KEENE, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) In one of the most dramatic finishes in franchise history, Ripken Reese blasted a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the ninth inning Thursday night, capping off an improbable eight-run rally to lift the Keene SwampBats over the Martha’s Vineyard Sharks, 13-12, in Game 1 of the NECBL Championship Series at Alumni Field.

Trailing 12-5 entering the final frame, Keene staged a furious comeback, sending a packed house of purple-clad fans into a frenzy. Reese’s shot over the left field fence with two outs sealed the win and kept the SwampBats undefeated in the postseason.

The win gives Keene a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series. The team, now 5-0 in the playoffs, will head to Martha’s Vineyard for Game 2, where a win would clinch their second NECBL title since 2019.

The victory came just a day after SwampBats President Kevin Watterson and Head Coach Sean McKenna joined WKBK Radio’s Dan Mitchell to preview the series. On the air, they praised the team’s season-long dominance, highlighted by a 12-game win streak and a 16-1 run to close out the regular season. McKenna credited the team’s consistent pitching and health-conscious approach with maintaining their edge through August.