Appearances
Newport Gulls 6 2014 11
Keene Swamp Bats 5 2019 7
North Shore Navigators 4 2010 4
Middletown Giants 3 1999 3
Vermont Mountaineers 3 2015 5
Central Mass Collegians 2 1996 2
Mystic Schooners 2 2016 3
Sanford Mainers 2 2008 4
Valley Blue Sox 2 2018 2
Danbury Westerners 0 4
New Bedford Bay Sox 0 4
Ocean State Waves 0 2
Bristol Nighthawks 0 1
Martha's Vineyard Sharks 0 1
Winnipesaukee Muskrats 0 1
Waterbury Barons 0 1
Riverpoint Royals 0 0
Fairfield Stallions 0 0
North Adams SteepleCats 0 0
Plymouth Pilgrims 0 0
Saratoga Brigade 0 0
Old Orchard Beach Raging Tide 0 0
Upper Valley Nighthawks 0 0

In the NECBL's history, the most successful team is the Newport Gulls, with six league championships and eleven championship series appearances (including one championship appearance as the Cranston, Rhode Island-based Rhode Island Gulls). The defunct North Shore Navigators franchise had four league titles. The Keene Swamp Bats have four league titles. The Vermont Mountaineers have three league titles. A pair of franchises have won two championships, the Sanford Mainers and the defunct Central Mass Collegians. The Mystic Schooners won a single championship, when the team was known as the Eastern Tides in the league's inaugural 1994 season.[9]

Year Winning Team Series Losing Team
1994 Eastern Tides
3–2
 Bristol Nighthawks
1995 Central Mass Collegians
2–0
 Waterbury Barons
1996 Central Mass Collegians
2–1
 Danbury Westerners
1997 Middletown Giants
2–1
 Torrington Twisters
1998 Middletown Giants
3–1
 Torrington Twisters
1999 Middletown Giants
3–1
 Danbury Westerners
2000 Keene Swamp Bats
2–1
 Rhode Island Gulls
2001 Newport Gulls
2–1
 Keene Swamp Bats
2002 Newport Gulls
2–0
 Keene Swamp Bats
2003 Keene Swamp Bats
2–0
 Torrington Twisters
2004 Sanford Mainers
2–1
 Newport Gulls
2005 Newport Gulls
2–0
 Vermont Mountaineers
2006 Vermont Mountaineers
2–0
 Torrington Twisters
2007 Vermont Mountaineers
2–0
 Newport Gulls
2008 Sanford Mainers
2–0
 Newport Gulls
2009 Newport Gulls
2–1
 Vermont Mountaineers
2010 North Shore Navigators
2–1
 Danbury Westerners
2011 Keene Swamp Bats
2–0
 Laconia Muskrats
2012 Newport Gulls
2–0
 Danbury Westerners
2013 Keene Swamp Bats
2–1
 Newport Gulls
2014 Newport Gulls
2–0
 Sanford Mainers
2015 Vermont Mountaineers
2-1
 Mystic Schooners
2016 Mystic Schooners
2-0
 Sanford Mainers
2017 Valley Blue Sox
2-0
 Ocean State Waves
2018 Valley Blue Sox
2-0
 Ocean State Waves
2019 Keene Swamp Bats
2-0
 Martha's Vineyard Sharks
2020 None (season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic)[10]

Notable alumni

The following former NECBL players have gone on to play in Major League Baseball.[11] Former NECBL players have reached the major league rosters of all thirty MLB teams, the thirtieth team being the Philadelphia Phillies when, in September 2015, Brian Bogusevic debuted with the team.[12]

