Telegraph file photo by TOM KING Dylan Jones returns this year as one of the Silver Knights catchers as he's become a consisten .300 hitter.

NASHUA – For their 10th season, the Nashua Silver Knights are going Division I heavy.

The University of Maryland. Penn State. Kansas State. Harvard. UMass-Amherst. Fordham. St. Johns.

“What I like, if you look at the league rosters this year, it’s more D-I than the league has seen across the board,” said Silver Knights general manager Cam Cook, who put the roster together in tandem with manager Kyle Jackson. “What I like is our Division I players are sophomores, juniors, seniors, rather than incoming freshman. I always feel the older and more experience at the NCAA level, the better.”

Here’s a look at the position players that were on the roster as of earlier this week:

INFIELDERS

Brett Anderson, fr., Hartford – The recent Bishop Guertin alum is chomping at the bit to play, as he will likely play first base and DH after he is cleared following knee surgery in a couple of weeks. “He just will be at practice because he genuinely wants to be around the Silver Knights and his teammates,” Cook said. “I hope he’s here for his entire Hartford career.”

Luke Beckstein, fr., Kansas State – The Tyngsborough, Mass.native looked sharp in workouts in the middle infield, one of New England’s top prospects.

Brady Day, fr., Kansas State – Another top prospect, Day just graduated from Pinkerton. He and Beckstein could be Kansas State’s middle infield combo for the next few years if they develop. Either he or Beckstein will likely play third.

Nick Perkins, sr., Endicott – The Nashua native who played at Cushing Academy got in only eight games this spring at first base.

Nick Shumski, sr., Merrimack – The Salem native, Cook says, “will be the best defensive shortstop we’ve had since Manny Cruz.” If that’s the case, pencil him in – he hit .443 with a .977 OPS and 12 RBIs in 15 games for Merrimack.

Lucas Stallman, jr., Boston College – A Brock Holt type, as he was a utility player at B.C. “We can use him wherever,” Cook said. He played in 10 games this spring with five starts.

Max Viera, fr., Northeastern – Another recent high school grad, out of Greenwood Lake, N.Y., about 50 miles northwest of New York City. “Northeastern loves him,” Cook said, adding he’s primarily a second baseman.

OUTFIELDERS

Jared Dupere, jr., Northeastern – Was solid last summer for Nashua and was second this spring in .OPS for NU in 15 games (.972), hitting .356 with two homers and 13 RBIs. Welcome back.

John Mead, sr., Franklin Pierce – A lefty power hitter. “He’ll probably hit two or three bombs where everyone goes ‘Where did that land,’ “ Cook said. He hit five homers two years ago with FP.

Ben Rounds, so., Harvard – Only had 15 at-bats this spring (the Crimson only played five games) without a hit but Cook says he will track down a lot of fly balls in left or center.

Troy Schreffler, Jr., so., Maryland – Another Division I player, and Cook says the Terps think “he’s going to be a big, big name for them.” He only hit .214 in 10 games but had an .835 OPS with two doubles, a triple and a homer. “He faced some of the best competition in the nation,” Cook said. “I’m excited to see what he can do.”

CATCHERS

Dylan Jones, sr., Frankline Pierce – He’s closing in on Ryan Sullivan territory, as he’ll be a Knight for the third year thanks to the NCAA awarding him a fifth year due to the cancelled spring season. He was an FCBL All-Star and a .300 hitter last year, and was hitting .310 for the Ravens before the pandemic hit.

Jack Arend, sr., Nichols – Another fifth year senior, transferring from Bates to Nichols for a final season. With Bates he only played in five spring games but in 2019 he hit .356 with 21 RBIs in 33 games.

Ed Jarvis, jr., Northeastern – Caught six games, hitting .200 this spring. He’ll be NU’s starter in the next year or two.

Dominic Keegan, jr., Vanderbilt – The FCBL’s former team, Martha’s Vineyard, was always loaded with Vandy players. Keegan was going to play on the Cape but with that league cancelling, here he is. He hit .242 in nine games (eight starts) with Vandy. Can also play first, may platoon as a righty.

DESIGNATED HITTERS

Tyson Cooper, so., Penn State – Listed as a catcher for the Nittany Lions, he is just getting over shoulder woes and could get a good share of at-bats.

Mike Rounds, jr., UMass-Amherst – A rare combo of pitcher-DH, hit .235 in just 17 at-bats for the Minutemen in this shortened spring. Likely a situational lefty on the mound.

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