Nighthawks Travel to Connecticut for the First Time in 2026

By Thaddeus Sawyer

Anthony Bubba may not be from Connecticut, but the New Jersey native has certainly spent plenty of time in the state over the past three years.

Pitching for the University of Hartford, Bubba has tossed 167 2/3 collegiate innings, being recognized as a Conference of New England All-Conference Second Team honoree in 2026.

Bubba will stick around Connecticut for his senior season as well, though the 20-year-old will be trading in red for navy blue after transferring to Quinnipiac University earlier this summer.

Now with the Bobcats, Bubba will take the mound just over an hour’s drive away from his new school Thursday when the Upper Valley Nighthawks travel to Connecticut for the first time this season to face the Mystic Schooners.

“It’s really fun just being back in Connecticut,” Bubba said. “I always love the vibes over here. … It’s just a familiar place.”

Bubba has been one of the Nighthawks’ top rotation arms in 2026, working to a 3.00 ERA and 1.17 WHIP and striking out a batter per frame through 12 innings this summer.

Though the right-hander has thrown just three innings since a June 17 victory over the Vermont Mountaineers due to an influx of available pitchers after the June 22 rainout, he said that he expects the extra to allow him to pitch deeper into Thursday’s game.

“It's kind of just more being prepared going into each outing,” Bubba said. “Knowing that I only went three last week, I know that I'll have that extra gear tonight.”

Opposing Bubba will be a starter from the completely other side of the country, as California native Ashton Arroyo is expected to get the nod for the Schooners.

The Georgetown hurler has been solid through five appearances and two starts this summer. Across 12 innings, the right-hander has posted a 4.50 with 10 strikeouts.

Most of the damage against Arroyo has come in a pair of poor starts, as he has allowed three earned runs in a pair of three-innings starts in his two most recent outings.

The Schooners’ offense is led by three breakout middle infielders who all posted OPS marks below .700 in their first NECBL go-around in 2025.

University of Rhode Island infielder Scott Penney leads the team with a .910 OPS and .489 on-base percentage in his second year with the Schooners, while Stetson infielder Jack Harley has slashed .328/.465/.373 in his second summer with Mystic.

Gabe Natividad took a different route to leading the Schooners with a .379 batting average. Instead of beginning his NECBL career in Mystic, the Winthrop infielder instead spent 2025 with the North Adams SteepleCats, slashing .225/.336/.326 across 29 contests.

Though UConn utilityman and Big East Freshman of the Year Cam Righi has struggled to find base hits, the sophomore has reached base at a decent .329 clip and made the most of his time on the base paths. The Connecticut native has stolen ten bases this summer, as has infielder Casey Wensley.

Frank Kelly and Willie Hurt know a thing about stolen bases, as they’ve stolen 13 and 11 respectively to remain within the top four in the NECBL.

Hurt will start in right, while two of the Nighthawks’ hottest hitters will join him on the grass.

Center fielder Alex Kelsey went 2-for-3 in his return to the lineup against the Newport Gulls on Tuesday, while left fielder Cam Boardman has reached base in six-straight games since rejoining the team last week after an injury.

First pitch at Fitch High School is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. The contest will stream live on ESPN+.