Published: 10/5/2021 8:47:28 PM
Modified: 10/5/2021 8:47:30 PM
WHITE RIVER JUNCTION — Justin Devoid and Chad Sturgeon are returning as Upper Valley Nighthawks coaches in 2022.
Devoid served as manager and Sturgeon as pitching coach during this summer’s New England Collegiate Baseball League season. They led the Nighthawks to a 23-18 regular-season record, as well as an appearance in the NECBL North Division Finals for the first time in team history.
The Nighthawks’ season ended in bizarre fashion with much of the roster already departed and pitchers playing multiple positions in the field during that division final against the North Shore Navigators.
Devoid is currently an assistant coach at St. Lawrence University in New York. Sturgeon is an assistant coach and pitching coach at Kimball Union Academy.
Devoid, a Hartford High alum, said Sturgeon’s return was a big part of his decision to come back. He said discussions started between the pair and team president Noah Crane shortly after the season ended.
“It took a couple months,” Devoid said. “(I) sat on it and talked to Chad, so it took a couple months to make a decision. I’m just really glad that Noah was all for having us back, and I’m very thankful.”
Devoid said that although the season didn’t end the way they wanted it to, he feels he and Sturgeon created a solid foundation to build upon in 2022.
“The way that we built relationships with the players and gain their trust, we had a pretty good relationship with them. I think that’s what really helped us last year have such a good team,” Devoid said. “So (we want to) send that message again out to the team for this summer that coach Chad and myself are there for them, and we want this summer season to make them better for their teams in the spring of the following year and the fall.”
General manager Matt Wright said the team is also in the process of hiring a hitting coach for next season. He said it’s in the early stages with the team sorting through resumes. The Nighthawks did not have a hitting coach in 2021.
Seth Tow can be reached at stow@vnews.com.