One of of stated goals for the Friends is the return of the High School State Championships to Centennial Field. As a high school Junior I played in the Class L (now Division 1) State Championship for Windsor High against Spaulding High of Barre. Although we lost 3-2 playing on Centennial Field  was one of my biggest high school thrills. I will add we won the next year playing at Norwich University, and although winning is always satisfying, it did not have the ambience that is created at Centennial.

On June 8th and 9th of 2012 the Friends along with the Vermont Lake Monsters, in conjunction with the Vermont Principals Association, hosted the High School State Championships at Centennial. It was truly a celebration of baseball to witness the return to Centennial. The Lake Monsters and the VPA were thrilled with the 2 day event and plan to host it again this year.

-Jim Carter

Last Thursday John Packard and Jim Carter, members of the Friends of UVM Baseball, met with UVM President Tom Sullivan to discuss direction that the Friends should take in bringing baseball back to UVM. After a hour of discussion, with President Sullivan being a very good listener, said, "we will continue to discuss the issue". One of our members will continue to meet with the Administration to see what is the next step to BRING IT BACK.

The journey for the UVM Club Baseball Team started on February 20, 2009. That is the date the UVM Athletic Administration announced the elimination of Division 1 Intercollegiate Baseball on the campus. The UVM team finished out the season that spring semester. During the fall semester of 2009 began the process of forming a Club Team. We sent out inquiries and information regarding the interest in forming a team. Many informational meetings were held and the Student Government Association gave us an unanimous 39-0 vote of approval to establish a team.

In the spring of 2010 tryouts were held and the team selected. Over 50 players tried out for the team. During the spring we played various high school and summer league teams of former college players. In the fall semester under the direction of Don Picard and Jim Carter the team joined the New England College Baseball League (NECBL). This is a college affiliated league of 18 teams throughout New England. Tryouts were held and our team of 20 was selected. Pat O'Donnell, from Barre was elected our first President and Dan Maldonado, from South Burlington was elected our Treasurer. Our team was very successful in winning the league championship and then the NECBL Tournament Championship. In the semi-finals we defeated the UMaine team and in the championship beat Boston University.

One of the highlights of the fall semester was an Alumni/Club celebration at Centennial Field when over 25 alumni returned with players from every decade going back through the 1950's. During the spring semester a team was selected. Do to an in-climate spring games were limited. There was an Alumni game played at Dorset Park in South Burlington.

The fall semester saw another competitive team selected with over 40 players trying out for the squad with Coaches Dan Maldonado, John Luter, Ken Freeman and Jim Carter selecting and directing the team. Miles Ellis, from South Royalton was elected President and Dylan McLean from South Burlington our Treasurer. We were again successful on the field and were selected to play in the NECBL tournament. In our first tournament game we defeated the University of New Hampshire. Our season ended with a semi-final defeat by the the eventual champion, Boston University. Our off the field highlight during the season was our team making the "Gift of Life" donation in giving blood at the local Red Cross Center. Over half our team made the donation, with 4 team members giving for the first time. We have over the past 3 seasons represented the University, the SGA and ourselves with great honor and class. We will continue this ongoing tradition with a spring team and our entry into the NECBL in the fall.

Jim Carter, Faculty Advisor and Coach