Today is likely Nick Guarino's final start in a Silver Knights uniform. (Courtesy photo by John Corneau/Silver Knights)

NASHUA – It’s the final week, unless a monumental comeback takes place.

The Nashua Silver Knights looked a week ago as if they might make that comeback for a potential playoff spot, putting together an eight game winning streak.

But that streak is now history, and it’s been followed up with a four game losing streak that pretty much displayed the difference between the last place, 24-36 Knights and the class of the Futures Collegiate League, the 40-22 Vermont Lake Monsters, who beat Nashua Friday at Holman and Saturday-Sunday in Vermont.

Vermont’s team was put together in part by Brockton general manager Tom Tracey, as both teams are owned by former Nashua Pride owner Chris English. Plus Vermont manager Pete Wilk coached Georgetown University for 20 years and has a plethora of connections. Thus Vermont, despite not coming on board until late January, was able to put together a more than competitive roster.

Nashua, meanwhile, is young.

“The difference between our team and the majority of the other teams is we’re very young,” Nashua manager Kyle Jackson said, noting that in one game late last week the Knights had seven incoming or redshirt freshmen on the field. “Guys that hadn’t seen (a college) field yet,” Jackson said. “So the experience level, they’re getting it here.

“You see it in their at-bats, their approach. But our team has come a long way to get (24) wins.”

Nashua’s week will be like this: doubleheader (seven innings each) against the New Britain Bees today beginning at 3 p.m. with the nightcap at about 6; Wednesday at New Britain (6:35 p.m.); Thursday, the home finale, a doubleheader vs. Brockton at 3 and 6 p.m.; and then the regular season, and likely the season period, wraps up Friday night at Worcester at 6:30 p.m.

PLAYOFF WATCH

While Nashua is not mathematically eliminated, the race for the fourth and final playoff spot appears to be between Worcester (29-32) and Westfield (28-32).

The three teams that are very much in: Vermont (40-22), Pittsfield (36-24) and Brockton (33-26). Were there six spots as has been the case in most past years, the Knights would be battling Norwich (27-36) and New Britain (25-34) for that last spot. But alas, only four teams make this year.

NASHUA THIRD

While the Knights may be last on the field, they are in the league’s upper echelon off it, third in attendance. Going into this week, Nashua has averaged 1,087 fans per game.

Vermont – who else?– leads the league, averaging 1,640, while Worcester has recovered from a slow start to average 1,154 in 27 dates, same number of openings as Nashua.The Bravehearts are second in the league.

Fourth is New Britain, averaging 1,071 in 28 openings. Those four are the only teams in the league averaging four figures. Pittsfield (876 per game), Norwich (822), Westfield (640) and Brockton (501) are the bottom four. Keep in mind Brockton has to start its games no later than 5 p.m. due to lighting issues.

NOTES

The Knights no longer have any .300 hitters. Nashua second baseman Brandon Fish of Londonderry, one of those incoming freshmen (UMass-Lowell), leads the team at .298…

Today’s pitchers, at last look, were to be lefty Nick Guarino (4-2, 3.32) for Game 1 and likely Shea Ryan (2-1, 4.60) for Game 2. If Guarino indeed starts today, it is likely his final start in a Silver Knights uniform…

Nashua is last in the league in hitting at .228, but the surprise is Vermont is next to last at .232…

However, Vermont is tops in pitching at 3.83; Nashua is fifth at 4.66 in terms of team ERA.