North Shore Navigators

American collegiate summer baseball team

This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (August 2009) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

|

North Shore Navigators

|  |

|

Team logo | Cap insignia
Information
League| NECBL (Northern Division)
Location| Lynn, Massachusetts
Holyoke, Massachusetts (2004-2007)
Middletown, Connecticut (1994-2003)
Ballpark| Fraser Field
Founded| 1994
Nickname(s)| Navs
League championships|

* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2010

Division championships|

* 2007

Former name(s)| Holyoke Giants (2004-2007)
Middletown Giants (1994-2003)
Former league(s)| FCBL (2012-2020)
NECBL (1994-2011)
Former ballparks| Mackenzie Stadium (2004-2007)
Palmer Field (1994-2003)
Colors| Navy, Burnt Orange
Mascot| Chomps the 'Gator
Ownership| Old School Sports Group
Management| Jeff January (EVP)
Don January (EVP)
Maggie Barden (VP/Operations)
Manager| Bob Macaluso
General Manager| Derek January
Website| www.nsnavs.com

The North Shore Navigators are a wooden-bat, collegiate summer baseball team based in Lynn, Massachusetts, playing in the New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL). The team plays home games at Fraser Field in Lynn. The team is owned by Old School Sports Group, LLC.

The Navigators are the successor to the Giants of the New England Collegiate Baseball League, a charter team in Middletown, Connecticut that moved to Holyoke, Massachusetts. The franchise relocated to Lynn for the 2008 season. They switched to the Futures Collegiate Baseball League (FCBL) for the 2012 season and returned to the NECBL for the 2021 season.

## Team history

[edit]

### NECBL charter franchise

[edit]

The Navigators began as the Middletown Giants, one of five charter franchises of the NECBL, playing at Palmer Field in Middletown, Connecticut. They finished the NECBL's inaugural 1994 regular season with the second-best record in the league, though the team did not qualify for the championship series. After a last-place showing in 1995, the Giants qualified for postseason play in 1996, but lost to the now-defunct Central Mass. Collegians.

In 1997, the Giants tied for third place with a 19-21 record, qualifying the team for postseason play for the second straight year. After sweeping the Rhode Island Reds in a best-of-three series, the Giants went on to defeat the Torrington Twisters for the Championship. Middletown's game-one victory (8-7 in 13 innings) was one of the longest playoff games in NECBL history. After being shut-out 4-0 at home, the Giants defeated Torrington 8-5 in a decisive Game 3.

1998 again saw the Giants finish in third place. After sweeping the Danbury Westerners in the postseason, Middletown defeated Torrington three games to one in a best-of-five rematch of the 1997 series, marking the franchise's second straight league championship.

The Middletown Giants.

In 1999, the Giants finished at 27-15, a half a game behind the first place Keene Swampbats. They defeated the Rhode Island Reds two games to one, and defeated the Danbury Westerners three games to one for their third consecutive championship, the first and only time an NECBL team has won the championship three consecutive seasons.

### Post-championship years

[edit]

In 2000, the Giants finished the regular season in fourth place at 22-30 and lost the semi-finals to Keene. In 2001, the Giants again finished in fourth place at 16-24 in the new American Division as the NECBL expanded to 10 teams. The Giants averaged of only 107 fans per game in 2001.

In 2002, the NECBL moved the Giants to the Southern Division, in a short-lived three division alignment. The Giants were runner-up to the Newport Gulls. The team lost two straight games to Danbury in the first round of the playoffs.

In 2003, the Giants averaged only half as many fans at home games as at away games. In the playoffs, they were swept by the Torrington Twisters in the first round. Both these games were at Torrington, so the final Giants game at Palmer Field took place on July 21, 2003, where the Giants lost, 4-2, to the Newport Gulls, in front of 326 fans.

Middletown Giants players who went on to Major League Baseball include Rajai Davis, Chad Paronto, Mike Smith, Doug Clark, and Earl Snyder.[1]

### The Move to Holyoke

[edit]

The Giants left Connecticut for Holyoke, MA in 2004, where they played their games at MacKenzie Stadium. The team saw success there in terms of attendance, averaging 548 fans a game, with a season total of 11,514.[2] With a 17-25 record, though, the Giants failed to make the playoffs.

The Holyoke Giants, 2004 - 2007.

In 2005, the team fared better in the standings, at 23-19, and while attendance dropped off somewhat, the team saw its first playoff berth in Holyoke. 1,100 fans came out for Game 1 of the first round against the Vermont Mountaineers, though the Giants fell, 9-0, and went on to lost Game 2 in Vermont. Despite a losing season in 2006, the Giants again saw a playoff berth, though they were once again swept by the Mountaineers in the first round.

2007 saw one of the most successful seasons for the Giants in nearly a decade, as they finished at 26-16, amidst a battle for first place in the NECBL North. The first round of the playoffs had Holyoke paired up with the Lowell All-Americans, and in the longest three game series in NECBL history, the Giants came out on top. After winning Game 1 in 11 innings on a walk-off walk, the Lowell All-Americans won Game 2 on a walk-off single, in the bottom of the 15th inning. The series returned to Holyoke for Game 3, where, in 10 innings, a walk-off sacrifice fly sent the Giants to the Northern Division Championship Series.

