Silver Knights catcher Nate Goranson gives his jersey to a fan who won it in a silent auction on Thursday night, as the team said farewell to the fans for the 2021 season. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

The Futures Collegiate Baseball League playoffs got underway on Saturday night, as no time was wasted after the end of the regular season just 24 hours earlier.

And for the first time in the FCBL’s 11-year history, the postseason did not include Nashua.

The Silver Knights finished sixth overall at 27-39, and had the FCBL gone with six of eight making the playoffs as it has in the past, Nashua would have just gotten in by a half game over Norwich (27-40)

Nashua, which won its fifth FCBL title last year, finished last in hitting with a team batting average of .227, and last in runs with just 288. The Knights were also last in on base percentage (.338), slugging (.325) and OPS (.663).

The Knights were fifth in pitching with a 4.69 team ERA, and were last in strikeouts (517) but allowed the fewest walks (262).

Jackson Linn led the team in hitting at .289 and was tied with Connor Hujsak and Sam McNulty for the team lead in homers (four each), while McNulty led the Knights in RBIs with 22. Noah Wachter led the team in ERA (2.27), while lefty Nick Guarino led Nashua in wins at 5-2. Guarino actually still had eligibility left and is expected to return to the Silver Knights next season.

PLAYOFFS

Vermont and Brockton are in the driver’s seat to make it to the FCBL Finals, as they each took the first game of their best of three semifinal series. Vermont pounded out 13 hits in blowing away Worcester, 15-2 on Saturday night in Burlington, Vt.. Brockton went into Pittsfield’s Wahconah Park and came away with a 6-2 win, pulling away with runs in inning seven through nine to snap a 2-2 tie. Former Silver Knight Ben Rounds had a good night, going 2 for 4.

Both series continue today with Worcester hosting Vermont at 5 p.m. and Brockton hosting Pittsfield at 3 at Campanelli Stadium.

LEAGUE AWARDS

Nashua was basically shut out of the final awards, although a former Silver Knight, Bedford’s Pat Harrington of the Vermont Lake Monsters, was named Pitcher of the Year. Harrington led the FCBL in ERA (2.32), innings pitched (62) and was second in strikeouts (71). Harrington won five games for the Lake Monsters, who finished the regular season in first place.

The FCBL’s MVP was Westfield’s Cole Bartels of Penn State, as he led the league in hitting (.399), tied for the lead in homers (six), and led the league in runs (42), hits (65) and OPS (1.1116).

Jackson Appel, a catcher for the Pittsfield Suns, won Defensive Player of the Year honors, with just two errors in 156 chances. Pittsfield, which finished second, allowed the second fewest runs in the league.

Pittsfield reliever Ryan Langford won Relief Pitcher of the Year, with 54 strikeouts and a 2.35 ERA in 30.2 innings, to go with eight saves in 23 appearances.

Norwich’s Dave Driscoll won the Commissioner’s Award (hard work, character),while first place Vermont manager and second place Pittsfield skipper Matt Gedman were named Co-Managers of the Year. Gedman is the son of former Red Sox catcher and current WooSox coach Rich Gedman.