NECBL Announces 2025 All-League First and Second Teams

North Adams, MA – The New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL) is excited to announce the two all-league teams, as well as the honorable mention squad, for the 2025 regular season. The players were chosen by a vote of each of the 13 league managers.

Each team features one of each infield position, a catcher, a designated hitter, three outfielders, three starting pitchers, three relievers, and a closer. With two teams and the honorable mentions, 52 total players received an all-league distinction.

All NECBL 2025 First Team

C - Ripken Reese (Keene, Kent St)

Reese was an integral part of the SwampBats’ success this season. The switch-hitter was the anchor behind the plate while also producing in the batter's box, knocking 33 total hits. He blasted five doubles, two triples, and nine homers, showcasing the power and hitting for average (.268)

1B - Jaylen Hernandez (Vermont, Winthrop)

Although the Mountaineers did not have the season they hoped for, Hernandez was certainly a bright spot for the squad. He finished the regular season with a .323 batting average, totalling 32 hits and 16 RBIs. Hernandez flashed his speed with 21 stolen bases and showed his plate discipline by having more walks (24) than strikeouts (18).

2B - Ty Mainolfi (Keene, Boston College)

Mainolfi had a magnificent season for Keene, taking home the NECBL Batting Champion while helping the SwampBats to a 38-12 record. Mainolfi struck out only 12 times in 115 at-bats and showcased his timely hitting with 44 total knocks, good enough for the league-leading .383 batting average.

SS - Randy Seymour (Newport, Michigan State)

After returning from Newport’s 2024 championship squad, the 6’4” shortstop was in for a big year. Seymour surely met expectations, captaining the Newport infield throughout the year and finishing with a .296 batting average. He also had 45 hits and 29 RBIs, including eight doubles and four home runs. Seymour earned himself the NECBL’s Most Improved Player Award as a result of his stellar season.

3B - Brayden Martin (Martha’s Vineyard, Maryland)

Martin served as a consistent contact hitter for the Sharks this year, knocking 34 total hits with eight doubles. The Maryland native drew 33 walks as well, showcasing his reliability at the plate. His .309 batting average was the highest on his squad, and he swiped 16 bags over the season.

DH - Michael Gupton (Newport)

Gupton flashed a ton of power this season for Newport. He blasted eight total home runs, including a three-homer game against Danbury on July 28th. The righty finished with a .301 batting average with 47 total hits.

OF - Sebastian Mexico (Valley, Louisiana Tech)

As a leader for the Blue Sox, Mexico consistently mashed the ball this summer. He finished with a .375 average, falling just short of the batting title, but displayed loads of power in the process. The lefty totaled 42 hits with eight doubles, two triples, and six jacks. He also struck out a mere seven times all year across 112 ABs in 28 games, and boasted the best OPS (1.084) in the league.

OF - Jack Herring (Keene, East Carolina)

After being named MVP both in the All-Star Game and for the league, it’s no surprise that Herring would find himself with a First-Team selection. Herring finished the year with 47 hits, including eight doubles and eight dingers. He batted .322 on the season and helped to secure first place in the North Division for Keene.

OF - Matthew Bolton (Newport, Binghamton)

Bolton entered the 2025 campaign at just 18 years old, but instantly flashed his power. The rising sophomore batted .311 this summer, driving in 34 RBIs with 47 hits, including nine doubles, a triple, and six homers.

SP - Finbar O'Brien (Newport, Gonzaga)

O’Brien was dominant this season for the Gulls. Newport’s ace tossed 34 innings, striking out 45. He posted a 1.05 ERA across six starts and eight total appearances, earning him both the Best Starting Pitcher Award and the South Division starter in the 2025 All-Star Game.

SP - Leighton Harris (Newport, Kentucky)

Harris’s dominance solidified a scary 1-2 punch for Newport’s pitching staff. As a 6’3” lefty, Harris started 7 games for the Gulls this summer, finishing with a commanding 0.75 ERA across 24 innings. His only two earned runs came in an 8-7 win over the Ocean State Waves, where he still recorded five strikeouts over three innings.

SP - Ben Rabatin (Keene, Kent St)

Rabatin started seven games for the SwampBats, anchoring Keene’s rotation in its first-place finish. Posting a 1.92 ERA with 34 punch outs across 28 innings, Rabatin earned himself the starting pitcher honors for the North Division in the All-Star Game.

RP - Rohan Lettow (Martha’s Vineyard, Arizona St)

Appearing in 11 games for the Sharks, Lettow tossed a total of 15.2 innings. He allowed just five hits and three walks while fanning 26. He earned four wins and two saves as a reliable arm out of the Martha’s Vineyard bullpen.

RP - Sam Mitchell (Sanford, Alabama)

Mitchell finished with a 1.98 ERA over 14 games for the Mainers, going 22.2 innings with 27 punchouts. He picked up five saves and two wins in the process, remaining composed in each of his appearances as a stellar reliever for Sanford.

RP - Colby McNeely (Martha’s Vineyard, Rider)

If you’re playing the Sharks and have to face McNeely coming out of the bullpen, chances are you should just ask the umpire to fast-forward the inning. In 12 games for the Sharks, McNeely gave up just one earned run. He never allowed more than one hit in an appearance, striking out 18 total across 16 innings.

CP - Andrew Wertz (Valley, Salve Regina)

Wertz was recently named the NECBL Reliever of the Year, and for good reason. In 17 games, the righty allowed just one earned run, putting his ERA at a stellar 0.40 in the summer. He struck out 33 through 22 innings pitched, allowing only nine total hits.

