Shane McNamara, back with the Silver Knights, talks last week with home plate umpire Jeff Kleiner at Holman Stadium. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

NASHUA – You can go home again, especially when you’re close to home.

That certainly applies to Londonderry’s Shane McNamara, who was arguably the Nashua Silver Knights best player during the 2023 season.

He wasn’t expected back, transferring from Eastern Nazarene to Southern New Hampshire University, and likely to move on to another summer league after two straight seasons with the Knights.

But that never materialized.

One of the reasons was that McNamara was making his third collegiate transfer, and while the portal allows more movement, there is a limit, and he reached it. So he was ineligible this past spring to play for SNHU. And that likely caused other college leagues – the Cape and the NECBL – to back away as efforts for both were said to have fallen through.

“I was ineligible for the whole season, something I obviously wasn’t a big fan of,” McNamara said. “I obviously was trying to get in the NECBL and the Cape – but I’m here now.”

And Nashua is glad to have him, as on the last homestand he reached base five times in two games, including a homer.

Not bad for not having played in almost a year. He could practice with SNHU, but couldn’t play in a game. It was like being redshirted.

“It was very frustrating,” McNamara said. “I love this game very much, I put so much time into it. So of course it was frustrating. But we made it through and we’re here now.”

How does that feel?

“It feels amazing,” he said. “Back out out here, this (Holman) is where I feel most comfortable. Of course I love it.”

McNamara is teaming up with another Londonderry player, Owen Carey, for a tough combination from the left side of the plate.

“He’s definitely a special player,” said McNamara, who ironically did not know Carey. “It doesn’t take long to watch him to know he’s a special player. It’s great. I just got to meet him the other day, going to have a lot of fun this summer.”

What’s in the water in Londonderry?

“I don’t know,” McNamara said with a chuckle. “Great lefty hitters.”

McNamara wasn’t the only newcomer/oldcomer, as infielder Brady O’Brien (Richmond) also arrived.

“They’re going to fill a good role for us, great team guys,” Silver Knights manager Kyle Jackson said. “They’re going to fill in great.”

LOST WEEKEND

The Silver Knights are going to need a lot of help if they want to make the FCBL playoffs, and right now the odds aren’t in their favor.

Why? Because a golden opportunity went by the wayside this past weekend. After beating Norwich three straight to improve to 18-21, Nashua had a rare four straight games with the team just above them in the FCBL standings, the Vermont Lake Monsters. The first one at Holman was a 10-1 dud – McNamara’s homer the lone run – and then came three more games, but they would be at Vermont’s Centennial Field, with a rare stayover for the team.

Sweep. And not by the good guys.

Nashua has now lost four straight and is seven games below .500 at 18-25. They trail Worcester, in fifth place, by 4.5 games and they are now 8 behind the fourth place Lake Monsters (22-17) in the loss column. Ouch.

New Britain (24-15) is a half-game ahead of Westfield (24-16) in first place, with Norwich (23-15) third.

But Nashua may look back at this past weekend as its downfall.

ALZHEIMERS AWARENESS NIGHT

Thursday’s 6 p.m. home game vs. Worcester will be a special night, Alzheimers Awareness Night, as the Silver Knights are teaming up with the Walk To End Alzheimers Association.

The game will feature an auction of the limited edition Alzheimer’s Awareness Jersey set to be worn by the Silver Knights, with proceeds going to the WTEAA. For more information go to nashuasilverknights.com or contact the team.

THIS WEEK

The Knights have another odd off day created by Pittsfield’s year off as they are today as well after being off Monday. They head to seventh place Brockton on Wednesday, and, as noted above, are home Thursday vs. Worcester. Then, believe it or not, two more with Brockton Friday and Sunday, while off Saturday.

If the Knights want to make a run, they’ll have to take advantage of six games with the Rox and one with the Road Warriors over the next two weeks.

ATTENDANCE CHECK

The Silver Knights have slipped down the attendance ladder as well, hurt by the fact they have one Friday night at home in July, their best drawing night.

Nashua drew sub-1,000 crowds in their Wednesday-Thursday home games – likely due in part to the heat — and are now at 1,357 per game. Not bad, but not what it had been a couple of weeks ago.

It will likey improve with two more Fridays left, July 26 vs. Brockton and the final regular season home game Aug. 2 vs. New Britain.