Navy infielder Noah Steed will play at Holman Stadium the first half of the Silver Knights season before having to leave for his military obligations. (Photo courtesy of Nashua Silver Knights)

NASHUA – The business side has kept Nashua Silver Knights general manager Cam Cook from likely banging his head against a wall continuously after the popular Futures Collegiate League entry failed to make the playoffs for an unprecedented third straight season in 2025.

“It’s all I think about,” Cook said. “The business side luckily distracts me from a lot of that. But when we built the roster this year, it was like having the nuclear codes. When we built the roster this year, Guarino (field manager Nick) and I needed to have the keys so we were both happy with who we got and were in lock step every step of the way.

“I think we built things different. What we were doing (over the years) worked for a very long time, but things change. You can’t build a team 80 percent local, or just Division III, or just Division I, or just in New England. So it was us getting the guys we wanted locally then going down to Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, some new schools, some new areas.

“We’re building the roster a little bit differently than we have the last three years.”

Of the three seasons the team didn’t make the playoffs, one year they were out of it the entire time, two years ago they had a bad start and rallied but fell short, and last year the Knights were 20-18 and went into a tailspin from which they never recovered. Cook has tried to remind Guarino and the coaching staff that “Sixy percent of the season, you guys had done phenomenal job. The only scenario in which we could have missed the playoffs is what happened. …When it rains it pours.”

Cook feels that it’s a one game at a time mentality to avoid the double-digit snowball the team dealt beginning with the last two weeks of July.

Thus the roster he and Guarino put together is one in which it’s hoped that can be avoided.

“I like the offense a lot,” Cook said. “I just think we’re a little bit more diverse. I like the fact that everyone has played, just about everyone has gotten at bats at their school.

“The wood bat switch messes everyone up and it’s a new ball game, but the game just won’t speed up on them. They’ve been playing, even if it’s a small sample size.”

The temps have the roster at 43, but with a few Navy players needing to leave by July for military reasons, atttrition, etc., it’s more likely to be at 37 by the end of June. There are 22 pitchers, but, as Cook noted, injuries and mandated (by their college coaches) shutdowns will drop that number down too. Last year, the Silver Knights roster was shrinking by the end of July and the lack of depth was one of the reason for the team’s startling nosedive out of playoff contention.

“Not giving a pitcher an easy first inning all the way through is something,” Cook said, noting that his high contact lineup can extend at-bats and wear pitchers down early in the count.

Thus, here’s a look:

PITCHERS

Potential Starters: Nick Reese Hofsftra (L); Andrew Chenevert, Saint Anselm; Brodey Bump, Millersville; Cam Piwinicki, Brown; Noah Durham, Stonehill; Dimitri Skourides, Brandeis (L); Jackson Pecor, Eastern Conn.; Matt Donovan, Roger Williams; Will Perkowski, Dayton; Nigel Cross, Wentworth.

Mainly relievers: Colten Shaffer, Millersville; Sachin Gopal, Navy; Tommy Martorano (L) Eastern Conn.; Ryan Maiorano, Fairfield; Declan Wilkes, Lehigh; Josh Florence, Stonhill; Neil Mackinnon, Brown; Brandon Metivier, Bellarmine; Bryce McCleland (L), Fisher College; Malcolm Klingler, Northeastern; Michael Cobb (L), Johnson&Wales; Jameson Dobis, Bryant;

OUTLOOK:

For starters, Reese is a house, a 6-5, 260-pound lefty who is in Hoftstra’s starting rotation with nine starts (4-2, 5.80 ERA), and likely to start one of the first four games if he gets here on time. Chenevert, the staff ace from the last two seasons, went 6-0 for Saint Anselm but has been shut down and may not be available until July. Piwinicki went 4-1 as a freshman at Brown, but only one start, but he’s versatile, start or relieve. Depending on Brown in the postseason, he could start one of the first four games as well. Cross, who excelled here late last season, likely will, his job Cook said may limit him to weekend starts so it’s possible he gets the start next Saturday night at Holman. He was a hard luck 0-2 last season in four appearances but gave up just three earned runs in 14.1 innings, with 14 strikeouts and three walks.

Martorano had a high 6.31 ERA in 26 innings but did have 33 strikeouts in 26 innings.Durham pitched just six innings and was redshirted at Stonehill, so he has plenty of innings in him. Cook isn’t sure how many starts Goffstown’s Perkowski can give him if there’s an innings limit as there was last season.

Bump pitched just 9.1 innings for Millersville, but with 10 strikeouts and zero walks. If Millersville wants to lengthen him out, he can start; if not he’s out of the pen. Skourides had a 3.77 ERA and opponents hit just .196 off him at Brandeis. He’s similar to his Nashua manager, not overpowering but throws strikes like Guarino did to help win a title in 2020. “We need …. lefties who can fill it up and get some outs,” Cook said. Pecor, a high schooler, was recruited by Guarino before the manager left for his alma mater, Southern Conn., and he will arrive late. Donovan was the No. 2 pitcher at Roger Williams with a 4.10 ERA in 42 innings, 36 Ks, 20 walks. Can start or give length out of the pen.

For the possible bullpen,. Maiorano was Fairfield’s closer as a freshman, went 2-2, 2.67 ERA, eight saves,and three of those saves came on one weekend. The expectation is he could be the team’s closer. Meanwhile, surprise, surprise, BG alum Brandon Metivier of Nashua is back after thinking last year was his final Silver Knights season. Why? He redshirted this year, giving him another year of eligibility for both college and the Knights.

Gopal out of Navy – as the other Navy players – will be here til the end of June and then has to report back to Annapolis. Wilkes had a five-plus ERA but opponents hit just .204 against him, but will need to harness his control.

