Independence Eve

Wednesday night is Service Credit Union Night on Independence Eve!

We'll have games and fireworks as we celebrate the 4th of July!

The evening caps fans and families bring a blanket to the field,

the lights go down and the show provided by Atlas Fireworks begins! 

Everyone gets into the holiday spirit.

Here's Hamish and Sara Pelkey.

We’ll have activities including a bounce house and onfield games including batspins and races and a 50/50 drawing. Last year's winner won $600.00!

photo by Lex

It’s a special night for everyone Three shared memories from playing before an Independence eve crowd from last year.

Infielder Mitchell Golden noticed how special the night was right off”:

“I remember getting here for the game and there were already fans lined up! 

There’s an electric atmosphere, you just wanna get out there and take the field, it’s a ton of fun."

He had a great time, going 3 for 4 at the plate, a stolen base and a run scored.

Brandon Smith had a bunch of RBI in that game including a double with two men on and a 5th inning home run. “”Keene is always a great place to play but there’s something different”, on July  3rd. "To be on the field and playing... it’s a feeling I can’t even describe. It’s a blast."

Pitcher Erick Zecha, was raised in Keene and played high school ball at Alumni Field. Independence eve is particularly special. “I remember coming out as a kid and there’s a ton of people! During that game, there’s a buzz. The atmosphere is different.”

Coach Gary Calhoun was part of our staff a year ago and recalls it well. 

“Kevin said ‘there wasn’t going to be some fireworks, there’s going to be a lot of fireworks.’ I enjoyed it tremendously!” He remembers the holiday atmosphere just as the players do. “Seemed like we had 3000 or more, am I correct?”  He’s right about there being more. Kevin Watterson verified attendance was around 4700.

 “And we won the game!”

The final score:

Keene Swamp Bats 7

Vermont Mountaineers 3

Health and Wellness

Thursday night was Health and Wellness night at Alumni Field.

We were joined by the Summit Athletic Center, Shaolin Studios

and Option One of Keene.

Of course, Health and Wellness means sound body and mind.

There were representatives from

Big Brothers Big Sisters of America 

Cooper’s Crossroad (they have a 5k run/walk coming up).

Oh, and we played a game, too. You can read about it here.

The Valley Blue Sox got the best of the Swamp Bats Wednesday night.
The game featured 22 runs, 22 hits, 6 pitchers, 5 errors and 4 home runs by 2 players.
Here's a good article from today's Keene Sentinel. 

Brandon Smith had two home runs. (Actually, I took this picture last year.)

Erick Zecha pitched well in relief and then Josh Bates struck out the side in the 9th.

Still, it's a loss. 
The Swamp Bats play at Winnipesaukee Friday.

Tuesday

This piece from the Keene Sentinel went to press before our game with Danbury  was postponed. It points out the conviction of Kevin Watterson, his confidence in our team.

Kevin Watterson and Gary Calhoun

One paragraph will stick with you: "Five players are hitting above .300 in the early going, led by Maryland’s Randall Bednar at .360. David Bedgood of Tulane is right behind at .356, Will Wagner is at .333 after joining the team last week from Liberty, and Londonderry native Kyle Ball of Stetson is at .300. "

Randy Bednar (left) and Kyle Ball

We aren’t done with reinforcements: Catcher Seth Caddell of East Carolina is joining us tonight and expected to be in uniform for Wednesday’s home game vs. the Valley Blue Sox.

It's New Hampshire Lottery Balloon Night!

Keene 5 Vermont 0

Zach Messinger went 5.2 innings, yielding 7 hits, no runs and 5 strikeouts for the road win. 

Dave Matthews was a hitting star with 2 home runs in 4 at bats, a  3 run homer in the 2nd and a solo shot in the 9th.

New arrivals: Antonio Knowles relived Messinger and allowed no runs on 2 hits and then Sean Heine pitched the final two innings.
Justice Lucas, our newest member,  doubled home Matt Trehub the capper.

Messinger praised his mates post game, crediting his fielders. Second baseman David Bedgood had eight putouts and Randy Bednar (playing centerfield instead of right) had seven. Messinger was also appreciative of Lucas and Matthews and was bright on team chemistry and prospects for the Swamp Bats.

Monday's a day off. The Swamp Bats visit Danbury Tuesday and host the Valley Blue Sox Wednesday on New Hampshire Lottery night. 

Baseball can be a small world.

One of  the great  aspects of the NECBL is seeing friendships and sportsmanship. Players from different schools come to Keene and become teammates and friends with the Swamp Bats.

