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FCBL venturing into the land of lakes

By Staff | Mar 6, 2021

Telegraph Sports Reporter Tom KIng.

Ahhhh, the sounds and signs of spring.

All had been fairly quiet on the Nashua Silver Knights/Futures Collegiate League front for the months of December, January and February.

As you might expect, right? Now, the Nashua front office has been doing a great job of getting out on social media with news of players, etc., and even now when current and former Silver Knight teammates are going up against each other during the current Division I college baseball season.

But it had been quiet league-wide. No schedules yet, which is understandable given all the uncertainty around COVID.

However, there were other reasons for that, and we found out what they were just over a week ago when the radio silence was broken and the FCBL announced it was venturing into the land of lakes, green mountains and maple syrup, securing the franchise in Burlington that MLB had deemed expendable in its incredibly short-sighted minor league contraction plan.

Welcome, Vermont Lake Monsters, a smart move by the Futures League. It needs to expand, and last year certainly wasn’t the year to do it.

But all eyes are on the franchises and communities that lost their MLB affiliations. Their choices are to go independent, like MLB is trying to put together, or collegiate, like MLB is also trying to put together. Most owners see the handwriting on the wall and Lake Monsters owners were receptive to the overtures of former Nashua Pride and current Brockton Rox owner Chris English and his investment group known as Nos Amours Baseball Club.

“Our family has roots in Montreal,” said English, who went to Vassar, in a release, “so this feels like coming home again. The Futures League, which features great minor league stadiums and some of the country’s top college prospects, is a perfect fit for the Lake Monsters. I can’t wait for Opening Day.”

Now the question is what’s next, whether or not the league would expand further. The key in the Vermont expansion is it was really an acquisition, with an owner, English, the league already holds in high esteem, which it should.

Pittsfield should return for the 2021 season, one would think, after sitting out 2020 due to the virus. A season long pandemic pause, if you will.

That would give the FCBL eight teams. Having the even number a year ago was good, even though it was only six, and it would be nice to stay that way. However, there is certainly temptation to scoop up whatever abandoned locations that can be secured.

We’re still not back to carrying on business as usual, and the thought here is that we won’t be by the time the FCBL opens its 11th season, whenever that is.

So the league may be hesitant to bite off more than it can chew. It made that mistake several years ago when it grew to 10 teams too quickly, because the ownerships allowed in weren’t solid.

FCBL Commissioner Joe Paolucci said he’s expecting a schedule by the middle of this month, which would be nice. The league pulled off a minor miracle last summer by getting through an abbreviated season and the Silver Knights were able to have some fans at Holman Stadium and win a championship.

The Vermont news is good. A couple of FCBL alums played in Vermont, former Worcester slugger Dustin Harris, former Rox pitcher Alex Pantuso and two-time FCBL All-Star shortstop Joseph Pena, all during the affiliation with the Oakland A’s the last two years.

In any event, this was good news. Warmer news, which after that bitter March chill earlier this past week we all need.

Spring training is under way. High school teams will begin practices the end of this month. The 2021 Silver Knights/FCBL season will be here before you know it.

Tom King may be reached at tking@nashuatelegraph.com, or on twitter at @Telegraph _TomK.

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