Hanover
After finishing 13-6 and falling to John Stark in the NHIAA Division II semifinals last season, the Hanover High Bears have come out of the blocks hot to start the 2026 season.
The Bears opened their season on the road last Wednesday, blanking Lebanon 13-0; then routed Coe-Brown Northwood 10-1 in their home opener on Friday; and defeated ConVal on the road on Monday, 12-2.
Returners for Hanover this season include seniors Wyatt Daigle, Jack Lobb, Alex Boone, Jorgen Drent, Allie Muirhead, Jacobi Marotti, Hayden Avard and Henry Anderson.
Despite all the senior experience returning for the Bears, they do have some younger athletes who could make an impact this season, including juniors Tim Rudd, Leo Sacerdote, and Gabe Sundrud, as well as sophomore Benny Campfield.
“I think the team will compete in every game they play,” Head Coach John Bagnulo said. “The talent level is very high for the team, so I have a very optimistic outlook on the season.”
Bagnulo added that his squad will have to play better defensively than it did last season. “If we’re able to do that, I think we can play with anybody in our league,” he said.
The Bears travel to Plymouth Regional on Friday with first pitch at 4:30 p.m.
Hartford
The Hurricanes went 9-7 last season and fell in the quarterfinals of the VPA Division II playoffs to Lyndon, and are looking for a deep run this postseason.
Returning for the Canes this season are seniors Tate Mosenthal, Lucas Schwartz, Carter Williams, and Rich Rosenbeck. Juniors Wyatt Chambers and Cody Hathorn also return.
Sophomore Owen Jenks and freshmen Brody Carpenter, Gavin Spinella, and Quincy Moreno are newcomers to the squad.
The Canes have gotten off to a solid start this season. While they dropped their opener 4-3 to Burr & Burton on April 13, they responded in their second game against Windsor on Saturday, blanking the Yellow Jackets 12-0.
“I like our chances to make a nice deep run in the playoffs,” Head Coach Bill Vielleux said. “We have a lot of talent at all of the positions.”
The Canes’ season continues Saturday at U-32 at 11 a.m.
Lebanon
The Raiders come off a 2025 season in which they finished 2-14 and missed the playoffs, and now begin 2026 with some youth on their squad.
“I think it’s going to be a great season for us,” Doug Allard, who coaches the squad along with Terence O’Neil, said. “We have a lot of speed that’s going to be one of our strengths — running the bases, playing some small ball,” he added.
Among the returners for Lebanon are seniors Ben Benes, Chris Dozier, Will Healey, Dylan Moore, and Patrick O’Neil, juniors Cole Ripley, Nathan Crane, Andrew Bernsden, and Charlie Ferland, and sophomores Mason Jordan and Emmet Reichert.
Sophomores Jayden Allard, Nolan Hewett, Tucker Green, and Matt Thompson are newcomers to the squad.
“I think we’re going to have a good team — I really do,” Allard said. “This is one of the most athletic groups I have ever coached… I think we’re going to be pretty strong — the outlook is positive for sure.”
Lebanon has dropped its first three games of the season, falling to Hanover at home 13-0 last Wednesday, to Oyster River on the road 7-0 on Friday, and to John Stark on the road 7-6 on Monday.
Up next for the Raiders is a home date with ConVal on Friday at 4 p.m.
Mascoma
The Royals varsity squad has a new head coach this season in Keith Bergeron, after finishing 8-10 last season following a loss to Monadnock in the first round of the NHIAA Division III playoffs.
Seniors Jacob Rayno, Dylan Cannon, and Sam Wilson are among the key returners to the squad, while Sophomores Nic Defelice, Lucas Petty, and Kane Bergeron, along with freshman Darren Peters, are among the underclassmen poised to contribute this season.
“With improved pitching, senior leadership, and a deep group of developing athletes, (We believe we have the pieces to surprise teams across Division III this spring),” Bergeron said.
The Royals have dropped their first two games this season, falling to Inter-Lakes on the road last Monday, 9-2, and losing at home last Wednesday to Gilford, 16-1.
Mascoma will next host Winnisquam on Monday at 4 p.m.
Newport
The Tigers went 1-15 last season and missed the playoffs. As Newport looks to turn things around in 2026, it has had a tough start to the season.
The Tigers have dropped their first three games, losing at home to Bishop Brady on April 13, 14-4, and to Derryfield last Wednesday, 10-0. They also dropped a road matchup with Raymond on Friday, 2-1.
