James Love and Brendon Miller Collect NECBL Weekly Accolades
The New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL) announces the Week 6 Player & Pitcher of the Week honors, including honorable mentions for the week concluding on Sunday, July 12th. Upper Valley Nighthawks third baseman James Love (Eastern Illinois) and Vermont Mountaineers left-handed pitcher Brendon Miller (Fairfield) win the weekly awards after standout performances during Week 6.
James Love has been named the NECBL Player of the Week for the second time this season after another outstanding offensive performance for the Upper Valley Nighthawks. The Joliet, Illinois, native batted .500 (13-for-26) during Week 6, leading the league with 13 hits while tying for the league lead with nine runs scored and four doubles. He also drove in nine runs, stole two bases, and posted a .581 on-base percentage and .654 slugging percentage. Love has been one of the NECBL's top hitters all summer, leading the league with 36 hits while ranking second in doubles (8). Through 90 at-bats, he is hitting .400 with 21 RBI, a .514 on-base percentage, and a .544 slugging percentage. Love is coming off a standout sophomore season at Eastern Illinois, where he hit .309 with 18 doubles, eight home runs and 45 RBI, earning Second Team All-Ohio Valley Conference honors as a utility player.
Brendon Miller earned NECBL Pitcher of the Week honors after a pair of dominant relief appearances for the Vermont Mountaineers. The San Diego, California, left-hander struck out an incredible 18 batters over seven innings while allowing just one hit and no runs. Miller opened the week by striking out seven over three hitless innings against Keene before recording 11 strikeouts across four one-hit innings in a victory over North Adams. He now ranks tied for second in the NECBL with 35 strikeouts and owns a 1.47 ERA while averaging 17.18 strikeouts per nine innings this season. Miller is coming off a strong campaign at Fairfield where the Stags reached the MAAC Winner-Take-All Championship game in 2026. Miller concluded the season with MAAC All-Academic Team honors after posting a 4-1 record with a 4.32 ERA and 66 strikeouts in 58.1 innings.
Love and the third-place Nighthawks (15-14) head to North Adams on Monday night to take on the SteepleCats after a 4-2 Week 6. Miller and the fifth-place Mountaineers (12-19), who went 3-4 during the week, travel to face the first-place Sanford Mainers on Monday evening as both North Division clubs look to gain ground in the standings.
Week 6 Honor Roll - Position Players
Chris Polemeni (UConn), Keene Swamp Bats, OF
Matt Colella (Lafayette), North Adams Steeplecats, IF
Nick Quagliato (Boston College), Upper Valley Nighthawks, C
Chris Cancel (UConn), Valley Blue Sox, C
William Mahala (Virginia), Ocean State Waves, OF
Ryan Novak (Miami (OH)), Newport Gulls, OF
Hudson Ellis (Oral Roberts), North Shore, SS
Week 6 Honor Roll - Pitchers
Tyler Borton (Florida Atlantic University), Keene Swamp Bats
Ethan Hunt (Southern New Hampshire), North Shore Navigators
Gian Gamelli (Notre Dame), North Shore Navigators
Tanner Beliveau (Mississippi State), Keene Swamp Bats
Jackson Hulcher (Portal), Vermont Mountaineers
Ryan Gold (Kennesaw State), Martha's Vineyard Sharks
---
The New England Collegiate Baseball League is a wooden bat collegiate summer league featuring teams across all six New England states. Since its founding in 1994, the NECBL has produced more than 230 Major League Baseball alumni, including nearly 30 first-round MLB Draft selections. For continuing coverage of the NECBL, visit NECBL.com and follow the league on X, Instagram, and Facebook.