Florence is returing from last year, and will reprise his relief role; Shaffer could start but likely be, as Cook said, “a prominent arm out of the bullpen.”

Perhaps the most fascinating player out of this group is McCleland, who is the team’s first ever international player, coming from Capetown, South Aftrica.

He’s headed to the NAIA school, Fisher College, but has pitched in international competition. He comes via an organization known as Baseball For Good, which tries to get international players a chance to showcase their talents for colleges. “It’s something we hope goes well and we could have two or three international guys next year,” Cook said.

Kobb comes via a recommendation from former Silver Knight Jeff Valdez, his teammate at J&W, and here’s why: 2.62 ERA, three saves, 41 strikeouts in 34 innings with opponents hitting .238 against him.

CATCHERS – Mason Compagna, Penn State; Peter Fischer, Saint Anselm; Ben Peterson, St. Joe’s (Pa.).; Jet Jones, Utah Valley (temp); Sam Gettinger Stonehill (temp)

OUTLOOK: Fischer was a good hitting catcher, hitting .312 with six doubles, four homers, and 36 RBIs, making Third Team All-NE10. And only 19 strikeouts in 157 at-bats. “A real, real good offensive catcher,” Cook said.

Ben Peterson is the backup catcher at St. Joe’s, a relationship the Knights have begun to cultivate. He hit three homers and was, believe it or not, 5 for 6 on stolen bases as a catcher. He’s said to be very good defensively, but may be here late as St. Joe’s is likely in the postseason.

Compagna is a high schooler who Cook says is having a very good senior year and will have a learning curve for the college game.

Meanwhile, because of the college postseason, the Knights have a couple of catchers on temp deals. Jet Jones of Londonderry redshirted at Utah Valley, and can also play first base. He has to return to Utah on July 1, Cook said. Gettinger is also around for as long as it takes the regulars to all arrive.

Goffstown’s Will Perkowski returns to bolster the Silver Knights starting rotation. (Telegraph file photo by TOM KING)

INFIELDERS

Matt Dantoni, Lehigh; A.J. Kolb, Towson; Hunter Troiano, Gannon; Mason Wilson, Penn State; Noah Steed,Navy;Peter Keblinski, Southern Maine; Nate Kearney, Stonehill; Mike Villani, Stony Brook; Hudson Story, Bryant; Caleb Vacchiano, Southern Maine; Jordan Welch, Stony Brook.

OUTLOOK

Guarino and Cook decided to build the whole infield out of starting shortstops.

“We said A, we’re going to be super athletic and kind of utility-ish in the infield where everyone can play everywhere. If a guy goes down, we can slide someone in who can playshortstop, he can play third, he can play second. We have a kid who can play center field and shortstop, so we have some versatility.”

Kolb was Towson’s starting second baseman and hit .327 and in 110 at-bats had only nine strikeouts. Troiano hit .325 starting at short for Gannon with five homers, 11 doubles and 33 RBIs. “A veteran, veteran high level shortstop I think will be awesome in this league,” Cook said.

Keblinski looks like a find, as he can close out of the pen but also play shortstop, and hit .404 (65 hits), an over.500 on-base percentage, 19 doubles and two homers. He could end up at third base.

Speaking of the corner slots, Nate Kearney is back after missing all of last summer, is healthy now, and hitting .361 at Stonehill at last look with 42 RBIs. He’ll likely be either at first base or DH.

Same with Hudson Story, but he is going to provide the power the Knights lacked last year. “The low strikeout rate is great to put ducks on the pond, but we need guys to bring them in,” Cook said. Story will strike out, but “he’ll also hit the ball into the football field for us – or win a Home Run Derby for us.” The Knights weren’t going to win won a year ago.

Vacchiano also has power (five Hrs), can play second, but some at first and third even drove in astounding 52 RBIs.

Dantoni played short and third for Lehigh as a freshman, will need more at bats. Wilson,a high school player, arrives late June but will be able to replace the Navy players (Steed) who have to leave at about the same time. Villani, a freshman, won the shortstop job, started the spring off hot and cooled off (.241) but is high contact – just 13 strikeouts in 113 at bats and 11 for 12 in steal attempts. Welch has some pop but only got 17 at-bats with Stony Brook.

OUTFIELDERS

Brendan Horne, VCU; Connor Smith, Gannon; Phoenix Williams, Mount St. Mary; Max Forgione, St. Joe’s (Pa.); Nathan Rodriguez, Mount St. Mary; Robby Grasso, Lehigh; Will Norris, Wofford College.

OUTLOOK

Williams could be your centerfielder, a position of strength over the years for the Silver Knights in terms of speed and defense. Williams hit .313 for Gannon, was playing corner outfield, but likely will be in center at Holman. Smith was injured at the start of Gannon’s season, but got going quickly and is another contact hitter, just 12 strikeouts in 123 at-bats with a .429 on-base percentage, and 15 for 15 on stolen bases. Looks like another top of the order player. “An all-around great athlete,” Cook said, adding that he and Guarino are wondering whether to run three high contact hitters at the top of the lineup and then go with power. Norris was going to be the starting left fielder at Wofford but was sidelined with an injury and was cleared to play late in the season.

Horne, a Pinkerton alum, can play infield or outfield, but was an outfielder at VCU. Forgione redshirted at Saint Joe’s, a corner outfielder. Rodriguez is seen as a raw talent, only 14 at-bats, may have some power, but said to have a cannon for an arm. Grasso came on strong toward the end of Lehigh’s season, getting over .200. Likely a corner outfielder.

And there you go, you’re 2026 Nashua Silver Knights to start the season.