Having finished the regular season in first place, the Giants had home field advantage for Game 1 against the Vermont Mountaineers, though lost 7-3. Game 2 seemed like it would be yet another extra inning contest for the Giants, but a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 9th by Vermont ended Holyoke's season.

### North Shore Navigators

[edit]

By December 2007, word had spread that the Giants would move to Lynn and play at Fraser Field under the name North Shore Navigators. Owner Phil Rosenfield announced the move in The Republican.[3] Fraser Field had been home to the North Shore Spirit of the Canadian-American Association of Professional Baseball, which ceased operation at the end of 2007 after five years. Rosenfield expressed regrets for leaving Holyoke and praised his staff. However, the Concord Quarry Dogs immediately took the Giants' place in Holyoke as the Holyoke Blue Sox (now known as the Valley Blue Sox).

The move to Lynn was the first move by the NECBL into Greater Boston area, having previously come no closer than Lowell. It also marked the abandonment of the original name of the last of the five charter NECBL teams.

The Navigators finished their first season in Lynn in second place in the NECBL Northern Division, at 26-16, two games behind eventual 2008 champion Sanford Mainers. The Navigators' 2.52 team ERA and .973 team fielding percentage were the best in the league. In the postseason, the Navigators were upset by the Keene Swampbats, who swept North Shore 11-7 in Lynn, then 1-0 in Keene. Home games were televised in several communities by LYNNCAM TV.

In 2009, the Navigators finished third in the East Division at 20-21. In a first-round matchup with the second-seeded Sanford Mainers, the Navigators split the first two games. In the decisive third game, the Navigators lost, 5-3.

In 2010, the Navigators finished second in the East Division at 25-17. They beat the Sanford Mainers, two games to one, to advance the East Finals against defending champion Newport Gulls. They dropped the first game in Newport, but they came back with a home victory to force a deciding third game, which North Shore pulled out on the road. The Navigators moved on to face the Danbury Westerners in the Championship Series. Both teams won a game at their home fields to set up a winner-take-all third game at Fraser Field in Lynn. The Navigators won a back-and-forth contest 5-4 to secure the team's 4th NECBL crown, the first as the Navigators.

### League switches

[edit]

Before the 2012 season, Tim Haley sold the Navigators to Pat Salvi's Salvi Sports New England, LLC, and the Navigators switched from the NECBL to the Futures Collegiate Baseball League, as part of the FCBL's expansion from 4 to 9 teams.

The team was sold to the January family of Swampscott before the 2020 season, which was mostly played without fans or income because of the city and state's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.[4] The Navigators returned to the NECBL for the 2021 season.[4][5]

## Postseason appearances

[edit]

### NECBL

[edit]

Year  | Division Semi-Finals*  | Division Finals*  | NECBL Championship Series

|
|
|

Middletown Giants
1996 |  |  | Central Mass Collegians | L (1-2)  |  |
1997 |  |  | Rhode Island Reds | W (2-0)  | Torrington Twisters | W (2-1)
1998 |  |  | Danbury Westerners | W (2-0)  | Torrington Twisters | W (3-1)
1999 |  |  | Rhode Island Reds | W (2-1)  | Danbury Westerners | W (3-1)
2000 |  |  | Keene Swamp Bats | L (1-2)  |  |
2002 | Danbury Westerners | L (0-2)  |  |  |  |
2003 | Torrington Twisters | L (0-2)  |  |  |  |
Holyoke Giants
2005 | Vermont Mountaineers | L (0-2)  |  |  |  |
2006 | Vermont Mountaineers | L (0-2)  |  |  |  |
2007 | Lowell All-Americans | W (2-1)  | Vermont Mountaineers | L (0-2)  |  |
North Shore Navigators
2008 | Keene Swamp Bats | L (0-2)  |  |  |  |
2009 | Sanford Mainers | L (1-2)  |  |  |  |
2010 | Sanford Mainers | W (2-1)  | Newport Gulls | W (2-1)  | Danbury Westerners | W (2-1)
2021**  | Keene Swamp Bats | W (2-1)  | Upper Valley Nighthawks | W (2-0)  | Danbury Westerners | L (0-2)

* From 1995 - 2000, the top four NECBL teams played each other in a league semi-final.
** In 2021, every team entered the playoffs; those in 3rd through 7th place played a one-game "play-in", which North Shore won at Montpelier. A rain-shortened Game 2 against a decimated Upper Valley team was eventually ruled final and the Navigators were declared Division Champions.

