Vermont Mountaineers

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Vermont Mountaineers

Team Logo
Cap Insignia
League NECBL (West Division (2009-present))
Location Montpelier, VT (2003-present)
Ballpark Montpelier Recreation Field (2003-present)
Year Founded 2003
Nickname(s) Mountainmen[1]
League championships 2 (2006, 2007)
Post-Season Division championships 3 (2005, 2006, 2007, 2009)
Regular-Season Division championships 1 (2006)
Former name(s) Vermont Mountaineers (2003-present)
Former league(s)
  • NECBL
    • Northern Division (2004-2008)
Colors Green, White
         
Mascot Skip
Ownership Board of Directors
Management Brian Gallagher (GM)
Manager John Russo
Media Radio: Christian Heimall
Website thevermontmountaineers.com

The Vermont Mountaineers are a collegiate summer baseball team based in Montpelier, Vermont. The team, a member of the New England Collegiate Baseball League, plays their home games at Montpelier Recreation Field.

History

In 2001, local citizens formed “Green Mountain Community Baseball,” an organization formed in hopes of attracting an NECBL franchise to Montpelier, Vermont. In September of the following year the NECBL voted to award a franchise to the group.[2] The team's name, the Vermont Mountaineers, was chosen from more than 300 fan entries.[3]

John Russo has been the team's manager since 2004 and has held some role with the team since its arrival in the league. General Manager Brian Gallagher has also been present since the team's inception.

The team's first game was on June 7, 2003, an 8-5 loss to the Manchester Silkworms. The game's attendance of 2,471 set a then-NECBL record for single game attendance.[4] Although their inaugural season was not a success on the field (the Mountaineers had the second-worst record in the NECBL),[5] it was in terms of attendance, with the club leading the league in average attendance per game. Nearly 35,000 fans watched the Mountaineers at Montpelier Recreation Field that season.

After reaching the playoffs in 2004, the team has enjoyed playoff success, qualifying for the playoffs in six of their first seven seasons, including an active streak of six consecutive years. They have reached the NECBL Championship Series four times (2005, 2006, 2007, 2009), winning it twice (2006, 2007). Three of their four finals appearances have come against the Newport Gulls.

Postseason appearances

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)

Records

Below is a list of all-time New England Collegiate Baseball League records set by the Mountaineers.[6]

Team

Individual

Awards

End of season awards

  • 2004 Top Relief Pitcher - McKenzie Willoughby (co-winner)[7]
  • 2005 Manager of the Year - John Russo
  • 2006 Defensive Player of the Year - Curt Smith[9]
  • 2006 Top Relief Pitcher - Mark Murray
  • 2006 Rookie of the Year - Chris Friedrich
  • 2007 10th Player Award - A.J. Pollock[10]
  • 2008 Most Improved Player - Alejandro Balsinde[11]

All-NECBL Team

  • 2005 - First Team: 1B Matt Rizzotti; Second Team: 3B Miguel Magrass.[8]
  • 2006 - First Team: P Joe Esposito, SS Robbie Minor, P Mark Murray, 3B Curt Smith, C Zach Zaneski; Second Team: P Chris Friedrich, 2B Troy Krider.[9]
  • 2007 - First Team: 1B Mike Sheridan, DH Curt Smith; Second team OF AJ Pollock.[10]
  • 2009 - First Team OF Henry Dunn, C Jayson Hernandez; Second Team P Rob Kumbatovic.[12]

Attendance

From 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.[13]

Attendance figures

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

The 2004 NECBL All-Star Game drew 4,127 fans to Montpelier 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.[14] The record has since been broken at the 2009 NECBL All-Star Game hosted by the Holyoke Blue Sox. The 2009 game attracted 4,906 fans to Mackenzie Stadium in Holyoke, Massachusetts.[15] However, the mark set in 2004 remains a Montpelier Recreation Field record.[14]

Pro alumni

Below is a list of Mountaineers alumni who have gone on to play professional baseball. The alumni are sorted by peak level of baseball in which they have participated. In total, 44 Mountaineers have signed professional contracts after playing for Vermont.[16]

As of November 7, 2009.

