WINTERBALL 2008

12/13/08: This year's Winterball game was the latest and coldest ever played. Held at East Boston Stadium, the temperature was 28 degrees with a 10 MPH wind off the ocean. The MABL was victorious over the MSBL, 5-3, but the real winners were the kids that will benefut from the many toys that were collected for Toys for Tots. Photos MSBL Boxscore

John "Smokey" Moore and Ryan Bere with a real All-Star

BMBL Players brave the cold for Toys for Tots

CURT SCHILLING RECOGNIZES MABL/MSBL CONTRIBUTIONS TO ALS

11/20/08: Curt Schilling and his wife Shonda were on hand at the ALS Post-Season Reception at the Hyatt Regency in Boston to honor those who made contributions to Curt's Pitch for ALS, including those athletes who fundraised and participated in the 5th annual 100 Innings of Baseball.

Curt also announced that he spoke with Commissioner Bud Selig to turn July 4, 2009 into Lou Gehrig Day across Major League Baseball. "It is the 70th anniversary of Lou Gehrig's speech. We are working on an initiative to make July 4 Lou Gehrig Day in Major League Baseball this year. That will get a lot of my effort." You can bet that many across the Boston Baseball community will be assisting in this initiative.

Top fundraiser, Ish LaBoy, honored by Curt Schilling at ALS Gala.

MABL & MSBL player and ALS Boardmember, Kevin Krueger with Curt.

BOSTON AMATEUR BASEBALL NETWORK IS HERE

In an effort to bring amateur baseball players from across Metro Boston leagues together into one place, a social-networking Facebook Group called the Boston Amateur Baseball Network has been created. Please join, and then look for news, events and products from across the entire Boston baseball community -- all in one place.

BOSTON WOLFPACK WINS MSBL WORLD SERIES TO COMPLETE THE SWEEP

10/24/08: The Boston Wolfpack won the 2008 MSBL World Series 45+ NL Division over the So Cal Stars, 7-3. With the win, the Wolfpack has now won all 4 MSBL National tournaments in 2008, including the World Series, Las Vegas Open, Las Vegas Kickoff Classic and the Disney Holiday Classic. In the final game, MVP Richie Figueroa picked up the win, scattering 6 hits over 7 innings while also going 3 for 4 with a double and 2 RBI. Meanwhile, in the 35+ division, the Boston Tides went 3-3 in pool play with wins over the Central Coast Tigers, Houston Rockies and the Tri Valley United Nasty Boys. They were defeated in the first round of the playoffs, 9-1, by the Buffalo Indians.

2008 MSBL World Series Champions - Boston Wolfpack

Dickie Pacino Pitching at Papago

LEAGUE BANQUET FOR MABL AT THE FOURS DURING ALCS GAME FIVE

10/16/08: The Boston Men's Baseball League 18+ Division held its end-of-year banquet to celebrate the 2008 season at The Fours. Individual awards were distributed, as well as awards for the Championship and Runner-up teams. Below is Brett Nowlin, Manager of the Reds, saying a few words about his champion season, as well as Jonathan Pollard who won his second consecutive MVP award. Most players cleared out before the Boston Red Sox overcame a 7-0 deficit in the 7th inning to defeat the Tampa Bay Rays 8-7 in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series.

The Reds' Brett Nowlin makes a champion speech.

Jason Bressner presents JP Pollard with MVP award.

REDS COME FROM BEHIND TO BEAT THE ATHLETICS FOR THE MABL TITLE

10/02/08: For the second time in three years, the Netherfield Reds won the MABL Finals, this time in a deciding five-game set over the Athletics. Game 5 was delayed three times over a week due to weather, but the game finally got in at Chelsea High School. The A's led the game 4-3 going into the 7th inning before the Reds battled for 3 runs in their last at bat to take a 6-4 lead they would not relinquish. Derek Garabedian notched the win with Daryl Pina pitching the final frame for the save. See the MABL Road to the Finals.

