The 6th Annual Winterball Extravaganza was played today at Boston English High School in Jamaica Plain in 45 degree cold. All participants had to donate a toy to Toys for Toys in order to participate. 57 players from across our three age divisions played. An entire truckload (literally) of donated toys was filled, as the event went off flawlessly.

Two members of the United States Marine Corps stationed out of Ft. Devens came down to collect all the toys. Thanks to John "Smokey" Moore (Winthrop Black Sox) for securing the Toys for Tots angle and for Charity Hop (a baseball fundraising firm) for coordinating all the details. Additionally, Boston Police Captain Kelley McCormick (Somerville Senators) was on hand to assure everything went smoothly.

Click here for the Winterball VI Wrap-Up. A larger photo album will be coming soon. "Red Sox Stories" filmed the event and will air the segment on Sunday, December 17th at 10:30 p.m. on UPN.

The holiday's are upon us, so why not bulk up on the BMBL attire your fans always wanted? There are dozens of women's and men's shirts available, as well as other attire, bags, clocks and much more.

Check out the Boston Men's Baseball League Holiday Store.

Congratulations to the New Hampshire Patriots who won the MSBL Fall Classic 38+ Wood Bat Division in Clearwater, Florida. Boston Men's Baseball League players on the roster included Sean O'Connor, Russ Ward and Steve Wolf. The Patriots went 3-1 in pool play, and swept their way through the playoffs (3-0) to defeat the Lokey A's in the Finals, 5-3. Congrats!

Many from the Boston Men's Baseball League competed in the Roy Hobbs World Series in Fort Myers, Florida.

• The Massachusetts Chiefs won the 48+ AAA Division. BMBL players included Steve Eddy, Randy Sabino, Rollie Hill and Dave Valdanbrini.
• The Boston Braves advanced to the 38+ AA Division playoffs, but lost in the first round. Greg Davis was named Braves' MVP.

At the MIBL Marcus Chimbur Columbus Day Tourney in Brockton, the MABL Boston Commons finished 1-1 in pool play, just sneaking into the playoff round. The Commons then advanced to the semifinals where they defeated Brockton Legion Post 35, 7-3, before getting crushed by the MIBL A Squad in the Finals, 12-3. See Marcus Chimbur tourney pictures, scores and roster.

The tourney was being hosted by the MIBL to raise funds for Marcus Chimbur, a 9-year old boy from Brockton who was diagnosed with Leukemia this June on the day before he was to play in his first all-star game.

In pool play, the Commons lost to the BABL Hyde Park Braves, 11-9, in their first game before defeating Brockton Legion Post 35 by a score of 1-0. Alan Donaruma of the Hurricanes was named the MABL MVP for tossing a complete game shutout and smacking a 3-run homerun the next game. In the Homerun Derby, Kevin Beliveau of the Dodgers and Kevin Bell of the Orioles each went yard -- Bell's off Oil Can Boyd.

The Boston Rockies finished 3-2 in pool play at the National Adult Baseball Association World Series in Arizona to advance to the playoffs. After a quarterfinals win over Tricity, 6-5, the Rockies lost in the semifinals, 9-5, to the Newport Beach Storm. The Rockies roster contains 8 current and 8 former MABL players.

Game 1: Rockies 15, Bay Area Maddogs, 2. Tom Levett of the Cutters started on the hill, giving up just 1 run in 3 innings. With a 9-1 lead, Dave Mitrou of the Rockies came in to relieve and pick up his first official win in his Boston League career. Pete John of the Reds (3-4, 1R, 2RBI, SB) led the offense.

Game 2: Rockies 14, Denver Bulls 3. The game ended in the 7th inning with the Rockies punching across 14 runs. Ken Kilduff of the Cutter pitched 6 innings to get the win, allowing 3 runs just 4 hits.

Game 3: NY/NJ White Sox 4, Rockies 2. Chris Stone of the White Sox pitched a complete game and took the tough loss. The Rockies laoded the bases in back to back innings but could not produce a run.

Game 4: Irvington Cardinals 4, Rockies 3 . Former member of the Orioles, Chris Demers, comes through with a complete game win.

Game 5: Rockies 5, New City Outlaws 2. Brian Cooper of the Rockies tosses 9 innings for the win. Pete John of the Reds, AJ Bucciarelli and Kyle Philson of the Cutters each knock a pair of hits.

