NEWPORT — North Country’s Ben West delivered a clutch run-scoring single in the middle of a four-run rally that turned Game 1, helping Vermont erase a five-run deficit on the way to a doubleheader sweep of New Hampshire in the 2026 Twin State Baseball Classic on Saturday evening at the Maxfield Complex.
Vermont rallied from an 8-3 hole to take the opener 13-8, then led from start to finish in a 7-1 win in the nightcap.
West’s contribution came at the game’s pivotal moment. After New Hampshire sent 10 men to the plate and scored seven runs in the top of the fourth to seize an 8-3 lead, Vermont answered with four in the bottom half to knot the score. West’s RBI single was part of the surge, joining doubles by Riley McDade (Champlain Valley) and Vinny Wagoner (Colchester), an RBI single from Jackson Pecor (Colchester) and a sacrifice fly by Sam Bent (Essex).
“It was a huge honor to be selected to play in the games and a great way to finish my high school career,” West said. “I had a lot of fun competing with and against some of the best players from both states, including a few guys I’ll be playing with in college. It was an awesome experience and one I’ll definitely remember forever. I’m also grateful for the support I’ve had from my family and coaches throughout the years leading to these moments.”
From there, Vermont never trailed again. Winning pitcher Xander Oshoniyi of Thetford retired New Hampshire in order in the fifth, and Vermont reclaimed the lead with three runs in the bottom of the inning on a long double by Garret Carter (Mount Mansfield) and another RBI from Bent. Vermont tacked on three more in the sixth, taking advantage of five walks and run-scoring plays from Oshoniyi, Carter and Jackson Howe (Otter Valley).
Oshoniyi, who also worked a 1-2-3 sixth, earned the victory and was named Vermont’s Most Valuable Player. Howe closed it out with a scoreless seventh and three strikeouts. Belmont’s Wyatt Divers took MVP honors for New Hampshire after a 2-for-3, two-RBI showing in the opener. Both MVPs came from the two states’ Division 3 champions.
Vermont out-hit New Hampshire 11-9 in the opener, with Carter, Wagoner and Pecor each collecting two hits.
The Green Mountain State carried its bats into Game 2, batting around for three runs in the first inning. Oshoniyi opened the scoring with an RBI single and Colby Hill (Mount Anthony) added a run-scoring double. Carter, who finished the doubleheader with two extra-base hits, laced a two-run double in the rally.
Hill picked up the win on the mound, striking out three over the first two innings. Howe followed with two scoreless frames and Bent finished with two strikeouts over the sixth and seventh. New Hampshire managed just three hits and a lone run, an RBI single by Casey Peters (Derryfield) in the fifth.
The sweep was Vermont’s second straight and third overall. The state now leads the series 14-5 across the 10 classics played since the event resumed in its current format in 2015.
