​The first-ever meeting between New Hampshire’s summer collegiate baseball league teams is set for Monday night at Holman Stadium in Nashua. The event features the defending champion Keene Swamp Bats of the New England Collegiate Baseball League taking on the Nashua Silver Knights of the Futures Collegiate Baseball League in an exhibition with a 6:03 p.m. first pitch. The matchup has been dubbed the Granite State Showdown, and the two teams will meet again later in the week at Alumni Field in Keene on Tuesday, July 28, at 6:30 p.m.
The Silver Knights are entering the series in the middle of their 16th season and, coming into Sunday’s home game against the New Britain Bees, owned a 17-18 record. Nashua has been a dominant force in the FCBL, having captured six league titles, the most recent coming in 2022. On the other side, the Swamp Bats arrived at their Sunday doubleheader against Ocean State with a 15-14-1 mark and had dropped six straight contests. Keene has an impressive trophy case of its own, with six NECBL championships over a 29-year history.
The rosters for these local clubs highlight a strong New Hampshire connection. The Swamp Bats feature three Granite State players: Hooksett’s Jackson Marshall, who is a standout at the University of Connecticut; Bedford’s Aiden O’Connell, who competes for Duke; and Hill’s Anakin Underhill, who plays for Sacred Heart. Marshall, a Pinkerton Academy alumnus, recently earned recognition as the Big East Player of the Year after an outstanding spring season in which he hit .382 with 14 home runs, 60 RBIs and 47 runs scored.
The Silver Knights feature seven players from New Hampshire: Londonderry’s Nate Kearney (Stonehill) and Michael Crowley (Assumption), Hooksett’s Brendan Horne (VCU), Windham’s Josh Martino (Southern New Hampshire University), Hopkinton’s Malcolm Klingler (Northeastern), Nashua’s Brandon Metivier (Wheeling), and New Boston’s Will Perkowski (SNHU). Their presence underscores the robust local talent that will be on display during the Granite State Showdown and the follow-up game in Keene.
This series marks a notable moment for both programs as they showcase regional talent and provide a unique crossover between two prominent New Hampshire summer leagues. Fans can expect competitive exhibition baseball, a celebration of homegrown players, and a preview of the camaraderie and rivalry that make New Hampshire’s summer baseball scene a highlight of the season. The events also offer a prime opportunity for players to showcase their skills to scouts and collegiate programs while contributing to the growing prominence of baseball in the Granite State.