TheVermont Mountaineersare acollegiate summerbaseballteam based inMontpelier, Vermont.The team, a member of theNew England Collegiate Baseball League,plays their home games atMontpelier Recreation Field.The Vermont Mountaineers are consistently one of the better teams in the NECBL, and more specifically, the Northern Division. In 2022, the Mountaineers broke the NECBL record for wins in a single season, with 32.
| Vermont Mountaineers | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||
| Information | |||||
| League | NECBL(Northern Division) | ||||
| Location | Montpelier, Vermont | ||||
| Ballpark | Montpelier Recreation Field | ||||
| Founded | 2003 | ||||
| Nickname(s) | Mountaineers, Neers | ||||
| League championships | 3 (2006, 2007, 2015) | ||||
| Post-Season Division championships | 6 (2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2015, 2022) | ||||
| Regular-Season Division championships | 4 (2006, 2015, 2022, 2024) | ||||
| Colors | Green, Black, White | ||||
| Mascot | Skip | ||||
| Ownership | Board of Directors | ||||
| Management | Brian Gallagher (GM) | ||||
| Manager | Mitch Holmes | ||||
| Media | Josh Bartosik | ||||
| Website | thevermontmountaineers.com | ||||
History
editIn 2001, local citizens formed "Green Mountain Community Baseball", an organization formed in hopes of attracting an NECBL franchise toMontpelier, Vermont.In September of the following year the NECBL voted to expand to far-away Vermont, and to award a franchise to the group.[1]The team's name, the Vermont Mountaineers, was chosen from more than 300 fan entries.[2]
John Russo has been the team'smanagersince 2004 and has held some role with the team since its arrival in the league.General ManagerBrian Gallagher spear-headed organizing the franchise and led the team since its inception.
The team's first game was on June 7, 2003, an 8-5 loss to theManchester Silkworms.The game's attendance of 2,471 set a then-NECBL record for single game attendance.[3]Although their inaugural season was not a success on the field (the Mountaineers had the second-worst record in the NECBL),[4]it was in terms of attendance, with the club leading the league in average attendance per game. Nearly 35,000 fans watched the Mountaineers atMontpelier Recreation Fieldthat season.
After reaching the playoffs in 2004, the team has enjoyed playoff success, qualifying for the playoffs in six of their first seven seasons. They have reached the NECBL Championship Series six times (2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2015, 2022) winning it three times (2006, 2007), 2015). Three of their six finals appearances have come against theNewport Gulls.
Postseason appearances
edit| Year | Division Semi-Finals | Division Finals | NECBL Championship Series | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vermont Mountaineers | ||||||
| 2004 | Keene Swamp Bats | L (0-2) | ||||
| 2005 | Holyoke Giants | W (2-0) | Keene Swamp Bats | W (2-1) | Newport Gulls | L (0-2) |
| 2006 | Holyoke Giants | W (2-0) | Sanford Mainers | W (2-1) | Torrington Twisters | W (2-0) |
| 2007 | Keene Swamp Bats | W (2-0) | Holyoke Giants | W (2-0) | Newport Gulls | W (2-0) |
| 2008 | Sanford Mainers | L (1-2) | ||||
| 2009 | North Adams SteepleCats | W (2-0) | Holyoke Blue Sox | W (2-0) | Newport Gulls | L (1-2) |
| 2011 | Holyoke Blue Sox | L (0-2) | ||||
| 2012 | Keene Swamp Bats | L (0-2) | ||||
| 2013 | North Adams SteepleCats | W (2-0) | Keene Swamp Bats | L (1-2) | ||
| 2014 | Laconia Muskrats | W (2-0) | Sanford Mainers | L (2-0) | ||
| 2015 | Laconia Muskrats | W (2-0) | North Adams SteepleCats | W (2-1) | Mystic Schooners | W (2-1) |
| 2022 | Sanford Mainers | W (2-1) | Martha's Vineyard Sharks | L (0-2) | ||
| 2023 | Danbury Westerners | L (0-2) | ||||
| 2024 | Martha's Vineyard Sharks | W (2-0) | Sanford Mainers | L (2-0) | ||
Records
editBelow is a list of all-timeNew England Collegiate Baseball Leaguerecords set by the Mountaineers.[5]
Team
edit- Most triple plays in a season– 2, against theKeene Swamp Bats
- Stolen bases in a game– 11 against theManchester Silkwormson 7/31/08.