Major League Baseball alumni of the New England Collegiate Baseball League
(past and present)
Name Position NECBL Team MLB Debut Team MLB Debut Year
Joe Nathan P Fairfield Stallions San Francisco Giants 1999
Chad Paronto P Middletown Giants Cleveland Indians 2000
Scott Chiasson P Eastern Tides Chicago Cubs 2000
Alfredo Amézaga SS Keene Swamp Bats Pittsburgh Pirates 2002
Earl Snyder 1B/OF Danbury Westerners/Middletown Giants Cleveland Indians 2002
Mike Smith P Middletown Giants Toronto Blue Jays 2002
Mark Malaska P/OF Danbury Westerners Tampa Bay Devil Rays 2003
Matt White P Danbury Westerners Boston Red Sox 2003
Pete Zoccolillo OF Danbury Westerners Milwaukee Brewers 2003
Jason Szuminski P Newport Gulls San Diego Padres 2004
Jeff Keppinger 2B Keene Swamp Bats New York Mets 2004
Val Majewski OF Eastern Tides Baltimore Orioles 2004
Craig Breslow P Middletown Giants San Diego Padres 2005
Keith Reed OF Rhode Island Reds Baltimore Orioles 2005
Tim Stauffer P Keene Swamp Bats San Diego Padres 2005
Jason Bergmann P Danbury Westerners Washington Nationals 2005
Chris Denorfia OF Manchester Silkworms Cincinnati Reds 2005
Charlton Jimerson CF Torrington Twisters Houston Astros 2005
Doug Clark LF Middletown Giants San Francisco Giants 2005
Andre Ethier OF Keene Swamp Bats Los Angeles Dodgers 2006
Kurt Birkins P Torrington Twisters Baltimore Orioles 2006
Sean Green P Torrington Twisters Seattle Mariners 2006
Zach Jackson P Manchester Silkworms Milwaukee Brewers 2006
Jeff Fulchino P Keene Swamp Bats Florida Marlins 2006
Chris Iannetta C Newport Gulls Colorado Rockies 2006
Brian Wilson P Keene Swamp Bats San Francisco Giants 2006
Jonah Bayliss P Manchester Silkworms Pittsburgh Pirates 2006
Brian Slocum P Danbury Westerners Cleveland Indians 2006
Rajai Davis CF Middletown Giants Pittsburgh Pirates 2006
Mike Rabelo C Torrington Twisters Detroit Tigers 2006
Joe Smith P North Adams SteepleCats New York Mets 2007
Andy LaRoche IF Keene Swamp Bats Los Angeles Dodgers 2007
Matt DeSalvo P Danbury Westerners New York Yankees 2007
Kevin Slowey P Sanford Mainers Minnesota Twins 2007
Andy Sonnanstine P Sanford Mainers Tampa Bay Devil Rays 2007
Matt Tupman C Concord Quarry Dogs/Mill City All-Americans Kansas City Royals 2008
Matt Joyce OF Danbury Westerners Detroit Tigers 2008
Bobby Wilson C North Adams SteepleCats Los Angeles Angels 2008
Chris Lambert P Concord Quarry Dogs Detroit Tigers 2008
Mike Ekstrom P North Adams SteepleCats San Diego Padres 2008
Luke Carlin C Keene Swamp Bats Arizona Diamondbacks 2008
Jesse Carlson P Middletown Giants Toronto Blue Jays 2008
Bryan LaHair 1B Keene Swamp Bats Seattle Mariners 2008
Jason Motte P Sanford Mainers St. Louis Cardinals 2008
Mike Parisi P Middletown Giants/ Torrington Twisters St. Louis Cardinals 2008
Mitchell Boggs P Newport Gulls St. Louis Cardinals 2008
Jeff Baisley 3B Danbury Westerners Oakland Athletics 2008
Bobby Korecky P Torrington Twisters Minnesota Twins 2008
Ryan Hanigan C Lowell All-Americans Cincinnati Reds 2008
Joe Martinez P Danbury Westerners San Francisco Giants 2009
Andrew Bailey P Lowell All-Americans Oakland Athletics 2009
Jack Egbert P Danbury Westerners Chicago White Sox 2009
Jarrett Hoffpauir 2B Danbury Westerners St. Louis Cardinals 2009
Reid Gorecki RF Manchester Silkworms Atlanta Braves 2009
Jason Berken P Keene Swamp Bats Baltimore Orioles 2009
Dusty Hughes P Danbury Westerners Kansas City Royals 2009
Brian Bogusevic P Danbury Westerners Houston Astros 2010
Rob Delaney P Pittsfield / Vermont Mountaineers Minnesota Twins 2010
Jeff Frazier OF Danbury Westerners Tampa Bay Rays 2010