ALL NECBL 2025 Second Team

C - Davis Johnson (Mystic, Notre Dame)

As Mystic’s starting catcher, Johnson not only led on the field but also in the batter’s box. Johnson finished with 39 hits, four homers, and 22 RBIs. He helped the Schooners in their late-season resurgence to sneak into a playoff spot.

1B - Evan Appelwick (Martha’s Vineyard, Miami U)

Appelwick started hot, homering in three straight games to earn himself the NECBL Week 3 Player of the Week. He continued this power throughout the year, finishing with five home runs. Appelwick was also effective on the bases, scoring a team third-best 23 runs, propelling the Sharks to a South Division playoff spot.

2B - Zack Kent (Sanford, Binghamton)

Kent was a reliable top-of-the-lineup guy for the Mainers this summer. He batted .297 with 38 hits and 17 RBIs, while drawing 17 walks and flashing his speed with 21 stolen bases. In a June 27th contest against division rival Upper Valley, Kent went 3-4 with two doubles, a triple, two RBIs and two runs scored.

SS - Nelphie Lopez (North Adams, Stetson)

Lopez batted an impressive .341 for the SteepleCats this summer, guiding North Adams to a playoff spot. He also drew 11 walks and notched eight RBIs while scoring 17 runs. His 31 hits ranked second on his team, four of which were doubles. Lopez swiped six bags and got on base at a ridiculous .440 clip.

3B - Brendan Sencaj (Sanford, Bentley)

Along with Kent, Sencaj was a major part of the Mainers’ success this season. The Massachusetts native blasted five homers on the season, including a three-homer game against the NECBL champion Keene Swampbats on July 3rd. Sencaj also finished with 23 RBIs, 35 hits, and 20 runs scored.

DH - Cuyler Baxter (North Adams, Wake Forest)

Baxter was a very reliable hitter for North Adams this season, recording 33 hits over 99 at-bats. His best performance came on July 10th against the Danbury Westerners, as he went 4-5 with a home run that happened to be his only of the season. Despite just one bomb, Baxter was excellent at not striking out, only fanning six times while walking 11 times.

OF - Cole Fellows (Upper Valley, Columbia)

Fellows was dominant at the plate this season for Upper Valley. He finished second in the league in hits with 49, which includes four doubles, two triples, and two homers. With 31 RBIs and 23 runs scored as well, Fellows was a major contributor in the Nighthawks’ playoff push.

OF - Conlan Daniel (Vermont, Cincinnati)

With both power and speed, Daniel was a key player for Vermont this season. He totaled 34 hits with five doubles, a triple, and two home runs, as well as 31 stolen bases. In a less-than-ideal season for the Mountaineers, Daniel battled each time he stepped on the field and had himself a great year.

OF - Gavin Greger (Ocean State, Bryant)

Greger was essentially swinging at a beach ball all summer, leading the NECBL in hits with 50. He also had 14 doubles, a triple, and a homer. If that wasn’t impressive enough, the speedy outfielder also recorded 24 stolen bases.

SP - Johnny Ruggiero Jr (North Adams, Maryville)

Ruggiero Jr. appeared in ten games for North Adams, starting seven. He finished with a 2.81 ERA over 38.1 innings pitched, striking out 22. He finished with a 2-1 record for the summer.

SP - Rhys Bowie (Ocean State, Wake Forest)

With a 1.50 ERA across five starts, Bowie was a power arm in the Ocean State rotation. He only surrendered 15 hits all year, with nearly half coming in an outlying performance against Newport. Other than this start, the left-hander allowed just one earned run in his remaining seven outings.

SP - Chayce Kieck (Martha’s Vineyard, Clemson)

The Jacksonville native pounded the strike zone all summer, fanning 37 while walking just eight. Kieck appeared in nine games for the Sharks, starting eight of them, and finished the year with a 2.13 ERA. He also picked up three wins in Martha’s Vineyard’s pursuit of the playoffs.

RP - Ryan Brown (Vermont, Mount St. Mary’s)

Brown appeared in 14 games for the Mountaineers and was their reliable multi-inning guy out of the pen. Across his appearances, he threw for 35.2 innings, striking out 39 and recording two saves.

RP - Jayson Torres (Vermont, Maryland)

Similar to Brown, Torres was another reliable arm out of the Mountaineer bullpen. While totaling nearly half of his teammates’ innings, throwing 16.2 on the year, the righty struck out 26 while allowing only 15 hits. He also earned himself two saves.

RP - Mateo Wells (Upper Valley, High Point)

Over 12 appearances, Wells never threw more than two innings in a game, totaling 17 total innings pitched. However, he was dominant in each of his outings, finishing with four saves and 20 strikeouts with just five walks and ten hits.

CP - Todd Kniebbe (Keene, Kansas St)

When Kniebbe walks out of the Keene bullpen, you can expect a win. The SwampBats did not lose a single game he appeared in. Kniebbe was outstanding, posting a 0.81 ERA across ten games, earning three saves. He struck out 23 total batters while walking just three and only gave up eight hits.

The New England Collegiate Baseball League is a wooden bat college summer league that fields teams in all six New England states. Partially funded by Major League Baseball, the New England League started play in 1994 and has sent over 230 alumni to the Major Leagues with nearly 30 alumni taken in the first round of the MLB Draft. For continuing coverage of the NECBL, visit NECBL.com and follow the league on X/Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.