MLB

Player Year w/ VER Current/Most recent team Active
A. J. Pollock [17] 2007 Arizona Diamondbacks Yes

AAA

Player Year w/ VER Current/Most recent team Active
Jud Thigpen[18] 2003 Brockton Rox (Ind.) Yes
Rob Delaney[19] 2005 Rochester Red Wings (AAA) Yes
Zach Zaneski[20] 2005, 2006 Oklahoma RedHawks (AAA) Yes

AA

Player Year w/ VER Current/Most recent team Active
Chris Blazek[21] 2004 Corpus Christi Hooks (AA) No
Blake Lalli[22] 2004 Tennessee Smokies (AA) Yes
Matt Smith[23] 2004 Binghamton Mets (AA) No
Darin Mastroianni[24] 2004, 2005 New Hampshire Fisher Cats (AA) Yes
Bryan Rembisz[25] 2006 Arkansas Travelers (AA) Yes
Curt Smith[26] 2006, 2007 Springfield Cardinals (AA) Yes
Matt Rizzotti[27] 2005 Reading Phillies (AA) Yes

A-Advanced

The following Mountaineer alumni have advanced as far as Class A-Advanced: Randy Roth (Mountaineers 2003), Steve Bronder (2004), Robbie Minor (2004, 2005, 2006), David Carpenter[28] (2005), Dan Merklinger[28] (2005), Joe Esposito[29] (2006), Josh Satow[30] (2006), Chris Friedrich[31] (2007)

A

The following Mountaineer alumni have advanced as far as Class A: Jon Dobyns (Mountaineers 2003), Carl Galloway (2003), Beau McMillan (2003), Joe Billick[32] (2004), Anthony Smith[33] (2004), Jim Wladyka[34] (2004), Mike Sheridan[35] (2007)

Short Season A

The following Mountaineer alumni have advanced as far as Short-Season A: Blake Hanan (Mountaineers 2003), Brett Nagy (2003), Craig Newton (2003), David Kennedy (2004), Sean Grieve[36] (2006), Chad Durakis (2007), Justin Gutsie (2007)

Rookie-Advanced

The following Mountaineer alumni have advanced as far as Rookie-Advanced Class: Danny Sullivan (Mountaineers 2003), Kevin Brophy (2005, 2006), Alex Curry (2007)

Rookie

The following Mountaineer alumni have advanced as far as Rookie Class: Josh Santerre (Mountaineers 2004), Nick Hall (2005)

Independent

The following Mountaineer alumni have advanced as far as Independent league baseball: Marco Garza (Mountaineers 2003), Josh Gaub (2003), Troy Krider (2005), Miguel Magrass[37] (2005, 2006), Mark Murray (2005, 2006)

Broadcasting

The following former Mountaineer broadcasters have gone on to broadcast in professional baseball: Tim Hagerty-AAA (Mountaineers 2003), Kyle Berger-A (2004), Scott Montesano -Ind. (2005),[38] Jonathan Barr-Ind. (2006), Paul Roper-Ind. (2007, currently broadcasting in the OHL), Carmine Vetrano -AHL/FHL/CanAm. (2010, currently broadcasting in American Hockey League, Federal Hockey League, and Can-Am League),[39]

Note-Bold denotes alumnus' still being active in professional baseball.

Media

Wcax.com, an area online news website run by WCAX-TV, produces reports and video highlights of Mountaineers games.[40] The Barre Montpelier Times Argus, a local newspaper, also provides press coverage of games.[41] The games are broadcast on WSKI ESPN Radio 1240[42] and on Teamline[43] internet audio/video.