Cole Gillespie OF North Adams SteepleCats Arizona Diamondbacks 2010
Frank Herrmann P Berkshire Dukes Cleveland Indians 2010
Adam Ottavino P Danbury Westerners St. Louis Cardinals 2010
Stephen Strasburg P Torrington Twisters Washington Nationals 2010
David Carpenter P Vermont Mountaineers Houston Astros 2011
Blake Davis SS North Adams SteepleCats Baltimore Orioles 2011
Graham Godfrey P Manchester Silkworms Oakland Athletics 2011
Ryan Lavarnway C Manchester Silkworms Boston Red Sox 2011
Stephen Lombardozzi 2B Holyoke Blue Sox Washington Nationals 2011
Darin Mastroianni CF Vermont Mountaineers Toronto Blue Jays 2011
Andy Parrino 2B Manchester Silkworms San Diego Padres 2011
Evan Scribner P North Adams SteepleCats San Diego Padres 2011
Adam Wilk P Newport Gulls Detroit Tigers 2011
Matt Adams 1B Pittsfield Dukes St. Louis Cardinals 2012
Scott Barnes P Holyoke Giants Cleveland Indians 2012
Jeff Beliveau P Newport Gulls Chicago Cubs 2012
Christian Friedrich P Vermont Mountaineers Colorado Rockies 2012
Blake Lalli C Vermont Mountaineers Chicago Cubs 2012
Matt McBride LF Holyoke Giants Colorado Rockies 2012
Mike Olt 3B Danbury Westerners Texas Rangers 2012
Dan Otero P Newport Gulls San Francisco Giants 2012
A. J. Pollock CF Vermont Mountaineers Arizona Diamondbacks 2012
Steve Geltz RHP Concord/Torrington Los Angeles Angels 2012
Tom Koehler RHP Keene Swamp Bats Florida Marlins 2012
Josh Fields RHP Keene Swamp Bats Houston Astros 2013
Michael Roth LHP Sanford Mainers Los Angeles Angels 2013
Chris Colabello 1B Lowell All-Americans Minnesota Twins 2013
Alex Wood LHP Keene Swamp Bats Atlanta Brave 2013
Ryan Reid RHP Sanford Mainers Pittsburgh Pirates 2013
Juan Perez OF Holyoke Blue Sox San Francisco Giants 2013
Josh Zeid RHP Torrington Twisters Houston Astros 2013
Andrew Albers LHP Torrington Twisters Minnesota Twins 2013
Kevin Chapman LHP North Shore Navigators Houston Astros 2013
Nick Christiani RHP Manchester Silkworms Cincinnati Reds 2013
Matt den Dekker OF Keene Swamp Bats New York Mets 2013
Mike Belfiore LHP Pittsfield Dukes Baltimore Orioles 2013
Nick Martinez RHP Vermont Mountaineers Texas Rangers 2014
Greg Garcia INF Newport Gulls St. Louis Cardinals 2014
Alex Hassan OF Pittsfield Dukes Boston Red 2014
Nick Greenwood LHP Vermont Mountaineers St. Louis Cardinals 2014
Adam Duvall 3B Sanford Mainers San Francisco Giants 2014
Ben Paulsen 1B Keene Swamp Bats Colorado Rockies 2014
Billy Burns CF Danbury Westerners Oakland Athletics 2014
Chris Taylor SS Newport Gulls Seattle Mariners 2014
Chris Domingue RF Newport Gulls San Francisco Giants 2014
Jason Rogers 3B Laconia Muskrats Milwaukee Brewers 2014
Eric Jokisch LHP Torrington Twisters Chicago Cubs 2014
Eric Goeddel RHP New Bedford Bay Sox New York Mets 2014
Micah Johnson 2B Vermont Mountaineers Chicago White Sox 2015
Sean Gilmartin LHP North Shore Navigators New York Mets 2015
Taylor Featherston 2B New Bedford Bay Sox Los Angeles Angels 2015
Adam Conley LHP Keene Swamp Bats Miami Marlins 2015
Josh Smith RHP Torrington Twisters Cincinnati Red 2015
Cody Stanley C North Adams SteepleCats St. Louis Cardinals 2015
Guido Knudson RHP North Adams SteepleCats Detroit Tigers 2015
Tom Murphy C Holyoke Blue Sox Colorado Rockies 2015
Matt Duffy INF Vermont Mountaineers Houston Astros 2015
Matt Buschmann RHP Keene Swamp Bats Arizona Diamondbacks 2016
Cody Ege LHP Vermont Mountaineers Miami Marlins 2016
Pat Light RHP Newport Gulls Boston Red Sox 2016
Andrew Triggs RHP New Bedford/Torrington Oakland Athletics 2016
Matt Carasiti RHP Bristol Collegiate Baseball Club Colorado Rockies 2016
Mike Hauschild RHP Danbury Westerners Texas Rangers 2017