### FCBL

[edit]

Year  | Play-In Round*  | Semi-Final Round  | FCBL Championship

|
|
|

North Shore Navigators
2012  |  |  | Torrington Titans | W (2-1)  | Nashua Silver Knights | L (0-2)
2013  | Brockton Rox | L (0-1)
2015 | Nashua Silver Knights | L (0-1)
2016 | Brockton Rox | W (1-0)  | Worcester Bravehearts | L (0-2)
2019 | Nashua Silver Knights | W (1-0)  | Bristol Blues | L (1-2)

* Added in the 2013 season.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Alumni page at NECBL.com
2. ^ NECBL 2004 statistics
3. ^ DeForge, Jeanette (November 14, 2007). "Holyoke Giants leaving". Springfield Republican. Springfield, Mass.: MassLive. Archived from the original on May 20, 2011. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
4. ^ a b Shuman, Cary (September 16, 2020). "All Aboard: January Says Navigators Will Return for 2021 Season". Lynn Journal. The Independent Newspaper Group. Retrieved August 3, 2021.
5. ^ "North Shore Navigators Rejoining NECBL". North Shore Navigators (Press release). April 13, 2021. Retrieved April 15, 2021.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website of the North Shore Navigators
* Official Blog of the North Shore Navigators

* v
* t
* e

Futures Collegiate Baseball League teams

* Brockton Rox
* Nashua Silver Knights
* New Britain Bees
* Norwich Sea Unicorns
* Pittsfield Suns
* Vermont Lake Monsters
* Westfield Starfires
* Worcester Bravehearts

* v
* t
* e

Sports teams based in Massachusetts

Australian football|

USAFL
Boston Demons

Baseball|

MLB
Boston Red Sox

Worcester Red Sox

New England Knockouts
CCBL
Bourne Braves
Brewster Whitecaps
Chatham Anglers
Cotuit Kettleers
Falmouth Commodores
Harwich Mariners
Hyannis Harbor Hawks
Orleans Firebirds
Wareham Gatemen
Yarmouth–Dennis Red Sox
FCBL
Brockton Rox
Pittsfield Suns
Westfield Starfires
Worcester Bravehearts
NECBL
Martha's Vineyard Sharks
North Adams SteepleCats
North Shore Navigators
Valley Blue Sox

Basketball|

NBA
Boston Celtics

Esports|

CDL
Boston Breach
OWL
Boston Uprising

Football|

NFL
New England Patriots
IFL
Massachusetts Pirates
WFA
Boston Renegades

Hockey|

NHL
Boston Bruins
AHL
Springfield Thunderbirds
ECHL
Worcester Railers
NAHL
Northeast Generals
PWHL
Boston Fleet

Lacrosse|

WPLL
New England Command
UWLX
Boston Storm
PLL
Boston Cannons

Roller derby|

WFTDA
Bay State Brawlers Roller Derby
Boston Roller Derby
MRDA
Pioneer Valley Roller Derby

Rugby league|

NARL
Boston Bears

Rugby union|

MLR
New England Free Jacks
NERFU
Boston RFC
Boston Ironsides RFC
Boston Irish Wolfhounds
Boston Maccabi Rugby
Charles River Rats
Mystic River
Old Gold Rugby
South Shore Anchors
Worcester RFC

Soccer|

MLS
New England Revolution
NWSL
BOS Nation FC (2026)
MLSNP
New England Revolution II
USL2
Black Rock FC
Boston Bolts
Boston City FC
Western Mass Pioneers
NPSL
Valeo FC
UWS
New England Mutiny

Ultimate|

AUDL
Boston Glory

College athletics|

| NCAA
Division I|

American International Yellow Jackets
Bentley Falcons
Boston College Eagles
Boston University Terriers
Harvard Crimson
Holy Cross Crusaders
Merrimack Warriors
Northeastern Huskies
Stonehill Skyhawks
UMass Minutemen and Minutewomen
UMass Lowell River Hawks

|

NCAA
Division II|

American International Yellow Jackets
Assumption Greyhounds
Bentley Falcons

NCAA
Division III|

Amherst Mammoths
Anna Maria Amcats
Babson Beavers
Brandeis Judges
Bridgewater State Bears
Clark Cougars
Curry Colonels
Dean Bulldogs
Eastern Nazarene Lions
Elms Blazers
Emerson Lions
Emmanuel Saints
Endicott Gulls
Fitchburg State Falcons
Framingham State Rams
Gordon Fighting Scots
Lasell Lasers
Lesley Lynx
Mount Holyoke Lyons
MCLA Trailblazers
Massachusetts Maritime Buccaneers
MIT Engineers
Nichols Bison
Regis Pride
Salem State Vikings
Simmons Sharks
Smith Pioneers
Springfield Pride
Suffolk Rams
Tufts Jumbos
UMass Boston Beacons
UMass Dartmouth Corsairs
Wellesley Blue
Wentworth Leopards
Western New England Golden Bears
Westfield State Owls
Wheaton Lyons
Williams Ephs
WPI Engineers
Worcester State Lancers

NAIA

Fisher Falcons

USCAA

Bay Path Wildcats
Hampshire Black Sheep

NJCAA Division II

Massasoit Warriors

NJCAA Division III

Benjamin Franklin Shockers
Bristol Bayhawks
Bunker Hill Bulldogs
Holyoke Cougars
Massachusetts Bay Buccaneers
Northern Essex Knights
Quinsigamond Chiefs
Roxbury Tigers
Springfield Technical Rams
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template