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After a regular season that saw 4-5 teams vying for the best record heading into the playoffs, the Somerville Alibrandis have yet again risen to the top of the heap to take down their 16th YBL Championship trophy…..and their 6th in a row. As always, Somerville came into 2015 with a huge target on their backs. And this time around, it seemed like this was the year they might regress into the middle of the league’s top half. They had lost a few of the key pieces from their 2014 championship campaign…..most notably, YBL legend Marc ‘Doc’ DesRoches hung up the spikes to selfishly spend more time with his budding family, as well as embark on a new challenge by joining the YBL’s Board of Directors. Additionally, Kevin Salines, Logan Gillis, Chris McKenzie and Justin Cristafulli were integral parts of the 2014 title squad, but were all essentially out of the picture this year for various reasons. Even Lamarre Rey was initially thought to be out for the season with a trip to play big boy baseball, but the Big Kahuna Burger came back not a moment too soon to help the 6-4 Alibrandis return to form. Despite these losses, manager Bernie Driscoll and his trusty steed Cameron Lynch were able to add back a few pieces and fill some holes, in particular bringing in David Lightbody, Charlie McConnell and Billy Karalis.

After an uncharacteristically slow beginning to the year, the return of Rey seemed to kickstart the Alibrandis who would go 15-4-1 over the final 20 games of the season. Lamarre won 5 games striking out 55 batters in 36 innings, while accumulating a sub-1.00era. Jon Morse, Sean Sullivan and Chris Foundas ate up the lion’s share of the remainder of innings, combining to go 15-3 with a 2.00era. Brian Tanguy was the back-end stopper as usual, making the most of rare save opportunities. Rookie McConnell would lead the team in hitting, posting a .358/.476/.418 slash line. Mike Maguire, Anthony Perry and Bobby Barrett would all hit over .300 on the season, and Barrett led the team with 22rbi. The 2nd-half surge was enough for Somerville to hold off the Stoneham Sabers and claim the 2-seed heading into the postseason tournament, behind only the markedly improved East Boston Knights and their gaudy 25-5 record.

At some point in early August, Bernie’s team found that extra gear and went to work doing what they do. In the first round, they dispatched the meaty South Boston Saints in 3 games with a combined 27-6 score. They would follow that up with a 3-1 series win in a tougher battle against the Sabers (who were without a couple top players in 2015, so perhaps they were a little Light. LightSabers? Anyone? No? Ok.) before moving on to the championship round.

On the other side of the bracket, the Knights were doing similar work of their own also going 6-1 in the first two rounds with a 3-1 series win over the South End Astros and a sweep of the Revere Rockies. As was the case in the regular season, Marty Dunlap paced the Knights in the playoffs on offense, and they had their own firing squad on the mound with Ockner, Allison, Mendez, Shepard and Carlson. This had the makings to be an epic championship series, a chance to take a piece out of the legend that is the Somerville Alibrandi baseball club. If Eastie could have kept the mojo going, they may have been enjoying their second Gatorade-bath mound party in a span of 2 weeks.

Alas, it just wasn’t meant to be. Somerville straight out steamrolled the top-seeded Knights in four straight, outscoring EB by a tally of 37-15. Game 3 will go down as one of the best and craziest games in league history, as countless league followers were glued to their phones like 4 year olds, watching social media updates throughout the see-saw affair which eventually ended in a 12-11 Somerville win.

Former MVP and now grizzled, really old vet Maguire anchored the outfield and was a table-setter in the playoffs. Barrett terrorized EB pitching with a .571avg in the finals while simultaneously taking his selfie game to the next level. Perennial MVP candidate Sir Thaddeus Dziuba had a bit of a down year hitting a pungent .245 in the regular season with 3hr and 17rbi. Under the threat of becoming the team’s 2016 mascot, Teddy ramped up his contribution in the playoffs with a .455avg, 13runs and 11rbi. Lightbody, brought in as a much needed bat in the middle of the order whose run-production in years’ past screamed RIBBIES in this lineup, toiled in mediocrity over the regular season. But he saved his best for the playoffs with a .444avg, 3hr and 15rbi….only four RBI off of the YBL postseason mark for runs batted in when Marc Hordon knocked in 19 runs in 12 games of the 2007 playoffs. Karalis on the other hand had a solid summer leading up to the tournament with a respectable .284avg, 3hr and 15rbi. However in the playoffs he…..he just…..well…..sweet cracker sandwich, the kid went nuclear. Karalis arguably had the most prolific postseason in Yawkey League history. Over 38 at-bats he put up a ludicrous .526/.535/.947 slash including 7 doubles, 3 home runs, 14 runs and a 5:0 steal rate. Oh, and he also shattered the aforementioned postseason mark for run production, knocking in 26 runs in only 11 games. It’s safe to go out on a limb and award BillytheK the postseason MVP award.

When all was said and done, 2015 belonged to Somerville. They are the Yankees, Patriots and Canadiens all rolled into a dirty, red and white powerhouse. Love them or hate them, they are the closest thing to a consummate team that this league will likely ever see. They play hard, they stick together, and they are a thoroughly respectful organization on and off the field. A customary tip of the cap to Bernie Driscoll, Cam Lynch and the Somerville Alibrandis…….the Pride of the YBL.