References

  1. ↑ Holyoke Loses Game One Versus Mountaineers, Heads to the Mack' for Game Two at necbl.com, URL accessed August 17, 2009
  2. ↑ Green Mountain Community Baseball Field Montpelier, Vermont at dufresnegroup.com
  3. ↑ Baseball in Vermont at thevermontmountaineers.com, URL accessed August 17, 2009
  4. ↑ VER v. MAN Boxscore 6/7/03 at necbl.com, URL accessed August 17, 2009
  5. ↑ 2003 Standings at necbl.com
  6. ↑ NECBL Record Book at necbl.com, URL accessed August 18, 2009
  7. ↑ 2004 Awards at necbl.com, URL accessed August 19, 2009
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 2005 Awards at necbl.com, URL accessed August 19, 2009
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 2006 Awards at necbl.com, URL accessed August 19, 2009
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 2007 Awards at necbl.com, URL accessed August 19, 2009
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 2008 Awards at necbl.com, URL accessed August 19, 2009
  12. ↑ 2009 Awards at necbl.com, URL accessed August 21, 2009
  13. ↑ NECBL team statistics archive at necbl.com, URL accessed December 21, 2008
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Southern Division All-Stars Outshine Northern Division, 7-4 by Kyle Berger at necbl.com, URL accessed August 18, 2009
  15. ↑ 2009 ASG Boxscore at necbl.com, URL accessed August 18, 2009
  16. ↑ Alumni at thevermontmountaineers.com, URL accessed August 17, 2009
  17. ↑ A.J. Pollock at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed December 12, 2012
  18. ↑ Jud Thigpen at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed August 18, 2009
  19. ↑ Rob Delaney at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed August 18, 2009
  20. ↑ Zack Zaneski at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed November 7, 2009
  21. ↑ Chris Blazek at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed August 18, 2009
  22. ↑ Blake Lalli at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed August 18, 2009
  23. ↑ Matt Smith at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed August 18, 2009
  24. ↑ Darin Mastroianni at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed August 18, 2009
  25. ↑ Bryan Rembisz at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed August 18, 2009
  26. ↑ Curt Smith at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed August 18, 2009
  27. ↑ Matt Rizzotti at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed August 18, 2009
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 Dan Merlinger at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed August 18, 2009
  29. ↑ Joe Esposito at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed November 7, 2009
  30. ↑ Josh Satow at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed November 7, 2009
  31. ↑ Chris Friedrich at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed August 18, 2009
  32. ↑ Joe Billick at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed August 18, 2009
  33. ↑ Anthony Smith at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed August 18, 2009
  34. ↑ Jim Wladyka at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed August 18, 2009
  35. ↑ Mike Sheridan at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed August 18, 2009
  36. ↑ Sean Grieve at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed August 18, 2009
  37. ↑ Miguel Magrass at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed August 18, 2009
  38. ↑ Scott Montesano at staatalent.com, URL accessed November 9, 2009. Archived 11/9/09
  39. ↑ at goerie.com, URL accessed April 15, 2010
  40. ↑ Vermont Mountaineers Win Season Opener at wcax.com
  41. ↑ NECBL team peaked for the playoffs at timesargus.com, URL accessed August 18, 2009
  42. ↑ Mountaineers' Wild Walkoff Forces Game Three at thevermontmountaineers.com, URL accessed August 18, 2009
  43. ↑ Vermont Mountaineers at teamline.cc

External links

Annual events: Playoffs · NECBL Championship · All-Star Game
Other:  Ballparks · Former Teams · Notable Alumni · Seasons
Sports teams based in Vermont
Baseball
Soccer
College athletics
NCAA Division I
Vermont Catamounts
NCAA Division II
Saint Michael's Purple Knights
NCAA Division III
Castleton State Spartans
Green Mountain Eagles
Johnson State Badgers
Lyndon State Hornets
Middlebury Panthers
Norwich Cadets
Southern Vermont Mountaineers
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