In Upper Valley Nighthawks circles around Maxfield Sports Complex, the argument is already being made for Troy University’s Joey Denison to be named the NECBL’s most valuable player.
The sales pitch is pretty straightforward. Heading into Saturday’s action, Denison held a .376 batting average through 35 games, tied for the league lead with Vermont Mountaineers shortstop Mike Osinski.
In 141 at-bats, Denison has amassed 53 hits and 29 RBIs; the former leads the league by far. He also has five home runs, 10 doubles, two triples and has scored 24 runs while striking out only 12 times — second-lowest among the NECBL’s top 10 hitters.
Denison’s numbers in July have been even better, batting .400 with 11 runs, three home runs, 15 RBIs and 26 of Upper Valley’s 126 hits this month. He holds a .437 on-base percentage and a .585 slugging percentage in July. No teammate comes close.
Also in the MVP running is Mystic Schooners shortstop Nick Mascelli, who holds a .359 batting average through 34 games. Entering Saturday, Mascelli led the league in runs scored (31) and had 46 hits, nine doubles and only 17 strikeouts, although he’s driven in only 16 runs this season.
Osinski has the batting average to be included in an MVP conversation, but that’s about it. He has 19 runs, 42 hits, only two doubles, one home run and eight RBIs to his name. The Mountaineer has also struck out 25 times and has committed six errors.
Denison’s biggest competition should come from New Bedford Bay Sox utility hitter Ryan Wolfsberg, though the number of at-bats may hurt his cause. Wolfsberg is batting .375 in 88 at-bats and only 24 games, with 22 runs, 33 hits, eight doubles, five home runs and 21 RBIs.
But while Denison’s numbers continue to climb in the season’s final stretch, Upper Valley’s secondary scoring has entered freefall.
The Nighthawks are batting .239 collectively in July with 64 runs scored, 173 total bases and 125 strikeouts. Timely hitting has been a problem, as Upper Valley holds a .259 batting average with runners on base, a .257 average with runners in scoring position and a .171 average with the bases loaded.
Trent Leimkuehler has broken that trend, securing himself in the cleanup spot after suffering a hamstring injury in the third game of the season. The Saint Louis University outfielder is batting .300 over his last 10 games, with nine hits, four runs scored and seven RBIs. He also hit his first home run of the season on Tuesday at Keene.
Zack Canada, batting .244 for Upper Valley over the full season, showed progress on Wednesday at home against Winnipesaukee, hitting his first home run. Al Molina (0-for-4 on Thursday vs. Sanford, four strikeouts), Charlie Concannon, (.230, 2-for-15 in his last five games) and Lukas Ray (.050 in nine games as a late addition) have all struggled to keep Upper Valley afloat.
Pitchers also have had their struggles. Cordes Baker, who started the season 3-0 and has fallen behind since, gave up three earned runs and was credited with the loss Thursday night against Sanford.
Collectively, Upper Valley pitchers hold a 4.44 ERA, giving up league-highs of 184 runs and 308 hits and have recorded a league-low 211 strikeouts.