Mountaineers Prepare for Summer Season 

MONTPELIER — Cheering crowds, the crack of a baseball bat, a cool breeze in the dark green stands, and memories shared between neighbors — nothing says summer in central Vermont like an evening with the Vermont Mountaineers. Now in its 24th year, the New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL) team is gearing up for a season featuring its very own hometown pitcher.

Community Creates, Leads, and Maintains Top Team

Before they began breaking records at the Montpelier Recreation Field, the Mountaineers were part of Green Mountain Community Baseball, an organization formed by residents hoping to attract NECBL interest. In 2022, fans voted to name the new team, and — while the mountain climber ultimately earned the designation — the second place “Woodchucks” lives on in the mascot, Skip. 

Only one year after establishing its new identity, the team was accepted into the NECBL and has since solidified its place within the league and the hearts of central Vermonters alike. 

“The community really wraps their arms around this team and the organization,” said Brian Gallagher, Mountaineers president and general manager. 

After all, the community is partly to thank for the team’s continued success. The Mountaineers is a nonprofit organization run by individuals who have day jobs apart from the team. And game-day amenities — concessions, parking, entertainment, and even Skip — are only made possible by volunteers.

Mountaineers games often feature a 50/50 fundraiser raffle, interactive games for children and families, and other ways for spectators who aren’t necessarily baseball enthusiasts to enjoy the game.

“It’s cool because you look at the crowd and see multiple generations, from little kids to grandparents. It’s just a fun mix of people socializing,” Gallagher said. “Some people come and don’t even watch baseball; they just visit with their neighbors.” 

Of course, sports fans will not be disappointed to learn the NECBL represents the top level of baseball in Vermont. The 13-team wooden bat league is sanctioned by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and Major League Baseball (MLB), providing players with prime scouting opportunities and fans with highly competitive athletics.

Additionally, the NECBL — also home to Hartford’s Upper Valley Nighthawks — is one of 12 members of the National Alliance of College Summer Baseball and is frequently ranked as the second-best league in the country just under the Cape Cod Baseball League. 

“A lot of these players go on to play in the major leagues and hundreds of them have been drafted into professional ball,” Gallagher said. “It’s really the top notch you can get in Vermont, and it’s right in our backyard.”

Playing ball at this caliber requires recruiting top players, a job that often involves relationship-building on behalf of Gallagher and coach Kevin Smith. And this year, Gallagher said they tried to add even more Vermonters to the roster.

At the start of the 2026 season, there were six Vermont players on the roster: Aidan Botti from Wallingford, Zach Davis from Colchester, Rex Hauser from Waterford, Nick Kelly from South Burlington, Andrew Tringe from Montpelier, and Wyatt Wolpert from Williston.

From the Stands to the Mound 

Number 37, the 20-year-old pitcher who stands at 6 feet 7 inches, may look familiar to Montpelier residents. Andrew Tringe grew up in central Vermont, played in the Montpelier Little League, and even assisted prior generations of Mountaineers as a bat boy many summers ago.

Now an incoming senior at Brandeis University, the business major is excited to play his first full season with the Mountaineers after helping the team close out 2025 — where he received a standing ovation for his appearance.

“When I pitched at the Mountaineers field for the first time, it was the last home game of the season,” Tringe said. “Everyone was cheering for me, and it was a surreal feeling. To close out the year in front of the home crowd just got me so excited for this summer.”

Tringe is maybe about to begin his first season with the NECBL, but he’s no rookie to the sport. In his third year with the Brandeis Judges, his performances earned career-high statistics of seven innings played and 10 strikeouts in a single game. It’s performances like these that got him noticed by recruiters.

“I’m so grateful that Gallagher reached out to me last season and gave me the chance to show what I could do,” Tringe said. “I can’t describe the feeling. It feels like yesterday, I was right there looking up at the guys, but now I’m on the team putting on the uniform for real.”

Tringe said he looks forward to getting to know his teammates and making memories throughout the season. And, while he may not be prepared for the attention that comes with playing for the NECBL, he is confident about one thing: he’s going to have a great time. 

“It’s just going to be so much fun,” Tringe said. “I’m always going to give it my all. Just know that I’m out there having fun.”

Host Families Keep Tradition Alive 

Playing for the Mountaineers is a full-circle moment for Tringe and his family. Not only was he a bat boy during prior seasons, but the Tringe family also served as a host family for former players.

“I thought those were the coolest guys ever. We would have like three at one time,” Tringe said. “They were playing video games, and I remember trying to get in the room to hang out with them and show them I was a cool guy who likes to play ball too.”

Host families provide a room, meals, and a safe environment for Mountaineers players during the summer season. In return, they receive season tickets, annual recognition events, and the opportunity to be part of a Montpelier tradition.

Hannah Connor helps match families with players through a set of questions and needs-based assessments. For the past nine years, she has opened her own home to players and given them the opportunity to integrate as a member of the family. Connor said it’s a process that has created lasting relationships with players, many of whom are still in contact today.

This partnership benefits community members of all situations — from young families to empty nesters looking to fill their homes in the summer. And, having a hosted player gives residents an extra special reason to cheer at Mountaineers home games.

“We will go to pretty much every home game because we want to support our guys,” Connor said. “It is exciting to root for the individual that you’ve gotten to know.”

This season, Connor was tasked with placing nearly 40 players with host families and will continue to facilitate matches as needed. Host families and volunteers are always encouraged to apply and experience the benefits of giving back to the community.

“It’s cool for everybody of all ages to see these young guys just giving it their all and competing at a really high level,” Tringe said. “That’s what my parents got out of it, experiencing the joy of having another guy in the house who’s super driven and motivated to achieve their goals and play the game they love.”

Ready to Play at the Rec Field

The first home game of the season is Sunday, June 7, at 6:30 p.m., with a special themed night to welcome the team to Montpelier and kick off the series. Opening night is sponsored by National Life Group, which has presented the event for 24 years. 

Additional themed nights include free admission for youth baseball/softball players, veterans and active military, Scouts, and more. There will be city-themed celebrations, free haircuts, fireworks, and even a Halloween event.
 For a full list of games, visit thevermontmountaineers.com. 

And be sure to keep an eye on the bat kids who help on the field during games — you never know when those little leaguers may wear a Mountaineers uniform themselves. Take it from Andrew Tringe:

“Not in a million years did I think I would be here. I can’t even say it was a goal of mine, because I never thought it would be possible. I just didn’t stop playing. That’s the biggest thing — just keep playing. Keep giving it your all. You never know what could happen.”