We have two examples, pregame snaps of David Matthews photo-bombed by Johnathan  Edwards, fellas who were strangers two weeks ago.

Then we have the case of Justin Bates of Tulane and our Swamp Bats and Austin Davis of West Virginia and the Winnipesaukee Muskrats.

These two hail from Orlando where they faced each other as high school rivals.

The Muskrats won this one, 7-3 and we make two trips to Winnipesaukee before they visit again on July 10.

In the meantime, the Swamp Bats travel to Vermont Sunday to face the Mountaineers.

Follow the action on necbl.com or 102.3 fm / 1220 am

FRIDAY

Happy commencement and best wishes, Keene High Class of 2019 !

Keene 5 New Bedford 3

Luke Albright was the star of the night.

Luke pitched 6 innings, yielding an unearned run and notching eleven strikeouts.

photos by  Connor Ullathorne 

Our next game is Saturday at 6:30 at home vs. Winnipesaukee.  

Tonight's game with North Adams has been rescheduled to Monday, June 24th at 6:30 pm at Alumni Field. 

2438

Congratulations to everyone. Two thousand, four hundred, thirty eight people came out Wednesday night to celebrate and participate for  Reading with Ribby.

That's a lot of people and even more  soft drinks, hot dogs, hamburgers, fries and more.

Keene Chipolte Catering fueled the Bats.

The children were wonderful. One of the best sights of every season is when Ribby and Sara lead our young bookworms around the diamond. It’s wonderful to see the players with them.

Oh. and before we forget...there was a heckuva ballgame. Luke Albright struck out eleven and Justin Willis earned the Save, recording five strikeouts.

Many thanks to Keene Orthodontic, Friends of Keene Public Library, Nissan of Keene and you readers.

Weather permitting, we host North Adams Thursday at 6:30 pm

Big Night tonight

We'll have fun tonight celebrating the youngsters and their participation in Reading with Ribby!

Oh, and we'll also have a game versus New Bedford!

Luke Albright is set to start.

Reading with Ribby

Reading with Ribby

 Ribby paired with Fuller Elementary School teacher and Keene resident  Jon Gemmell and established " Reading with Ribby" in 2003.

The program starts when Ribby visits  schools during March. 

At Mt. CaesarElementary

When students complete the reading challenge they receive a Reading with Ribby t-shirt and a free family pass to a special celebratory night at a SwampBats game and is supported by the Friends of the Keene Public Library 

 and Keene Orthodontic Specialists
This years celebration is Wednesday, June 12th.

Before the game, honorees take to the field. It's one of the greatest moments of the season.

.Pre-game Parade in 2014

 

Following his retirement, Gemell was operations manager of the Swamp Bats.
Mr. Gemell passed away in 2007 but his dedication to literacy and education endures.

2018 Griff McGarry
photo by Lex

Tuesday

Tuesday's game is set for 6:30 vs. Upper Valley at the Maxfield Sports Complex in Hartford, Vermont.

If you can't make it to the game, you can always follow us on necbl.com  and on FOX sports radio1220 am / 102.3 fm.

Postponed

Nobody likes a rainout, particular when it is sunny and 70+ in Newport and Keene at 2pm. But indications are for rain to move into Newport in the early evening and then for that rain to get heavy. 

Nobody wants a sloppy game and player safety is # 1.  On top of that, it's smart to avoid a 2 1/2 hour bus ride back to Keene in the midst or just after a heavy rain.

Tuesday's game is set for 6:30 vs. Upper Valley at the Maxfield Sports Complex in Hartford, Vermont. 

If you can't make it to the game, you can always follow us on necbl.com  and on the radio. 

First week

We began our season with a loss, a win and a loss. Highlights include Zach Messinger striking out 7 battters in his first start, Justin Willis making his Swamp Bats return (you'll recall he was with us a year ago). Justin pitched 3 2/3 innings of relief in our first win.

A particularly sweet part of any Swamp Bats season is seeing friendships formed and teammates becoming...teammates. Many players are meeting for the first time, some are used to facing each other in college play and others are mates at school and now, with our Swamp Bats.

Here we have Catcher/1st baseman Matt Trehub of William and Mary on our left and Randy Bednar, an outfielder from the University of Maryland. 

That's Kyle Ball (without his lid) and Andrew MacNiell of Stetson. 

Joining them this week is fellow Hatter Antonio Knowles. 

Finally, there's the aforementioned Zach Messinger, one of three University of Viginia pitchers with us this summer.