Troy Trojan Joey Denison has taken the New England Collegiate Baseball League by storm this summer, and he could be in the running for the league’s 2016 Most Valuable Player award.

After finishing his first year at Troy with a .322 batting average with seven homeruns and 37 RBIs, Denison set out to improve this summer against some of the nation’s top collegiate players. He is playing with the Upper Valley Nighthawks.

“I am having a great time,” Denison said. “I am on a great team with awesome coaches. This has been a great summer. Everything has been in place for me to have a great summer.”

As of Thursday afternoon, Denison sits in the top five in hitting with a .361 batting average and in RBIs with 32, and he leads the league in hits with 57.

“I have just been myself,” Denison said. “I have been having fun whenever I play. I have been relaxed and staying within my approach at the plate.”

From local newspapers to fans, Denison is becoming a household name in the NECBL. According to the outfielder it’s because of the great support he and his teammates have within the community.

“It just speaks to the amount of support we have in this area,” Denison said. “This is the first year this team has ever been in play. We already have so much support. We have a lot of people come to the games, and it’s just an awesome.”

His team has just five games remaining until the end of the regular season and they still have plenty to play for.

“We are one game out of the playoffs right now. Hopefully I can keep doing what I have been doing. Hopefully I can keep helping the team win by driving in runs and getting on base,” he said.

Whether Denison is named MVP or not, the experience of playing against some of the best talent in the nation is beneficial.

“It shows me that I can play with them,” Denison said. “It shows me that my skills are good enough to play with anybody else in the country.”

His teammates at Troy along with his head coach Mark Smartt have been in contact with Denison throughout the summer.

“I have talked to them a few times and I have talked to Coach Smartt once,” Denison said. “They have been very supportive. They are awesome guys and great friends.”

The MVP Award will be given in the middle of August and it will be voted on by the NECBL general managers.

Denison and the Nighthawks will host Valley this evening before closing out the regular season on Monday against Vermont.