Game 6, Quarterfinals: Rockies 6, Tri City 5 . Brian Cooper started again, going 4+ innings, before Tom Levett of the Cutters and Chris Demers finished the game. Pete John of the Reds smacked another 4 hits.

Game 7, Semifinals: Newport Beach Storm 9, Rockies 5 . After a great run, the Rockies are eliminated.

The BMBL All-Star Games were initially scheduled July 22 at LeLacheur Park in Lowell, MA -- home of the Lowell Spinners and Single A Affiliate to the Boston Red Sox. Rained out and rescheduled for today, the MABL All-Stars got in 7 innings before the rains shortened the game. The Bay State Stars defeated the Atlantic Stars, 7-5, for their 4th straight win. View the 2006 MABL All-Stars and photos.

Both MSBL games were rained out. The American League never got to battle the Federal League, nor did the National League rivals get to battle. A seemingly appropriate exclamation point to the rainiest season in memory.

For the second straight year, the White Sox will battle the Reds in the MABL Finals. Last year, after the Sox took a 2-0 game lead, the Reds battled back to force a Game 5. The Sox utimately pulled out their first MABL Championship. This year, the Reds look for their first title, while the Sox hope to repeat.

Never before in MABL history has there been a rematch in the Finals. The closest thing would be the Braves downing the Yankees in the 1997 & 1998 Finals -- but those were completely different teams. The 1997 Yanks were from Jamaica Plain while the 1998 team was the one that eventually spawned into the Cutters. (Thanks Mark Doucette for the history lesson.)

The 12th Annual Cape Cod Classic tournament took place this Labor Day Weekend on the fields of the Cape Cod League. Club Franz captured the title, beating the Tide, 3-0, in 11 innings.

In a pitcher's duel, Eli Munkholm and Pete Lucido from Club Franz outlasted Rob Monti and Brian Cassidy of the Scituate Tides. Monti threw a blank slate through 8 and gave way to Brian Cassidy with a leg injury in the 9th inning. Greg Davis of Club Franz led off the 11th with a single, followed by consecutive hits from Ryan Radabaugh, Eli Munkholm, Mickey Garcia and Rob Linn to push across the 3 runs. Hats off to both teams for a crisp, well-played game where pitching and defense ruled. Thanks also to Pete and Alex from the Thunder for running another great tournament amidst difficult weather and scheduling conditions.

Six teams from the Boston Men's Baseball League participated overall in this 14-team event, including the Waltham Red Sox, Scituate Tide, Lexington Astros, Club Franz, Framingham Orioles, and Middlesex Thunder.

Team Iichiko.

Preparing to film TV spot.

Granite City will light a local field.

Flooded earlier this season.

Orioles prep for play.

Rogers Centre, Toronto.

Chris Buckley tips his cap

Ed Perez & Adam Nichols in dugout

This Fourth of July weekend, the Southern Maine Men's Baseball League hosted the 9th Annual Down East Wood Bat Tournament. Two BMBL teams headed to South Portland, Maine to compete: The Middlesex Thunder (38+ division) and North Andover Thunder (28+ division). Middlesex advanced to the 38+ Finals where they defeated the Maine Diamond Dogs, 8-2, to win the Championship for the second time in three years. North Andover went 2-1 in pool play before losing in the 28+ Semifinals to the Rhode Island Riptide, 4-0.

McGovern Physical Therapy Associates, the personal care professionals, announced that three of their therapists have signed with the Nashua Pride to be the team physical therapists -- including long-time BMBL member, Kevin McGovern, now of the Trum Cubs. The Nashua Pride are an independent, professional baseball team located in Nashua, NH. They are part of the Canadian-American Association of Professional Baseball, or Can-Am League.

"With a 95 game season schedule, the additional work load will be quite extensive. However, when a professional sports organization calls and requests you, you answer the call," says McGovern. Read the full press release.

Former Boston Men's Baseball League 2003 MVP, Kit Kadlec, signed a pro contract prior to this season -- with the Wuppertal Stringrays of the Bundesliga League -- Germany's highest level professional baseball league. While the Stingrays are off to a dismal 1-15 start, Kadlec is making his mark. At 1-4, Kadlec is the only Stringray with a win. Through 6 starts, Kit leads the staff in innings pitched and strikeouts. At the plate, Kit is leading the team in both runs scored and homeruns while hitting at a .242 clip.

