Nighthawks Host SteepleCats for First Time This Season

By Thaddeus Sawyer

After playing a pair of contests with the Northern Berkshires in the background, the Nighthawks and North Adams SteepleCats will meet at the Maxfield Sports Complex on Friday, this time in the shadow of the Green Mountains.

While the SteepleCats currently hold a 3-12 record, one of those wins came over the Nighthawks (9-7-1) in a 4-1 Father’s Day victory last Sunday.

The SteepleCats are also coming off of a 5-4 walkoff win over the Vermont Mountaineers (6-12) on Wednesday after a costly Mountaineers error gave the SteepleCats two unearned runs in the ninth.

As such, the SteepleCats have won two straight amid a mess of rainouts and off days.

Despite the recent success, the SteepleCats lineup remains pedestrian at best, with outfielder Evan Meier sitting as the only player on the roster with an OPS of .800 or better.

Fellow outfielder Chris Diaz has looked better as of late, picking up two hits with a double against the Nighthawks last weekend. 

Still, seven qualified SteepleCats batters currently possess a batting average below the Mendoza Line.

Freshly committed Vanderbilt outfielder and ABCA First Team All-American Hunter Ray has only slashed .056/.370/.222 through his first 27 plate appearances for North Adams. Still, Ray, who was the Northeast Conference Player of the Year at Fairleigh Dickinson University in 2026 and teammates with Nighthawks catcher Nick Quagliato, blasted 31 home runs this spring and should develop into a top contributor sooner rather than later.

The SteepleCats will look to jump on expected Nighthawks starter Kyle Batt early. The right-hander has surrendered six earned runs through his first 5 2/3 innings while posting a 2.82 WHIP over two starts.

Batt’s spring numbers paint a far more palatable picture, as the Rider University sophomore worked to a 4.62 ERA in 74 innings, starting 15 of his 16 appearances.

Opposing Batt is expected to be SteepleCats pitcher Kellen Moore, who hasn’t fared much better through his first two NECBL starts. The right-hander has an 8.64 ERA in 8 1/3 frames.

Though the Nighthawks managed just one run on Sunday, they’ve scored 18 runs in as many innings since. 

First baseman Charley Magoulick led the charge on Thursday in the Nighthawks’ 10-6 win with three hits and four RBIs.

Catcher Cam Boardman also provided a pair of run-scoring hits.

The Nighthawks have also seen a power surge as of late, with Magoulick, Frank Kelly and Anthony Greco each notching a home run over the last three contests.

Kelly’s long ball came against the SteepleCats. The shortstop has also swiped the second most bags in the league with 12 so far this season, being caught only once and sitting one behind Nick Zampieron of the Sanford Mainers.

First pitch at the Maxfield Sports Complex is scheduled for 6 p.m., though a rain delay is possible. The game will stream live on ESPN+.