2008 MABL Champs: Netherfield Reds.

SAME OLD STORY: METRO RED SOX BEAT BLUE JAYS AGAIN FOR MSBL MASTERS TITLE

9/30/08: For the second straight year, and third time in four years, the Metro Red Sox won the MSBL Masters title. Metro won two straight championship games over the Brockton Blue Jays, 2-1. In the finale, Les Weber homered into the pool to give the Jays the lead. But in the 7th, the Sox, who had only managed only an infield hit in the game, got singles from Al Visnick and Mark Moise followed by two walks and a fielder's choice to plate the go ahead run. In the bottom of the 7th, Mike Williams hit a leadoff double. The pinch runner moved to 3rd on a sacrifice, and Weber hit a fly ball to medium right that was caught by Eric Kimble who then threw a strike to the plate to double up the potential tying run and end the game.

2008 MSBL 40 Champs: Metro Red Sox.

MILTON BREAKERS REBOUND TO WIN MSBL AL TITLE OVER ROXBURY PANTHERS

9/25/08: The Milton Breakers defeated the Roxbury Panthers 4-3 in Game 3 of the MSBL AL Finals to capture their first league title. Milton rallied from a 3-0 deficit in the sixth inning with RBI singles from Aaron Foley and Paul Stanton to cut the Roxbury lead to 3-2, and won the game on a walk-off hit by Chris Festa in the seventh that plated Rob Kisiel and Steve Leonard. For the Breakers, Foley went the distance, scattering nine hits and allowing three runs. He was matched by Roxbury's Juan Alamo who threw seven innings of eight-hit ball. Cesar Romero led the way offensively for the Panthers with 2 RBI, while Fabian Alicea had three hits and drove in one for Roxbury.

2008 MSBL AL Champs: Milton Breakers.

WALTHAM RED SOX DEFEAT NATICK KNIGHTS FOR MSBL NL TITLE

9/23/08: Waltham beat Natick, 2 games to 0, in a 6-4 victory to capture the first MSBL title in Waltham since the Waltham Orioles beat the Framingham Giants in 1991. Waltham jumped out to an early lead with a pair of RBI singles from John Churchill and Josh Leet in the bottom of the second inning. They never looked back from that point and never trailed in the contest. Jay Wisner fired 2-plus innings of shut out relief to pick of the Championship save. Read more.

2008 MSBL NL Champs: Waltham Red Sox.

2008 MABL AWARD WINNERS NAMED

9/07/08: In the closest races in MABL memory, the managers have spoken and the top individual performers have been named. For the second straight year, Jonathan Pollard takes home MVP honors, barely edging Greg Crossman. Jay O'Hara beats out Rich Wlodarczyk for Cy Young on a tie-breaker, as does Matt Englander over Kevin McGowan for Manager of the Year. O'Hara wins Rookie of the Year handily. See the complete 2008 MABL Award and Player's Choice Voting. Jonathan Pollard Tigers Most Valuable Player Jay O'Hara Grays Cy Young Jay O'Hara Grays Rookie of the Year Matt Englander Mariners Manager of the Year

CAPE COD CLASSIC GETS TOPPED

August 31, 2008: The 14th annual Cape Cod Classic tourney was played on the fields of the Cape Cod League over Labor Day weekend. The Connecticut Top Hats took home the title. John Kroeger (Brockton Indians) pitched the championship game, going 9 innings with 10 K's. Final score: CT Top Hats 12, Worcester Stars 6. The Top Hats defeated Team Franz 3-0, the New England A's 14-1, the Mass. Rangers 5-4 and tied the Waltham Red Sox 2-2 in a game that was called after 11 innings. Learn more about the Cape Cod Classic.

Cape Cod Champs: 2008 Connecticut Top Hats.

