Ranking the contenders' post all-star game schedule strength

The Pilgrims have a tougher road ahead then the Schooners,
but will it matter?

Here is how the schedules of top contenders stack up down the stretch in the two weeks following the NECBL All-Star game. With most divisional races extremely close, schedule strength is important. These notes are based on records going into Saturday's play and the schedules are ranked from toughest to easiest- included are all teams except for the three worst records (New Bedford, Danbury, Valley).

1. Vermont Mountaineers (most difficult second-half schedule)
Home/Away: Only three games at home, eight on the road
Games against teams with records of .500 or better: Nine.
Schedule Notes: Vermont is slammed with a five-game road trip against the best of the South- Newport, Ocean State, Plymouth as well as Northern Division rival Sanford. They only play two sub-.500 teams in their last 11 games- all of which they play in 11 games.
Big finish: Four games against Northern Division foes, including a matchup with second place Sanford that could have implications on who get's first place.

2. Plymouth Pilgrims
Home/Away: Five home, six away
Games against teams with records of .500 or better: Eight.
Schedule notes: The home/away may be balanced, but eight of the Pilgrims 11 games down the stretch are against good teams. They hold a reassuring four game lead on second-place Ocean State, but they will be challenged after several off days with Vermont, Ocean State and a double-header in Newport.
Big finish: The last game of the season is against Newport- which could also have seeding implications. Before that, they play Danbury after a brutal six-game stretch against teams ranked 2-4 in the Southern Division standings.

3. Ocean State Waves
Home/Away: Eight home, three away.
Games against teams with records of .500 or better: Eight

Big Finish: May play more home games then away by a lot but they host Plymouth twice and have a double-header against .500 North Adams.

4-7. Hard to really differentiate between harder and easier, so here's a list.

 -Newport (seven home, six away; 8 against .500)

 -North Adams (five home, six away; 6 against .500)

 -Laconia (seven home, six away, 8 against .500)

 -Keene (six home, six away, 7 against .500)

8. Sanford Mainers

Home/Away: Seven home, six away.
Games against teams with records of .500 or better: Six.

Big Finish: Double-header in Valley (worst in North) before finishing at home against Keene. 

9. Mystic Schooners

Home/Away: Six and six
Games against teams with records of .500 or better: Just four.

Big Finish: The Schooners close the season with the duo of New Bedford and Danbury- the two worst teams in the NECBL.