10th Player, Defensive Player of the Year, and Most Improved Player

NORTH ADAMS, MA – The New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL) announces the recipients of three of their regular season awards – the Christopher Ashmos 10th Player Award, Defensive Player of the Year, and Most Improved Player. 

The Christopher Ashmos 10th Player Award: Ripken Reese (Keene SwampBats, C, Kent State University)

The Christopher Ashmos 10th Player Award is granted to the player who had the most impact outside of the starting nine, whether it be defensively, offensively, or pitching. 

Reese was named to the 2025 North All-Star team at the Maxfield Sports Complex in Vermont. His second all-star nod during his NECBL career. In 37 regular-season games played, Reese finished with a .268 batting average, tenth on the SwampBats and good for 33rd in the NECBL. Reese led Keene with nine home runs and finished second with 32 RBI. Reese notched 33 hits in 123 at-bats.

Reese was key for Keene throughout the season. His clutch hitting helped Keene to lock up the No. 1 seed in the North and the best record in the NECBL. Reese was vital to the SwampBats' postseason success, which saw Keene hoist the Fay Vincent Sr. Cup. Reese’s walk-off slam capped off an impressive comeback in game one, and then in game two, Reese hit two home runs and eight RBIs, helping Keene to finish its championship campaign. 

2025 Defensive Player of the Year Award: Michael Torres (Mystic Schooners, CF/OF, University of Miami (FL))

The Defensive Player of the Year Award is given to a player whose impact in the field proved critical to their team’s success. 

“Mikey Torres is the best defensive amateur player I have ever seen play. His range, jumps on balls, positioning, arm strength and arm accuracy are all major league ready right now,” stated Mystic Skipper Phil Orbe.

Torres was instrumental in the Schooners’ defense, playing 13 games in center field for the team, finishing with 31 putouts and had a 1.000 fielding percentage.

Torres was also a solid piece to the puzzle at the plate for the Schooners. The outfielder hit .286, recording 24 hits in 84 at-bats, including 16 RBIs and one home run in 24 appearances.

2025 Most Improved Player Award: Randy Seymour (Newport Gulls, SS, Michigan State University)

The Most Improved Player is voted based upon a player’s level of improvement throughout their time in the NECBL from last year to this one. Seymour was one of several Gulls named to the South Division roster at the 2025 NECBL All-Star Game.

Seymour did not hit a home run during his 2024 campaign with the Newport Gulls in 34 games played. In 36 games for Newport this season, Seymour hit four home runs. 

The shortstop’s RBI total also increased from 20 in 2024 to 29 in 2025. Syemour reached base at a much higher margin in 2025, tallying a .296 batting average, up 61 points from 2024, where he registered a .235 average on 28 plate appearances.  

Seymour was a huge piece in the Gulls' push to the playoffs. Seymour helped the Gulls secure the #1 seed in the South Division NECBL Playoffs with a 29-15 record and a matchup with the Martha’s Vineyard Sharks in the South Division Finals.