2016 Summit Athletics Log Impressive Campaign in Connecticut River Valley

Connecticut River Valley Baseball league

‘Athletics Post Exceptional Season in Connecticut River Valley’

In the first year of existence, the Cheshire County/Monadnock New Hampshire region Summit Athletics made a fabulous run to the finals of the Connecticut River Valley Baseball League. Sponsored by local entrepreneur and Summit Athletic Center owner Steve Holland, the A’s had a nice preseason workout facility to get the gears moving.

Behind the pitching of Nick Wirkkala, Brian Royal, Arric Mather, Russ Chretien and Ben Fournier, the A’s cruised to a 10-4 regular season record. Jeremy Ball (2nd in league batting average), Mario Checchi (3rd in average), Sam Crotto (runs scored league leader), and Arric Mather (top two in league home runs) led the team offensively. With only a handful of fielding errors all season the A’s were one of the better defensive teams this year.

In the preliminary round game, the A’s were able to hold off the Brattleboro Baseball Club with a 4-1 victory. In the semifinal the Athletics faced off against the second seed Putney Fossils. Nick Wirkkala got the eight inning win and Arric Mather the save in the ninth. Brian Baker, Taylor Berglin and Mario Checchi lead the charge in the 6-4 victory. A ninth inning threat was quelled with the third and final out of the game when Matherstruck out catcher and Fossils coach Steve Stanley to end it.

In the final, the A’s squared off against the returning champion Walpole Maples. Summit could not manufacture runs in the championship and even though the game was 2-1 behind the strong start of Mather, the Maples pulled away in the ninth on several walks, hits and errors, leading the Maples to their second consecutive championship by a score of 7-1. Great season all around. The Athletics plan on being back stronger than ever next year. Thank you MSBL for all the help in 2016 and the future!