MANCHESTER — The Belmont Varsity Baseball Team is the Division III champion, following a title match against the Derryfield Cougars, at NH Fisher Cats Stadium, on June 13.
It wasn’t until the third inning when the action started. With a final score of 10-2, each Red Raider who played on the field scored a run, with one athlete scoring two. Heading into the game as the No. 3 seed, the players were hopeful — it was their second time in three years heading to the Queen City to compete for a trophy.
“We played really good defense. We closed ‘em out,” said Matt LeBlanc, head coach, in a phone interview last week. “In the third inning, we got seven runs. We opened it up and we put it away all at the same time.”
The team was celebrated by the Belmont community both before and after the game. During a batting practice held at home before the bus left, supporters came to cheer on the players and “send them off” in a rousing fashion. Afterward, the Belmont Fire and Police departments met up with the bus and escorted them to the high school, lights and sirens blaring. At the school, throngs of supporters came out to promote the win.
The team values family, as LeBlanc’s children are often seen in the dugout, helping with social media, or helping manage the team. Additionally, the team honored the late former Head Coach Paul Sottak by posing with one of his original jerseys — from 1998 — marking a special moment just in his memory. Belmont hasn’t won a championship since then, despite coming close.
The 2026 team roster includes 12 graders Wyatt Divers, pitcher; Brady Fysh, right field; Eddie Rochenski, center field; and Brayden Townsend, catcher; 11th graders Jack Crockford, third base; Tyler Kelly, designated hitter; Max Ryder, short stop; and Jasper Sottak, outfield; 10th graders Brennen Geoffrey, outfield; Tyler Mull, outfield; and Alex Rowley, second base; and ninth graders Sam Binder, left field; Cam Glennon, outfield; and Brayden Lemay, infield; and Head Coach Matt LeBlanc; Assistant Coaches Jim LaClair, Griffin Embree and Cole Contigiani; and Managers Craig Townsend and Gracey LeBlanc.
― Katlyn Proctor
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