Media

All NECBL games are broadcast online through the NECBL Broadcast Network, with Pointstreak providing both audio and video for all games.[13]

On May 14, 2010, the league signed an agreement with Pointstreak. Pointstreak provides "real-time scoring, official statistics, and administration services" to the NECBL. A highlight of Pointstreak's services is Game Live, a real-time statistics feature providing play-by-play for every NECBL game.[14]

See also

Notes
  1. Rogers, Kendall (July 20, 2007). "Kendall's Mailbag: Ducks in a row". Rivals.com College Baseball. Archived from the original on June 8, 2011. Retrieved June 8, 2011.
  2. Nation, Boyd (September 21, 2010). "Talent Levels for the 2010 College Summer Leagues". Boyd's World. Archived from the original on February 21, 2012. Retrieved February 21, 2012. Overall, other than the clearcut win for the Cape, this leaves me a little fuzzy as to who's second, or to even who the second tier is. Overall, the NECBL, Jayhawk, and Northwoods leagues look good, but if you pay less attention to the D1% column (which may be reasonable, given the strength of the California JC ranks, for example), the California and West Coast leagues may join them.
  3. "2012 Baseball Season Preview Part 1: Q&A with Head Coach Brett Boretti". GoColumbiaLions.com. Columbia University Athletics. February 23, 2012. Archived from the original on March 4, 2012. Retrieved March 4, 2012.
  4. "NECBL Goes with 10 Teams for 2012". BallparkDigest.com. February 11, 2012. Archived from the original on February 21, 2012. Retrieved February 21, 2012.
  5. "on Pointstreak Sports Technologies". Pointstreak Sports Technologies. Retrieved November 2, 2015.
  6. Wolcott, David. "Plymouth Pilgrims baseball franchise ceases operations". Wicked Local Plymouth. Retrieved November 25, 2018.
  7. "Back to Bristol; New England League Welcomes Bristol Blues to League for 2020". NECBL. November 7, 2019.
  8. Berkshire Dukes Box Score, c. 2004 URL accessed June 5, 2009 Archived October 31, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  9. NECBL Record Book at necbl.com, URL accessed July 22, 2009 Archived July 10, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  10. Editor, William Geoghegan Sports. "Waves sidelined as NECBL cancels season". The Independent. Retrieved May 7, 2020.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  11. "NECBL Alumni". NECBL. New England Collegiate Baseball League. Retrieved April 15, 2017.
  12. "League". NECBL. New England Collegiate Baseball League. Retrieved April 16, 2017.
  13. NECBL Broadcast Network at necbl.com, URL accessed June 4, 2010. Archived June 4, 2010
  14. NECBL Signs Agreement with Pointstreak at necbl.com, URL accessed June 4, 2010. Archived June 4, 2010

Team websites
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