Upper Valley Nighthawks

History

The inaugural 2016 Nighthawks, managed by Nick Cenatiempo, finished 21-25 and qualified for the playoffs by winning a four-team play-in scenario. The Nighthawks, Vermont Mountaineers, Keene Swampbats, and Winnipesaukee Muskrats all tied for the fourth playoff spot. Upper Valley defeated the Muskrats in game one and the Swampbats in game two, becoming the first and last team to win such a play-in, as the NECBL changed tie-breaker rules in 2017. The 2017 team, managed by Jason Szafarski, went 29-15 and finished first in the Northern Division, but lost in the Divisional Championship to the eventual NECBL champion Valley Blue Sox; that squad produced a record nine NECBL All Stars. The 2018 team finished 22-21 in fourth place under Szafarski, with five All Stars. The 2019 team, managed by former Nighthawk player Keller Bradford (son of former MLB pitcher Chad Bradford), went 24-20 and placed fourth, producing four All Stars; Aaron Haase (Wichita State) won the Joe Nathan Top Relief Pitcher award, and Cole Frederick claimed the NECBL batting title at .396. The 2020 season was cancelled due to the Coronavirus (COVID) Pandemic. They survived a 12-inning wildcard home game against the Winnipesaukee Muskrats, winning 7-6 on a bloop single by Brett Callahan (Saint Joseph’s), then swept North Adams (2-0) in the quarterfinals before falling to the North Shore Navigators in the NECBL semifinals—the franchise's deepest playoff run. That team led the NECBL in batting average (.276), set a single-season stolen base record (125), and produced three All-NECBL first-team selections and seven all-stars, including all-star game MVP Max Viera (Northeastern). The 2022 team finished 19-23 under Devoid, with seven All Stars. The 2023 Nighthawks, now managed by Mat Pause, went 18-24, third in the North Division, and produced six All Stars, including all-star game MVP Kevin Bruggeman (Hofstra). The 2024 team, also managed by Pause, finished 18-24 and produced six All Stars.