Next up for the Tigers is a home matchup against Stevens on Wednesday at 3 p.m.
Oxbow
The Olympians are coming off a 3-14 season in which they fell to Randolph in the first round of the VPA Division III playoffs.
Griffin Pike, Jonny Smith, Brogan Covey, Keyes DeGoosh, Preston Burroughs, and Parker Calley are some of the returners for the Olympians. Jaxon Griffin, John Bohan, who had some time with the varsity squad as a JV player last season, and Kobin Ellsworth are newcomers to the squad.
Oxbow split its first two games in 2026, losing to Spaulding 10-2 at home on Thursday and defeating Montpelier at home 7-6 on Friday.
“I think when Griffin is on the mound throwing, I think we’ll be very competitive with everybody,” Head Coach Shawn French said. “The rest of our pitching staff is a little bit green, but if they can throw strikes and we make plays, I think we’ll be okay.”
Oxbow hosts Woodstock on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.
Stevens
The Cardinals went 12-6 last season and fell to Conant in the quarterfinals of the NHIAA Division III playoffs. They have had a slow start to this season, falling to Campbell at home 11-0 last Wednesday, Fall Mountain 12-2 at home on Friday, and Monadnock 11-6 on Monday.
Stevens will hit the road to battle Newport on Wednesday at 3 p.m.
Thetford
The 2025 VPA Division III state champions, who finished 15-2 last season, will soon begin their title defense.
Returning for the Panthers this season are seniors Xander Oshoniyi, Andrew Spooner, Liam Brooks, Owen Goodrich, Tommy Amber, Sam Kraemer, and Sam Parkman, junior Ollie Sarazin, and sophomore Miles Lawrence.
Seniors Adam Crockett and Logan Kuban, juniors Wyatt Parker and Mason Gross, along with freshmen Eli Kraemer, Rowan Lawrence, and Elias Rose, join the squad.
“We lost three starters to graduation, but we return several key players from last year’s team. We are led by a great group of seniors who have a lot of playoff experience,” said Head Coach Kris Keelty.
Thetford’s skipper foresees pitching to be his squad’s strength, adding, “We hope to get better throughout the regular season, and be playing our best baseball in June.”
The Panthers open their season on Saturday when they host Windsor at 11 a.m.
White River Valley
The runner-ups in the VPA Division III playoffs last season, who finished 15-1, are looking to keep their spot in the upper echelon of DIII in 2026.
“I think things look good again,” said Head Coach Devin Cilley. “I think that we’ll be right there at the top of Division III again like we have been for the last few years.”
Among the key returners for the Wildcats are seniors Quinlan Grace, Jacob Benoit, Ty Couture, Issac Wimett, along with juniors Leland French-Dyer and Charles Young.
Newcomers include freshmen Landon Cronan and Zaryith Richards, junior Jackson Scott, who had some time on the varsity squad last season, and seniors Bennett Hanson and Liam Penta, among other athletes.
“If they can really buckle down and put some things together, I think we will be just fine again,” Cilley said.
The Wildcats are 2-0 to start the season after defeating Leland & Gray 2-1 on the road last Tuesday and Paine Mountain on the road on Thursday, 8-4.
Next up for White River Valley is Springfield at home on Saturday at 11 a.m.
Windsor
The Yellow Jackets finished 1-14 last season after dropping their VPA Division III first-round playoff matchup to Bellows Falls.
In 2026, Head Coach Jamie Richardson says his squad’s strengths are pitching and defense, while it might be weak offensively.
Seniors Alden Weld and Tristen Merrill, along with junior Finn Williams and sophomore Zack Clark, are among the top returners to the squad.
Some of the newcomers for the Jacks are senior Ragan Pellegrino, sophomore Nolan Morse, and freshmen Nolan Weld and Luke Crapser.
The Jacks are 0-3 to begin the season, losing at home to Fair Haven 13-4 last Tuesday and to Hartford 12-0 on Saturday. They also fell to Green Mountain 9-3 on Tuesday and host Woodstock on Thursday at 4:30 p.m.
Woodstock
The Wasps finished 11-5 last season and fell to BFA-Fairfax in the quarterfinals of the VPA Division III playoffs. Woodstock is 1-1 to begin the season after losing to Otter Valley at home, 11-3, on April 10 and beating Springfield at home on Friday, 14-2.
The Wasps visit Windsor on Thursday with first pitch at 4:30 p.m.