- Stolen bases in a season– 118, 2011.
- Runs in a game– 26, 2012 (Record shared with two (2) other teams).
- Runs in a game, combined– 41, 2012
- Sacrifice Hit- 38 2017
Individual
edit- Sacrifice Bunts– 11 by Matt Smith, 2004 and Zach Babitt, 2010.
- Most saves– 16 by Mark Murray, 2006.
Awards
editEnd-of-season awards
edit- 2004 TopRelief Pitcher– McKenzie Willoughby (co-winner)[6]
- 2005SportsmanshipAward– Matt Rizzotti[7]
- 2005 Manager of the Year– John Russo
- 2006 Defensive Player of the Year– Curt Smith[8]
- 2006 TopRelief Pitcher– Mark Murray
- 2006SportsmanshipAward– Robbie Minor
- 2006 Rookie of the Year– Chris Friedrich
- 2007 10th Player Award– A. J. Pollock[9]
- 2008 Most Improved Player– Alejandro Balsinde[10]
- 2014 Rookie of the Year– Blake Tiberi
All-NECBL Team
edit- 2005–First Team:1BMatt Rizzotti;Second Team:3BMiguel Magrass.[7]
- 2006–First Team:PJoe Esposito,SSRobbie Minor,PMark Murray,3BCurt Smith,CZach Zaneski;Second Team:PChris Friedrich,2BTroy Krider.[8]
- 2007–First Team:1BMike Sheridan,DHCurt Smith;Second teamOFAJ Pollock.[9]
- 2008–Second TeamPCasey Harman.[10]
- 2009–First TeamOFHenry Dunn,CJayson Hernandez;Second TeamPRob Kumbatovic.[11]
Attendance
editFrom their inception the Mountaineers have had some of the league's largest attendance figures. In their inaugural season the Mountaineers enjoyed the highest average attendance in the league and have consistently been near the top of the league in this category since.[12]
Attendance figures
edit| Season | Game Avg. | League Rk. |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 1,666 | 1st |
| 2004 | 1,643 | 3rd |
| 2005 | 1,707 | 2nd |
| 2006 | 1,754 | 2nd |
| 2007 | 1,518 | 3rd |
| 2008 | 1,720 | 3rd |
| 2009 | 1,350 | 3rd |
| 2010 | 1,038 | 4th |
| 2011 | 1,743 | 3rd |
| 2012 | 1,498 | 2nd |
2004 All-Star Game
editThe 2004 NECBL All-Star Game drew 4,127 fans toMontpelier Recreation Field,which set a then-NECBL record for All-Star Game attendance. Vermont's Northern Division squad was defeated by the Southern Division 7-4.[13]The record has since been broken at the 2009 NECBL All-Star Game hosted by theHolyoke Blue Sox.The 2009 game attracted 4,906 fans toMackenzie StadiuminHolyoke, Massachusetts.[14]However, the mark set in 2004 remains aMontpelier Recreation Fieldrecord.[13]
Pro alumni
editBelow is a list of Mountaineers alumni who have gone on to play professional baseball. In total, over 103 former Mountaineers have signed professional contracts after playing for Vermont.[15]13 have reached the majors, with two players currently on active MLB rosters.
As of August 1, 2018.
