Nighthawks Travel To Keene to Complete Three-Game Road Trip

The Nighthawks are 2-0 on their road trip and have yet to lose to Keene this season.

Levi Jones high fives Nick Quagliato and Tim Dickinson after the third out of an inning in a game against the Vermont Mountaineers at Montpelier Recreation Field in Montpelier, Vermont on July 8, 2026. (photo/Kaitlyn Lee)
Levi Jones high fives Nick Quagliato and Tim Dickinson after the third out of an inning in a game against the Vermont Mountaineers at Montpelier Recreation Field in Montpelier, Vermont on July 8, 2026. (photo/Kaitlyn Lee)
July 9, 2026

By Thaddeus Sawyer

 

For the first time since 2017, the Upper Valley Nighthawks (13-13-1) went undefeated against the Keene SwampBats (15-11-1) in the month of June.

Going 2-0-1 last month against the ‘Bats, the Nighthawks are off to their best start against Keene since the 2023 season, in which they were 3-1 by the end of June and ended up winning the season series, 4-3. 

The 2026 squad can clinch the season series on Thursday night when the Nighthawks travel to Alumni Field for the second time this season.

The Nighthawks are currently riding a two-game winning streak after surviving a three-game swoon coming into the week, winning a pair of away games against the Sanford Mainers (16-11) on Tuesday and Vermont Mountaineers (11-17) on Wednesday. A victory on Thursday would mark a successful finale to the three-game road trip.

Catcher Nick Quagliato has been the Nighthawks’ driving force offensively across the first two games of that stretch. The energetic backstop has been responsible for driving six of the Nighthawks’ 19 runs over the last two games.

Left fielder Kyle Langley and infielder Tim Dickinson each picked RBIs in both contests as well.

Pitching to Quagliato on Thursday will be Anthony Bubba (1-0, 3.38 ERA), who has been one of the Nighthawks most consistent pitchers this summer. The right-hander gave the Nighthawks four innings his last time out in Mystic last Thursday, allowing two earned runs while punching out a pair of Schooners.

Reigning NECBL Pitcher of the Week Brody Krzysiak (2-0, 1.47 ERA) will get the ball for Keene. Krzysiak, who has won the weekly award twice this summer, hasn’t allowed an earned run in his last eight innings pitched and has struck out over a batter per inning.

While the SwampBats have dropped three straight, including both games of a double header against the Mountaineers on Tuesday, they possess one of the most powerful offenses in the league, evidenced by their 26 home runs on the season (2nd in the NECBL) and a .369 slugging percentage (3rd).

Infielder Jackson Smith leads the way with a 1.120 OPS and four home runs, while Nico Senese and Collin Anderson have each doubled four times.

First pitch in Keene, New Hampshire is scheduled for 6: 30 p.m. Fans can stream the game live on ESPN+.