The injury bug is starting to creep up on the Upper Valley Nighthawks.

Southern Mississippi’s Matt Guidry was taken out midway through Wednesday’s game at Sanford with a sore lower back after he was hit by a pitch in the top of the fifth inning. He also sat out Thursday’s game at home against the North Adams SteepleCats and had his back treated before Upper Valley took the field.

Guidry, who had started in eight consecutive games since arriving in the Upper Valley on June 18, said the soreness wasn’t something he dealt with this spring, but it is something he has dealt with in the past. The Hattiesburg, Miss., native is batting .387, good for the team lead, with 12 hits, four doubles, six RBIs and six runs scored. He als was tied for third on the team with 11 strikeouts.

Troy reliever Cory Gill slipped on a rock while fishing last week, rolling his right ankle. Upper Valley coaches said he might be out for a week. Gill leads the Nighthawks with four saves in his six appearances and said he didn’t even catch any fish in the process.

Here’s the good news: Wagner’s Anthony Godino, who was pulled from a 15-0 victory over the Keene Swamp Bats on June 23 with a sore right thigh, said he feels better and has started three games since at center field.

A Point of Contention: Nighthawks catcher Ryan Jeffers, from North Carolina-Wilmington, was ejected from Wednesday’s game against the Sanford Mainers at Goodall Park in the fourth inning for arguing balls and strikes with plate umpire Matt McMahon.

Jeffers entered the at-bat having walked twice and scored a run against Mainers starter Ian Burns, who struggled in his fourth start of the summer. Upper Valley had scored twice in the inning and had Matt Sanders and Godino in scoring position, but back-to-back strike calls from off the plate left the Upper Valley catcher confused as to McMahon’s strike zone.

Jeffers pointed to the spot where the ball had come in and McMahon appeared to give him a warning. He then appeared to say something as he walked away, upon which he was ejected. Play did not resume until Jeffers left Goodall Park. Jeffers said he walked a few blocks to Dunkin’ Donuts and got a donut.

He served a one-game suspension Thursday per NECBL ejection rules.

Road Warriors, Almost: Upper Valley won its first game outside of the Green Mountain State last week with its 12-2 blowout of Sanford. The Nighthawks lost games in Newport, R.I. against the Gulls (4-3 on June 9), in Holyoke, Mass., against the Valley Blue Sox (4-1 on June 22) and in New Bedford, Mass., against the Bay Sox (7-6 on June 24).

Hit Parade: Upper Valley’s offense came alive in the final week of June, leading the NECBL in seven hitting categories to help the Nighthawks stay on pace with Valley atop the Northern Division.

The Nighthawks (13-5) lead the league with 115 runs scored, 102 RBIs, 12 sacrifice flies, a .380 on base percentage, a .413 slugging percentage, a .279 batting average and a league-low 108 strikeouts in 18 games. Upper Valley is also second in the league with 159 hits.

The Nighthawks have outscored opponents 41-10 in the last three home games at the Maxfield Sports Complex.

No Bull: Last week, the Nighthawks installed an outfield billboard in left field that stands above the rest. Unlike the others, this one has a purpose.

The sign, which advertises for Jesse’s Restaurant in Lebanon, features a raging bull on a blue background with the words “Hit Bull Win Steak; Hit Grass Win Steak” emblazoned in black letters. If an Upper Valley Nighthawk hits the bull during a home game at Maxfield, that player and one fan will each win a free steak from the restaurant. If they hit grass, each win a free salad.

No one has hit either just yet, but it might only be a matter of time.

Josh Weinreb can be reached at jweinreb@vnews.com or 603-727-3306.