NECBL’s Top Hitter: Jackson Coutts

More than halfway through the New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL) season, former Orono High School standout Jackson Coutts is leading the league in hitting with a robust .415 batting average.

Coutts is playing for the North Adams Steeplecats (Massachusetts) in the 13-team summer league for college players. Players use wooden bats in the NECBL much like other leagues like the Cape Cod League.

The Sanford Mainers, who play at Goodall Park in Sanford, is one of the teams in the NECBL.

Coutts is hitting .415 in 24 games. He has three HRs, six doubles and 21 RBI. His Steeplecats team is currently tied for 5th place in the North Division of the NECBL with an 11-17 record. He plays the infield for North Adams.

After leading Orono to a Class C state championship and winning the John Winkin Mr. Baseball Award two years ago, Coutts was named to the Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team after a stellar freshman year at the University of Rhode Island last year. He led the Rams in hitting with a .310 average.

NOTE: Coutts and his North Adams Steeplecats team is 3-2 vs Sanford with a final regular season matchup scheduled for this Sunday. The NECBL season runs through the first week of August. The league's All Star Game is July 29th.