Kevin Hall, senior at University of Alabama Birmingham hitting batting practice. 
Jackson Roper, Wake Forest University Freshman getting some extra reps at short stop after practice. 
Island born and raised, sophomore at College of Holy Cross, Bryan Sornas hitting batting practice as a Martha’s Vineyard Shark. 
Martha’s Vineyard Sharks warming up at the first practice of the season. 
Jackson Roper, Wake Forest University Freshman getting some extra reps at short stop after practice. 
Martha’s Vineyard Shark catcher, Austin Pierzynski, sophomore at University of Alabama Birmingham. 
Sharks players warming up at the Shark Tank. 
Madux Lovinelli University of Miami freshman, connects during batting practice. 
Martha’s Vineyard Sharks jumping for a line drive. 
Jackson Roper, Wake Forest University Freshman getting some extra reps at short stop after practice. 
Griffin Crain, junior at University of Louisville hitting batting practice. 
The Martha’s Vineyard Sharks take the field at the Shark Tank for the first practice of the season. 
Pitcher James Beasley, Sophomore at Princeton University, throwing bullpen at the first MV Sharks practice of the season. 
Martha’s Vineyard Shark, Jackson Taylor, sophomore at Clemson University, catching flies at second base. 
Martha’s Vineyard Sharks pitchers throwing bullpen at the first practice of the summer. 
MV Sharks cleaning the Shark Tank after practice. 
Will Shaheen, sophomore at Duke University, fielding grounders at third base after practice.
The unmistakable crack of the sweet spot on a wooden bat filled the afternoon air on Tuesday at the Shark Tank as the Martha’s Vineyard Sharks held their first practice of the 2026 New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL) season.
Eager to build on a strong championship run last summer, where the Sharks lost to the Keene SwampBats in the NECBL championship 16–7, the team is back with a fresh roster full of talented newcomers, including one proud Chilmark local.
A brief team meeting and thorough warm-up in the outfield, including elastic resistance-band movement, dynamic stretching, and a light toss to loosen up the arms, kicked off the Sharks’ first gathering at the diamond. The squad then split into two groups, some taking swings off a pitching machine while others threw in bullpen sessions. Players wasted no time showing off their pop during batting practice, launching bombs into the outfield and beyond.
As is typical for NECBL summer ball, rosters are made up of players from top Division 1 baseball programs across the country, and every year, the mix of new faces seamlessly grows into a tight knit squad. At least that’s the goal, said Head Coach Payton Fuller after practice on Tuesday.
“It’s difficult,” said Fuller. “We’ve got 40 guys from 40 different schools, 40 different places, but they’re all here for the same reason — they want to get better, and they want to play … It helps them when they go back to school, and hopefully, one day move onto professional baseball.”
This year’s roster includes some returning players, including rising junior left fielder from Northeastern University Carter Bentley, left-handed rising junior pitcher from Oberlin College Warner Gearhart, and rising junior center fielder Will Hampton from Vanderbilt University.
For the players, summer ball can be the best part of the year.
“It’s a different format,” said Fuller. “You’re not in the classroom all week long. It’s pretty much just baseball, and the guys love that. This is a great spot to be. There’s a lot of stuff to do, and it’s just a great opportunity for all these guys.”
One new player that locals and Sharks fans should keep an eye out for this season is Martha’s Vineyard native Bryan Sornas of Chilmark. Sornas is a rising sophomore infielder at Holy Cross University, and said coming home and playing for the Sharks was a lifelong dream.
“Ever since I committed to play college, it’s kind of been in the works,” said Sornas after practice on Tuesday. “They gave me the opportunity to play here, and now that I’m finally here, it’s gonna be a great summer.”
Sornas recalled being 11 years old, watching the Sharks back when they were part of the Futures Collegiate Baseball League (FCBL) from 2010 to 2018. “I watched the organization grow,” said Sornas.
Sornas, who played youth on the Island, credited local coaches and mentors like Gary Simmons, a former MVRHS baseball coach who was instrumental in constructing what is known to locals as the Vineyard Baseball Park in 2008.
“All those guys, including Russ [Curran] here too, gave me the perfect opportunity and a pathway to follow to get to where I am today,” Sornas said.
He added that this summer ball season, he hopes to win the championship and keep improving every day. “I’m really excited. We’ve got a good group of guys here so far, so it should be a great year,” he said.
James Beasley, a rising sophomore pitcher from Princeton University, threw a bullpen session on the first day of practice and said the Sharks were his first choice for summer ball, and he’s excited to play on the Island.
“Martha’s Vineyard was my top choice,” Beasley said. “It was the team I reached out to first, and I was hoping to get here and play.”
Beasley’s goal for the season is to win a championship, but also to throw strikes and get outs.
“Hopefully we win the league,” said Beasley. “It seems like that’s pretty much the standard around here.
“I’m looking forward to the vibes, the people, the fans coming to the game, of course, and enjoying the beach and enjoying the community,” Beasley added.
Austin Pierzynski, a rising sophomore catcher from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, who is making his first trip to the Island, said he’s also happy to be assigned to the Martha’s Vineyard Sharks for the summer. Pierzynski said he is looking forward to spending the summer playing ball on the Island, experiencing the bustle of July, getting to know his teammates, and winning games.
“I heard it gets pretty crazy here,” said Pierzynski. “So that’ll be pretty fun, and just meeting new guys on the team, playing with everybody, trying to win.”
Griffon Crain, a rising junior center fielder at University of Louisville, was assigned to the Martha’s Vineyard Sharks after his coach connected with Sharks General Manager Russ Curran. It’s his first time on the Island, and he said he looks forward to the Island atmosphere.
“I’ve heard the crowds are insane,” said Crain. “Summer ball is more of a fun environment, so I’m fired up to play in front of some people and have some fun games.”
Crain said he looks forward to exploring the Island’s beaches and playing some golf, but the main goal mirrors the rest of the team’s: winning a championship.
As they enter the season, the Sharks play the Yankees’ scout team on Thursday at 5:15 pm at home. The Sharks’ first official home game of the season is on Friday at the Shark Tank at 6:35 pm against a league rival, the Mystic Schooners, who the Sharks beat in the semifinals of playoffs last season. They also play the Newport Gulls on Saturday at 7:05 pm, also at home.
“It’s a cool little deal,” Fuller said about the game against the Yankees’ scout team. “Before we actually play our first game, we see these guys out here, get them comfortable. I think a couple of our players from last year are playing on that team now, so it’ll be good to see them, too. But opening night, Friday night, I’m looking forward to it.”
Curran thanked the Island towns who’ve supported the major renovation project to address safety concerns and playing conditions at Vineyard Baseball Park, which opened in 2008, at town meetings this spring.
The project has so far raised $350,000 of its $500,000 goal, with renovations expected to begin in October. Donation links are set up around the stadium for fans who wish to help close the remaining funding gap.