NASHUA, N.H. – Nichols College graduate student Kyle Bouchard was named MVP of the Futures College Baseball League (FCBL) Championship on Saturday night following the Nashua Silver Knights 5-3 win over the Worcester Bravehearts in the best-of-three series at Holman Stadium.

The Fall River, Massachusetts native finished the series 5-for-11 with a double, a home run, five RBI, and three runs scored. He led off the eighth inning of Saturday's tilt with a stand-up double and later scored to stretch the Silver Knights lead to 4-1. Bouchard added a sac fly in the ninth to bring in home the fifth Nashua run.

"The experience in Nashua was unforgettable," said Bouchard, who was picked up by the Silver Knights late in the season thanks to some help from former Nichols teammate Cam Cook. "Going out there and playing with a bunch of guys from different colleges and universities was a blessing. After we lost game one, we knew if we won game two, it was ours for the taking."

With their backs to the wall entering game two, the Silver Knights jumped all over Bravehearts starter Angelo Baez in the first inning, scoring five times to take a commanding early lead. Bouchard sparked the rally with a two-run single up the middle.

"We got to Worcester's starter – who was one of the top pitchers in the league – in the first inning," Bouchard continued. "Once we went up 5-0, we knew we couldn't stop. When the third game started and Dylan Jones (Franklin Pierce) hit a two-out, three-run home run in the first, it left Worcester deflated for a few innings. It turned into an absolute dogfight till the end."

Bouchard's classmate, Jack Dicenso, was part of a Silver Knights pen which held Worcester to one run while striking out seven over the final 4.1 innings of the championship game. The Norfolk, Mass. native – who also hurled a scoreless seventh inning to help preserve game two's victory – finished the season with 35 K's in 32.1 innings of work.

Seniors Robert Cobb and Nathaniel Cormier were also members of the Silver Knights championship team. Cobb appeared in 11 games, fanning six over 12.0 innings of work, while Cormier batted .308 (8-for-26) with four RBI and three stolen bases. Meanwhile, graduate student Jack Arend – a transfer form Bates who will join head coach Tim Mayo's squad this year – batted .200 with four doubles, one home run and seven RBI in 50 plate appearances this summer.

"Having five players playing under a Nichols Baseball alumni (Cam Cook) and winning the FCBL Championship was something special on many different levels," said Mayo, who begins his third season at Nichols in 2021. "Cobb and Decenso got to pitch against some of the best hitters in college baseball and gain some serious confidence in their abilities. Arend was able to play with and get to know four of his new teammates. 'Corm' was able to take advantage of much needed at-bats and reps in the field, especially after the loss of most of the 2020 season. 'Bouch' was given the opportunity to prove that he belongs in the conversation as one of the best players in the region, go off in the playoffs, and win the MVP. Championship culture is what we have been developing here over the past two seasons. The five guys who got the opportunity to live that this summer will be able to bring some of that culture back to the rest of the group. I am very thankful for the opportunity Cam gave our guys. It was also very good to see about 10 alumni make the trip up to support the guys in the final few games. This summer was 100 percent a piece of the puzzle for the continued growth of this program."

The Silver Knights became the first team in FCBL history to win the championship after dropping the opener. Said Bouchard, "Winning the championship was one of the best baseball experiences I've ever had, especially because I was able to do it alongside four of my Nichols teammates. Hopefully we can carry it into the spring. I can't thank Cam Cook enough for the opportunity!"

The entire organization – players, coaches, and staff – will receive championship rings in a ceremony in Nashua at a later date.