By: Shannon Bickert

The red-hot Schooners host the Upper Valley Nighthawks who look to improve their record to above .500 on Thursday, July 2. Mystic has won their last three games and scored 30 runs across their past two contests. The Schooners enter the night at 13-7 on the summer, who are half a game out of first place in the NECBL South Division standings. The Nighthawks are 10-10-1 this summer. It is the first meeting of the 2026 season between these two squads.

Mystic is coming off a home win over the Waves, scoring 13 runs on 12 hits where Jack Harley (Stetson) recorded four RBI on three hits. Harley has been on fire at the plate, recording three consecutive three-hit games. The New Jersey native has tallied a hit in his last eight games played, improving his batting average to .328 on the summer.

The Nighthawks dropped their last game to Newport by a 2-0 score on Tuesday, July 30. Upper Valley was held to just four hits on the game.

The game on the basepaths is something to look forward to in Thursday’s contest. Frank Kelly (HPU) and William Hurt (VT) of the Nighthawks both rank in the top five in the NECBL in stolen bases. The Schooners have tallied 69 stolen bases this summer which leads the league.

Ashton Arroyo (Georgetown) is Mystic’s probable starter. The 6’7 California product has pitched 12 innings this summer, striking out 10 hitters. In Arroyo’s last start, he allowed three earned runs across three innings against Bristol.

First pitch from the Shipyard is set for 6:30 pm. Catch the live-game broadcast on NECBL+.