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Silver Knights rival North Shore bolts FCBL for NECBL

By Tom King - Staff Writer | Apr 14, 2021

North Shore's Logan Bravo slides into third ahead of the throw to Nashua's Luke Beckstein during the 2020 Silver Knights season opener at Holman Stadium. But the Navs won't be back at Holman anytime soon as they have left the FCBL for the NECBL. (Telegraph file photo by TOM KING)

NASHUA – The Futures Collegiate Baseball League may be gaining a franchise or two, but it’s losing one of its long standing members.

For the third straight year, an FCBL franchise is bolting to the New England Collegiate Baseball League. The North Shore Navigators of Lynn, Mass. are following Martha’s Vineyard and Bristol (Conn.) out the FCBL door to the NECBL.

Thus, the Nashua Silver Knights lose a storied rival, whom they beat in the 2012 FCBL finals and always played multiple times during the regular season,

Ironically, the Navigators, when they were located in Middletown, Conn., were a 1994 charter member of the NECBL. After a stint in Holyoke, Mass, they moved to Lynn’s Fraser Field in 2007.

An ownership change in 2011 led to the franchise joining the Futures League. And, reportedly, an ownership change a year ago ignited the return to the NECBL. The Navs are owned by Old School Sports Group, LLC, which sources say include locals from the North Shore area.

The Navs provided Nashua with a great rival, just an hour away. Lynn and Nashua have had a rivalry over several years that included not only the FCBL but also the Eastern League (Nashua Angels vs. Lynn Pirates), the independent North Atlantic League (Nashua Hawks vs. the Mass Mad Dogs) and the Can Am League (Nashua Pride vs. North Shore Spirit).

Butch Hobson’s last game as Nashua Pride manager was in September of 2007 at Fraser Field, the Pride winning the Can-Am League title.

And B.J. Neverett, now retired, managed his last Silver Knights game at Fraser Field in an FCBL first round loss to the Navs in 2019.

“It stinks losing one of like, what I would say a centerpiece of the league,” Silver Knights general manager Cam Cook said. “They’ve been a staple for a long time.

“But I think the Futures League has come a long way, and clearly with the teams that have joined, it’s growing. If someone doesn’t want to be a part of that, or try a different league or their own avenue, more power to you. Go out there and sew your wild oats.”

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