Standings | Schedule/Results | Stats | FCBL Network
WEYMOUTH, Mass. (June 15, 2021) -- The top four teams in the Futures Collegiate Baseball League (FCBL) standings have all won at least six of their last 10 games, tightening the race for first place entering the third full week of the summer season.
The Brockton Rox continue to lead the race, but the Pittsfield Suns have collected a league-high 10 wins and have closed their deficit to a half-game. After strong performances to remain atop the standings, it is no surprise that those two teams boast both weekly honorees for the second consecutive week to begin the season.
A recent 7-3 run has allowed the Vermont Lake Monsters to jump into third place and match the position of the league’s other newcomers, the Norwich Sea Unicorns.
WEEKLY AWARDS
78 SPORTS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Ben Rounds, Brockton Rox
Harvard University
Hometown: Milton, Mass.
Rounds produced in a big way in the heart of the batting order for the first-place Rox, going 7-for-15 with four doubles, nine RBI and five runs scored in five games. The outfielder recorded hits and multiple RBI in four contests and reached base safely in all five, beginning the week with a 3-for-3 effort with a double and two runs driven home in last Tuesday’s 13-3 win over Westfield. Four of his five doubles on the season came last week. Rounds is in his second FCBL season after playing for the 2020 champion Nashua Silver Knights.
CHANGEUP PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Grant Nicholson, Pittsfield Suns
Kansas State University
Hometown: Holt, Mo.
Nicholson got the ball in Pittsfield’s first of two shutout victories in a three-game span towards the end of last week, dealing five shutout innings in the back end of a Thursday doubleheader against Nashua at Wahconah Park. The lefty struck out nine Silver Knights batters and recorded three 1-2-3 frames in the ballgame during which he surrendered just one base hit (a single) and two walks. Starting the last two of his four total outings, the rising K-State sophomore has not allowed a run in 8.2 innings of two-hit ball.
NEWS AND NOTES
A WARRIOR TO WORRY ABOUT: Rounds adding to his league-leading RBI total helped him earn Player of the Week honors, but his Brockton teammate Michael Golankiewicz (Merrimack) currently sets the pace in the other two Triple Crown categories. After going hitless in his first two games, the rising senior outfielder drove in 11 runs in a span of three consecutive three-hit games. He now leads the league with a .483 average and three home runs.
FROM THE NATIONAL STAGE: Players from several NCAA tournament teams around New England are starting to make their way to FCBL rosters. Fresh off an outstanding rookie season at Northeastern, Wyatt Scotti allowed just one hit and struck out six in 4.2 innings during his Friday debut for Nashua.
WINS FOR THE NEW GUYS: The league’s wins leaders come from the two newest franchises, as Vermont’s Chris Clark (Harvard) and Norwich’s Tommy Hughes (Southern Connecticut) have both won three games apiece out of the bullpen.
BENDER BOMBS: Norwich catcher Colton Bender (Quinnipiac) hit two home runs and drove in five across his last two games last week, helping the Sea Unicorns to a pair of victories at Nashua and New Britain. He was the only player in the league to hit multiple homers last week.
STREAKING: Returning infielder Pat Roche (Boston College) is in the midst of a seven-game hitting streak for the first-place Rox. Roche and Pittsfield outfielder Jake Blinstrub (Mount St. Vincent) have reached base in all 11 games in which they have played this season. New Britain outfielder Ryan Bagdasarian (Eastern Connecticut) has reached in 10 consecutive.
THREE CHEERS FOR BEACONS: Despite pitching for different teams this summer, three FCBL Pitcher of the Night honorees within a six-day span prior to last Saturday came from the same staff at UMass Boston: Worcester’s Alex Amalfi, Pittsfield’s Tim Cianciolo and Brockton’s Dillon Ryan. A two-time Pitcher of the Night, Ryan was the first FCBL Pitcher of the Week this season.
BACK TO THE FUTURES: Don’t forget to tune into “Back to the Futures,” the FCBL’s official podcast with hosts Owen Shadrick and Johnny Maffei! Their most recent guest was current Westfield Starfires catcher and 2019 FCBL All-Star Game MVP Jackson Petersen (Richmond), who hit his second home run of the summer last Friday and has five RBI in his last three games.
FCBL NETWORK: For the second consecutive year, all games will be streamed live via FCBLNetwork.com, powered by BlueFrame Technology. An All-Access Pass, which grants users access to every FCBL game broadcast on the network, is available for $99. Single games can also be purchased for $8 each.
BACK ON NESN: The FCBL announced the extension of its television partnership with New England Sports Network (NESN) and a four-game broadcast schedule last week. The NESN lineup on the last four Saturdays of July will include a televised FCBL game at noon, beginning with the Worcester Bravehearts hosting the Pittsfield Suns on July 10.
NORWICH JOINS PRO PIPELINE: Pitcher Jayvien Sandridge (Lynn) became the first-ever Norwich Sea Unicorn to join the FCBL’s professional pipeline when he signed with the Cincinnati Reds last week.
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