The 15th Annual Oldtime Baseball Game was held at St. Peter's Field in Cambridge. The game offers a glimpse of what it was like in the old days, when hundreds of fans would turn out to root for their "town" team in various local semipro leagues. Players are chosen from colleges and universities from the Boston area. Over the years, former Red Sox pitchers Oil Can Boyd and Jim Corsi have played, as has former New York Yankee Mike Pagliarulo and Carlos Pena of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. This year's charitable event was to raise money for the Todd J. Schwartz Memorial Fund. From the MABL Mariners, Dave Woods suited up. Learn more about the Oldtime Baseball Game.

Senator Anthony Galluccio and MABL Mariner Dave Woods.

The 5th Annual Cooperstown Classic was the Brockton Reds' 4th straight undefeated tourney winning the Cup. During this stretch, the Reds, hailing from the Men's Independent Baseball League, have gone 16-0. The Reds defeated the Boston Orioles 10-0 in the Finals. Other participants included the Mariners, Tigers, North Andover Thunder and Grays -- all who went 1-2 overall. See photos: Grays vs. Thunder | Mariners vs. Brockton | Orioles vs. Tigers

Colin Confoey of NA Thunder with diving effort.

Matt Dumont of the Mariners tries for tag at third.

No hitters are rare, but here in Boston, they come in bunches when they finally make their appearance:

• 7/26 -- MABL Rangers starter Shane Steffens notches his 50th career win and his first no-hitter, improving to 6-0 on the season with a 7-0 win over the Brewers.
• 7/27 -- MABL Senators starter Matt Coyne (5 innings) and waiver-deadline addition reliever Jonathan Rheault (2 innings) teamed with catcher Matt Meuse to no-hit the White Sox, 11-2. Nice teamwork!
• 7/28 -- MSBL 40+ Orioles pitcher Vic Otero threw a no-hitter against the North Andover Thunder and was just 1 walk away from a perfect game. Vic improved to 6-1 on the season.

Shane Steffens and Matt Coyne join the No-No Club.

In the MABL, the Bay State took the title, defeating the Atlantic, 10-6. Josue Feliciano of the Tigers took home game MVP honors with 4 of his team's 6 hits, including a 2-RBI single to give his conference some late inning insurance. Sam DelVecchio of the Erie Pub Red Sox notched the win for the Bay State, tossing the 8th before Mike Vernon pitched a scoreless 9th. Photos to come, as well as info from the MSBL game. See photos: MABL 1 | 2 | MSBL Photos. See past All-Star games.

Josue Feliciano steals second en route to MVP.

Sam DelVeccio of Erie Pub with Bay State win.

On Saturday, July 19th, the MABL Senators defeated the Rangers 4-2 at Beehive Field in Connecticut, former home of the New Britain Red Sox, double-A affiliate to the Boston Red Sox. The Rangers took a 2-1 lead into the top of the 9th when the Senators scored 3 runs to take the lead and ultimately the win. Less than a month ago, the MABL Mariners and Orioles played on Muzzy Field in Bristol, Connecticut, former home of the Bristol Red Sox, also a double-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox.

Senators' Matt Mothander prepares to pitch at Beehive.

From the MSBL, the Winchester Pirates took on the Wayland White Sox in the league's annual trip to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY. The Pirates took both games, or more accurately, Winchester's Paul Marshall took both 9-inning games by pitching complete game victories in each: 4-2 and 6-1.

Coming to Cooperstown: On August 2 & 3, the 5th Annual Cooperstown Classic will be played. Six teams will participate, including the Brockton Reds who have won the event 3 straight years. Battling them will be the North Andover Thunder, MABL Grays, Mariners, Tigers and Orioles. Read about the Cooperstown Classic History.

Congratulations to the Medford Mets and North Andover Thunder for winning the July 4th Weekend Downeast Classic in the 45+ and 35+ divisions. Check out the scores.

Medford Mets, 45+ Downeast Classic Champs.

NA Thunder, 35+ Downeast Classic Champs.

