HARTFORD, Vt. - The Vermont Mountaineers clinched the Governors Cup Series for the third-straight year with a 12-8 win over the Upper Valley Nighthawks on Sunday. Vermont secured the 2024 regular season title as well as the top seed throughout the 2024 NECBL postseason.

Box Score

The Basics

Score: Vermont 12 Upper Valley 8

Records: Upper Valley (17-24) | Vermont (30-9)

Location: Hartford, Vt. | Maxwell Sports Complex

Rapid Recap:

   • The Nighthawks scored twice in the first inning. They took advantage of a leadoff two-base error and a walk. Both runners came around to score on a pair of groundouts.

   • Vermont wasted little time to get those runs back in the second. Johnny Luetzow singled while Brennan Hyde reached on an error. Andrew Mannelly ripped the first pitch he saw over the centerfield fence to give Vermont a 3-2 lead.

   • Upper Valley took advantage of another miscue to tie the game at three in the second. A two-out single gave them a 4-3 lead. Yoon Chae came in with the bases loaded to keep the deficit at one.

   • The back-and-forth continued as Vermont regained the lead in the third. Casey Bishop drove in the fifth run for Vermont to get the lead back.

   • For the second time in three innings, the game was tied, this time with a bases loaded ground out for Upper Valley. Chae got a pop up to second to end the threat.

   • Vermont regained the lead in the fourth, scoring another two runs for a 7-5 lead. 

   • The Mountaineers held Upper Valley to zero runs in the home half of the fourth, while tacking on two more runs in the sixth for a 9-5 advantage.

   • After Upper Valley got a run back in the fifth, they left the bases loaded for the second time on the day as Joseph Voli got a flyout on the first batter he faced.

   • For the fourth straight inning, Vermont added two runs to build an 11-6 lead. Mannely drove in his fifth run of the game.

   • Upper Valley got a run back in the seventh and had a pair of runners in scoring position and just one out. However, after loading the bases for the third time, the result was the same as the last two times. Max Brulport induced a flyout to right with the tying run at the plate.

   • Vermont scored once more while Upper Valley scored twice for the 12-8 final.

Game Notes

WP: Yoon Chae (1-0) | LP:Turner Swistak (0-1) | 

   • Josiah Ragsdale extended his on-base streak to 17 games with a leadoff single in the first inning. He also swiped his team-leading 24th base.

   • DM Jefferson has reached base in 19 straight games.

   • Tyler Ganus has reached base in every single game he’s appeared in (19 games) and swiped his seventh bag of the season.

   • Vermont came into the game with an 8-6 record when being scored on first. That improved to 9-6. 

   • Upper Valley left 16 runners on base, including 10 in scoring position.

Up Next

Vermont travels to Sanford, Maine for what could be a preview of a potential playoff matchup. First pitch from Goodall Park is set for 6:30 p.m. You can watch online via the NECBL Broadcast Network. 

Photo credit: Theo Braddock Digital Media/Photography Intern

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