The road from Boston to Germany has been traveled before. Jason Hoye (2001) and Colin Levesque (2003), both current members of the MABL White Sox, have also spent time in the Bundesliga League. Consistent with Kadlec, Jason Hoye won an MVP title in 2005, and coincidentally also played with the Stingrays. Levesque did time with the Erbach Grasshoppers.

Good luck, Kit, as you live your dream of playing professional baseball.

On Sunday, June 18, the Boston Herald gave the Boston Men's Baseball League the Sports Section's center spread in an article entitled "It's An Age-Old Passion." Cesar Romero, Alberto Arroyo, John Sacco, Carmelo Bastian, Fabian Alicea, Ramon Nunez and Darwin Hernandez of the Roxbury Panthers all received considerable mention. Of course, the article also gave Newton Bomber's beefy pitcher Frank Cavagnaro props for his ability to "still bring it." It's worth a read.

The Boston Wolfpack headed to sunny Nevada for the Las Vegas Open from May 27-29 over Memorial Day Weekend. The Wolfpack lost in the Championship game 15-3 to La Matanzas. Russ Ward took the loss. John Collins had 3 hits in the defeat. To reach the finals, the 'Pack defeated Team USA in the semi final 5-4 behind the pitching of Rich Erwin and timely hitting of John Denney and Frank Kowalski. In Pool Play, the 'Pack had whooped the Northern California Tornadoes in their first game, 18-5, before falling in their next two games.

Doug Flutie takes an at-bat

Flutie scores 1st run of game

Melrose Little League field flooded

Clark Field in Swampscott

Gallows Hill Park in Salem

Wyoma Field in Lynn

It's that time of year and Opening Weekend is finally here. First games of the year are as follows:

• MABL 18+: Sat. 4/29 @ 2:00 p.m. -- Mariners @ Marlins
• MSBL 30+ AL: Sun. 4/30 @ 9:30 a.m. -- N. Reading Vipers @ Acton Orioles
• MSBL 30+ FD: Sun. 4/30 @ 9:00 a.m. -- Roxbury Panthers @ Newton Bombers
• MSBL 30+ NL: Sun. 4/30 @ 9:00 a.m. -- Malden Storm @ Brockton Indians
• MSBL 40+: May 15th will be here before you know it.

Good luck to all the teams this weekend!

Walt Bentson accepts honorary seat.

Shonda Schilling pitches 94th inning.

2006 BMBL prospects check in.

A hopeful giving it a shot .

Beginning in 2006, the team formerly known as the MABL Yankees will be known as the Lowell Spinners. The Lowell Spinners, the Class-A affilate of the Red Sox and host of the BMBL All-Star Games, have been recruiting local amatuer and youth baseball teams to trade their Yankees uniforms for brand new Spinners outfits, all free of charge. Thus far as part of the Yankees Elimination Program, 54 programs have given the Bronx Bombers the boot.

Editor's Note: On April 24th, the Yankees received their free jerseys from the Spinners. Due to the low quality of the mesh jerseys, the "Spinners" opted to change their name again -- this time, to the Cutters.

On Sunday, February 26, as part of ESPN’s Black History Month initiatives, ESPN Classic will televise ESPN Classic Vintage Live: Negro League Baseball. The game will be played at the nation’s oldest ballpark, Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Ala. at 4:00 p.m. and will celebrate the rich heritage and tradition of the Negro Leagues and their role in the history of both baseball and the African-American community.

Both the Boston Wolfpack and Boston Braves took the diamond on the Spring Training fields of the Atlanta Braves, and both teams finished 2-1 in pool play to advance to the playoffs. Ironically, the Wolfpack drew the Braves in the first round of the playoffs, and defeated them 10-4. In the Semifinals, the Wolfpack were defeated in a close one by the Jacksonville Vikings, 3-2.

Great run by both squads in the Florida heat while the rest of us enjoyed the winter chill in Beantown.

Wolfpack's John Collins, Russ Ward, Ken Connerty, Dave Garofano and Kamal Asar.

Tom Manning of the Braves.