Vermont celebrated America’s Independence Day with one of America’s favorite pastimes. The Vermont Lake Monsters, Vermont Mountaineers and Upper Valley Nighthawks took to the baseball diamond on Friday, July 4, giving local fans in the Green Mountain State three solid games on the holiday weekend. At Centennial Field, the Lake Monsters took control from start to finish, extending their record to 21-12 overall after a 9-2 win over the Westfield Starfires.Vermont’s offense got off to a hot start in the first inning, with the help of three RBI singles driving in four runs home to give the Lake Monsters an early 4-0 lead. Nick Frontino, Hunter Kingsbury and Tommy Popoff were the contributors to those RBI base hits. Vermont added some insurance in the bottom of the 7th inning when Xander Meissner hit a three-run home run. The Lake Monsters’ defense and pitching were a key factor the rest of the way, allowing just five hits and two runs in the win. The Lake Monsters stand about a game back from first place in the Futures League standings after the Worcester Bravehearts split a same-day doubleheader against the Norwich Sea Unicorns on Friday, July 4. The Vermont Mountaineers picked up two key wins in a same-day doubleheader against the Upper Valley Nighthawks. In Game 1, Vermont picked up three quick runs in the first inning. A series of errors by the Upper Valley defense led to a quick 3-0 before the end of the top of the first inning. The Mountaineers had some additional offense from Jaylen Hernandez, who blasted a two-run home run over the right field wall in the top of the third inning. Vermont’s pitching kept things in favor of the Mountaineers the rest of the way, leading to the 5-0 shutout win. Shelburne, Vermont, native Oliver Puvdar got the win as the starting pitcher, allowing just three hits and striking out four batters in four innings pitched. The Mountaineers scored six straight unanswered runs after starting game two trailing 2-0 to pick up a 6-3 win. Conlan Daniel tallied two hits and one run in the game two victory, while Joey Pagano tallied a hit and 3 RBIs. New England College Baseball’s version of the Governor’s Cup now sways to a 3-1 series lead for the Mountaineers in 2025. Vermont also rose to 2nd in the NECBL standings, trailing the first-place Keene Swamp Bats by a few games. The top four teams in each of the two NECBL divisions will make the postseason tournament. See the highlights from the Lake Monsters and game one of the Mountaineers and Nighthawks doubleheader in the video above.

BURLINGTON, Vt. —

Vermont celebrated America’s Independence Day with one of America’s favorite pastimes.

The Vermont Lake Monsters, Vermont Mountaineers and Upper Valley Nighthawks took to the baseball diamond on Friday, July 4, giving local fans in the Green Mountain State three solid games on the holiday weekend.

At Centennial Field, the Lake Monsters took control from start to finish, extending their record to 21-12 overall after a 9-2 win over the Westfield Starfires.

Vermont’s offense got off to a hot start in the first inning, with the help of three RBI singles driving in four runs home to give the Lake Monsters an early 4-0 lead. Nick Frontino, Hunter Kingsbury and Tommy Popoff were the contributors to those RBI base hits.

Vermont added some insurance in the bottom of the 7th inning when Xander Meissner hit a three-run home run. The Lake Monsters’ defense and pitching were a key factor the rest of the way, allowing just five hits and two runs in the win.

The Lake Monsters stand about a game back from first place in the Futures League standings after the Worcester Bravehearts split a same-day doubleheader against the Norwich Sea Unicorns on Friday, July 4.

The Vermont Mountaineers picked up two key wins in a same-day doubleheader against the Upper Valley Nighthawks.

In Game 1, Vermont picked up three quick runs in the first inning. A series of errors by the Upper Valley defense led to a quick 3-0 before the end of the top of the first inning.

The Mountaineers had some additional offense from Jaylen Hernandez, who blasted a two-run home run over the right field wall in the top of the third inning.

Vermont’s pitching kept things in favor of the Mountaineers the rest of the way, leading to the 5-0 shutout win. Shelburne, Vermont, native Oliver Puvdar got the win as the starting pitcher, allowing just three hits and striking out four batters in four innings pitched.

The Mountaineers scored six straight unanswered runs after starting game two trailing 2-0 to pick up a 6-3 win. Conlan Daniel tallied two hits and one run in the game two victory, while Joey Pagano tallied a hit and 3 RBIs.

New England College Baseball’s version of the Governor’s Cup now sways to a 3-1 series lead for the Mountaineers in 2025.

Vermont also rose to 2nd in the NECBL standings, trailing the first-place Keene Swamp Bats by a few games. The top four teams in each of the two NECBL divisions will make the postseason tournament.

See the highlights from the Lake Monsters and game one of the Mountaineers and Nighthawks doubleheader in the video above.