Reached the Majors
edit| Player | Year w/ VER | Current/Most recent team | Active |
|---|---|---|---|
| A.J. Pollock | 2007 | San Francisco Giants | Yes |
| Rob Delaney | 2005 | Tampa Bay Rays | No |
| David Carpenter | 2005 | Texas Rangers | No |
| Darin Mastroianni | 2004-05 | Minnesota Twins | No |
| Blake Lalli | 2004 | Arizona Diamondbacks | No |
| Christian Friedrich | 2006 | San Diego Padres | No |
| Michael Brady | 2006-07 | Oakland Athletics | No |
| Nick Greenwood | 2008 | Minnesota Twins | No |
| Nick Martinez | 2009-10 | San Diego Padres | Yes |
| Micah Johnson | 2010 | Atlanta Braves | No |
| Matt Duffy | 2010 | Texas Rangers | No |
| Cody Ege | 2011 | Los Angeles Angels | No |
| Troy Scribner | 2011 | Arizona Diamondbacks | No |
| Brian O'Grady | 2012 | San Diego Padres | No |
| Tyler Rogers | 2012 | San Francisco Giants | Yes |
| Danny Mendick | 2013 | New York Mets | Yes |
| Nick Solak | 2014 | Detroit Tigers | Yes (AAA) |
| Trey Amburgey | 2014 | Cincinnati Reds | Yes (AAA) |
| Joe Jacques | 2016 | Boston Red Sox | Yes (AAA) |
| Jonathan Stiever | 2016 | Chicago White Sox | Yes (AAA) |
National teams
edit- Simon Rosenbaum,2015, active withTeam Israel.
Broadcasting
editThe following former Mountaineer broadcasters have gone on tobroadcastin professional baseball:Tim Hagerty-AAA (Mountaineers 2003), Kyle Berger-A (2004),Scott Montesano-Ind. (2005),[16]Jonathan Barr-Ind. (2006),Paul Roper-Ind. (2007, currently broadcasting in theOHL),Carmine Vetrano-AHL/FHL/CanAm. (2010, currently broadcasting inAmerican Hockey League,Federal Hockey League,andCan-Am League),[17]
Media
editWcax.com, an area online news website run byWCAX-TV,produces reports and video highlights of Mountaineers games.[18]TheBarre Montpelier Times Argus,a local newspaper, also provides press coverage of games.[19]The games are broadcast onthe NECBL Broadcast Network.[20]
References
edit- ^Green Mountain Community Baseball Field Montpelier, VermontArchivedMay 4, 2011, at theWayback Machineat dufresnegroup.com
- ^Baseball in Vermontat thevermontmountaineers.com, URL accessed August 17, 2009
- ^VER v. MAN Boxscore 6/7/03ArchivedOctober 23, 2007, at theWayback Machineat necbl.com, URL accessed August 17, 2009
- ^2003 StandingsArchivedOctober 21, 2007, at theWayback Machineat necbl.com
- ^"NECBL Record Book | New England Collegiate Baseball League".
- ^2004 AwardsArchived2007-10-20 at theWayback Machineat necbl.com, URL accessed August 19, 2009
- ^ab2005 AwardsArchived2007-10-20 at theWayback Machineat necbl.com, URL accessed August 19, 2009
- ^ab2006 AwardsArchivedOctober 20, 2007, at theWayback Machineat necbl.com, URL accessed August 19, 2009
- ^ab2007 AwardsArchivedMay 2, 2008, at theWayback Machineat necbl.com, URL accessed August 19, 2009
- ^ab2008 AwardsArchivedDecember 16, 2008, at theWayback Machineat necbl.com, URL accessed August 19, 2009
- ^2009 AwardsArchived2009-12-13 at theWayback Machineat necbl.com, URL accessed August 21, 2009
- ^NECBL team statistics archiveArchivedOctober 20, 2007, at theWayback Machineat necbl.com, URL accessed December 21, 2008
- ^abSouthern Division All-Stars Outshine Northern Division, 7-4ArchivedMay 9, 2008, at theWayback Machineby Kyle Berger at necbl.com, URL accessed August 18, 2009
- ^2009 ASG BoxscoreArchivedJuly 23, 2009, at theWayback Machineat necbl.com, URL accessed August 18, 2009
- ^Alumniat thevermontmountaineers.com, URL accessed August 17, 2009
- ^Scott Montesanoat staatalent.com, URL accessed November 9, 2009.Archived2010-02-03 at theWayback Machine11/9/09
- ^http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090915/HOCKEY01/309159932at goerie.com, URL accessed April 15, 2010
- ^Vermont Mountaineers Win Season OpenerArchived2012-02-14 at theWayback Machineat wcax.com
- ^NECBL team peaked for the playoffsat timesargus.com, URL accessed August 18, 2009
- ^Mountaineers' Wild Walkoff Forces Game Threeat thevermontmountaineers.com, URL accessed August 18, 2009