The Boston Wolfpack captured the 2008 Las Vegas Open with a 6-4 triumph over Team Victory. It was the Pack's 7th trip to the Open, 3rd time in the finals, and first championship. The competition again was awesome with a 0-0 game through 9-innings that Boston eventually lost 2-1 in 11 to Team Victory and an 1-0 semi-final victory for the Pack against Team USA. The Wolfpack has now won 3 straight tournaments and have been to the finals 6 out of the last 7 tournaments we've competed in. In Finals, Junior Rentas got the win in relief. Mark Moise knocked in two with a two out single in top of the ninth with the bases loaded. Awesome performance put in by all especially Richie Figueroa (2 hit 1-0 shutout in semis), Bill Speakman (8+ IP in pool win over Team USA), Paul Rousseau (.533), Carmello Bastian (5 RBIs), and Bobby "Vegas" Iandoli.

Paul Rousseau helps Pack win in Vegas

2008 Las Vegas Open Champions

Junior Rentas drives a double

The MABL Orioles and Mariners squared off at historic Muzzy Field in Bristol, Connecticut, former home of the Bristol Red Sox, then the double-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, from 1972 to 1982.

Two little leaguers from the McCabe-Waters Little League threw out the first pitch. The Mariners contributed $350 to the McCabe-Waters Little League to give back to the Bristol community for serving as hosts for this regular season BMBL game. These two young pitchers eventually gave way to two BMBL pitchers, the M's Pat Walters and the O's Victor Ruiz, who both went the distance in this 9-inning affair. The Mariners edged the O's 2-0 on a beautiful day in Bristol.

Two McCabe-Waters little leaguers throw out the 1st pitch

MABL Mariners at Muzzy Field

MABL Orioles at Muzzy Field

The Boston Wolfpack parlayed their winning ways and captured the 2008 Las Vegas Kickoff Classic, defeating the San Diego Stars 14-6 in the finals. After losing game 1, the 'Pack won 4 straight to take their first Vegas championship. Richie Figueroa pitched 7+ innings in the finals against the San Diego Stars. Rick Myers, who got the complete game victory in the semi-final, picked up the save. Figueroa's 2-out double with the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth broke open a tight game as the Wolfpack plated 5 runs in the 8th to secure the Championship.

Richie Figueroa, Rosario Bastian & Carmelo Bastain

2008 Las Vegas Kickoff Champions

Figueroa hits 3-run double, pitches 8+ in Finals

MSBL CARIBBEAN WINTER BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP - Puerto Rico

February 20089: The New England Bandits and Rhode Island Cardinals competed in the 15th Annual MSBL / MABL Caribbean Winter Baseball Championship in Puerto Rico.

Tony LeGreca

Cardinals at Carolina Stadium

Roberto Clemente Stadium

Al Visnick of the Bandits

Four teams from the Boston Men's Baseball League went to Florida to compete in the Disney Classic at Walt Disney World, and two go a combined 10-0 and win Championships. The Boston Cutters went 5-0, beating the St. Petersburg Blue Jays in the Finals, 16-5, to win the 18+ Division. Offensive stars of the tournament include: Josue Feliciano at .409 avg and 9 runs scored; Jonathan Pollard at .368 avg with 2 HR, 8 RBI, 7 runs; Sean Magee at .538 avg, 4 RBI, 2 doubles; Matt Deeb at .538 avg, 2 doubles, 1 triple; AJ Bucciarelli at .500 avg, 3 runs, 2 doubles. The Wolfpack went 5-0, beating the South Jersey Phillies in the Finals, 5-0, behind the complete game masterpiece of Rick Myers to win the 45+ Division. Wolfpack previously won the Disney Holiday Classic in 2001 and 2003 and had since been to the Finals three times without another title. The Boston Braves went 1-3 and the Natick Knights went 1-2 in the 35+ Division.

Boston Cutters - 2008 Disney Holiday Classic Champions 18+

Boston Wolfpack - 2008 Disney Holiday Classic Champions 45+

Anthony Bucciarelli bats in Finals