Nighthawks Return to Maxfield Sports Complex for First Practice of 2026
The Nighthawks are back at the Maxfield Sports Complex!
By Thaddeus Sawyer
Headshots, bullpens and left-handed outfielders playing third base.
Though the squad isn’t yet at full strength, the 2026 Nighthawks took the field at the Maxfield Sports Complex for the first time as a team on Monday night for its first practice, signaling the unofficial start of the NECBL season.
A sea of neon green stood out against the rich verdant backdrop of the Upper Valley as many players donned a Nighthawks uniform to shag fly balls during batting practice.
At the plate, Saint Joseph’s outfielder Alex Kelsey showed off the contact skills that made him one of the top hitters in the Atlantic 10 this season as well as an all-conference first team selection, shooting multiple balls back up the middle and off the L-screen in front of home plate.
In the field, Kelsey looked slick flipping balls at short and turning two at second base, especially for a left-hander. Still, the Nighthawks will be at their best this season when the speedy 20-year-old is patrolling the grass in center field.
“Honestly, just getting to know the guys, just bringing this collection together is big to win games and all that,” Kelsey said. “I just want to win. Honestly, I just want to win.”
Down the right field foul line, multiple pitchers threw their first bullpens of the summer as the rest of the staff circled behind the back of the mound to watch. Those pitchers included Pace sophomore Eric Santaella, who is returning for a second summer in the Upper Valley after posting a 2.77 ERA across 65 innings and being named to the Northeast 10 All-Conference First Team.
“I missed the guys,” Santaella said. “ I missed all the hacky sack. Already played that, busted that out a little bit. I loved seeing the new guys. [The] new guys are really chill, great guys. It's gonna be a great summer.”
The highlight of the evening came when fourth-year Upper Valley pitcher Nick Tamburro took the mound for the first live at-bats of the summer towards the end of the evening, facing Kelsey, Santaella and other batters under the lights.
Catching him was fellow returner Nick Quagliato, who will also be Tamburro’s roommate this summer.
“It was definitely awesome to get back out here, and it's good to throw against some of the guys so we know what we have on offensive going for us,” Tamburro said. “It's just great to see everybody that got here today.”
Tamburro, who’s been through the experience of meeting new teammates on the fly multiple times now, said that everyone was getting along right out of the gates.
“It feels very comfortable,” Tamburro said. “There was no awkward tension when we were all chatting out there, so that was kind of cool and it gives me a good feel for how we're gonna get along as a team this season.”
Santaella said that his new teammates have been easy to talk to.
“We kind of bond about the same thing, and it's just like I'm back at college making new friends,” Santaella said.
The Nighthawks will spend the next few days getting to know each other and getting their reps in before the real work begins on Thursday night in Maine. Upper Valley will travel to Sanford to take on the Mainers on Opening Day. First pitch at Goodall Park is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.