12th annual 100 Inning Baseball Game – SAT & SUN, October 10th & 11th – Adams Field, Quincy, MA

Yes, we want to continue the madness started in 2004 by Brett Rudy & Mike Lembo.  This is our 12th consecutive year of our 100 inning game, which by itself has raised more than $650,000 for various ALS charities.  We are partnering again in 2015 with the Angel Fund and Dr. Robert Brown of UMass Medical Center so he and his staff can continue their outstanding work at the Cecil B. Day Laboratory for Neuromuscular Research.

Back will be most of the 10 players who have played all 100 innings of the 11 previous games as well as several players from all the leagues around metro Boston.

The umpires from the MBUA will again be officiating our 30+ hour game, that’s fifteen 6 man crews every 2 hours!! I’ll attempt to umpire a few batters behind the plate at midnight like I have the past several years.

For a complete history of all 11 previous games click here. http://www.bostonbaseball.com/100innings.php      

Please strongly consider a donation to the Angel Fund so we can continue the unbelievable momentum created by last years Ice Bucket Challenge which so many of you participated.  We’re getting closer to a cure but we still need your help. I’ve created a firstgiving page for this event with the online link below.  Hope to see you at Adams Field.  Thank you.

https://www.firstgiving.com/angelfund/2015-100-innings-of-baseball

#1 East Boston Knights (31-6) vs. #2 Somerville Alibrandis (27-9-1)

Schedule (with potential starters for first games)

Game#1:  8/19 Allison (1-0, 0.00) vs. Rey (2-0, 2.15) /8pm @ EB Stadium

Game#2: 8/20 Mendez (1-1, 1.58) vs. Foundas (2-0, 2.15) /8pm @ EB Stadium

Game#3: 8/21 7:30 @ St. Peter’s

Game#4: 8/24 7:30 @ St. Peter’s

Season Recap

For the 3^rd consecutive year, the Yawkey Baseball League Championship will be a showdown between the top 2 playoff seeds, but for the first time since 2011, the #1 seed isn’t wearing Red…

After bowing out to the Big Red Machine in a 3-game sweep in last year’s Semi-Final round (a combined score of 8-2), Eric Bellavia’s East Boston Knights fortified an already potent, balanced squad with some pro-caliber arms in an effort to make another deep run in 2015.  Behind the league’s top-ranked defense (.970 fielding percentage), EBK steamrolled through the YBL circuit to the tune of a league-best 25-5 record.

Leading the way was MVP candidate Marty Dunlap who took home the YBL batting title in 2015 with a .481 clip (and hitting at a modest .500 thus far in the postseason), while providing a rock solid foundation behind the plate for the league’s most menacing staff.  A resurgent “Mikey O” Oliveira turned in a tremendous campaign batting .419 with 36 hits, while playing gold-glove caliber defense in the EBK infield.  Kenny Polanco provided some punch from the hot corner with a team-best 25 rbi, often driving in left-side companion Jose Paulino, whose 19 runs and 18 sb paced the club.

On the mound, the EBK starters pitched deep into ballgames, striking out a league-high 262 batters, bridging the gap to sidearm specialist Jon Shepard, who has been an elite closer in this league since 2010.  The trio of Allison/Carlson/Ockner went a combined 15-2 during the regular season, striking out well over a batter per inning.  They are bolstered in the playoffs by former pro Vic Mendez, who despite pitching in only 4 games and 9 innings during the regular season, offers a blazing fastball/slider combo, giving Eastie the depth needed to win a 7-game series.

Standing in the way of East Boston’s first YBL title is perennial powerhouse Somerville Alibrandis, who entered 2015 as the 5-time reigning league champion.  Having dispatched Al Thomas in last year’s championship finals, Somerville earned its 15^th title in the 25 year history of the franchise, delivering its core of grizzled vets that elusive “thumb ring” they were so desperately in need of.

It would be a season of change for Somerville though, first with the loss of league legend Marc Desroches to retirement/fatherhood, then with the news that staff ace Chris McKenzie would not be back.  All concerns about the pitching rotation were wiped away however, upon the news that Lamarre Rey would be coming back from his tour in pro ball to anchor the Big Red staff. The return of the Big Kahuna Burger was pivotal in the Alibrandis’ closing out the season with a 16-4-1 record.

Lineup inconsistency and some uncharacteristically subpar seasons from a handful of Alibrandi vets saw them scuffle out of the gate, staring at a #5 playoff seed as late as mid-July.  However, after adding some key pieces to the puzzle in rookies Charlie McConnell and Juan Parra, manager Bernie Driscoll would right the ship and get Somerville back into the postseason as the league’s #2 seed.

The rookie McConnell would pace the Alibrandi offense with a .358 average and a team-best 17 steals.  Fellow newcomer Billy Karalis provided the punch with 3 HR’s, 10 XBH’s, and .514 slugging percentage.  Bobby Barrett, who led the Boston Park League in RBI’s for much of the year despite playing only part-time, chipped in with a team-best 22 RBI’s for the Alibrandis as well.

It was business as usual for the Alibrandi staff, with All-Stars Chris Foundas and Jon Morse combining for a 12-1 record, and Lamarre Rey jumping back into the mix with 55 K’s in 30 IP.  Sean “Big Red” Sullivan returns to the playoffs sporting what is now the all-time winningest record in postseason history without a loss (11-0).  Brian Tanguy brings his 2.88 era and 5 saves into August as the team’s most reliable bullpen arm to hopefully slam the door shut on championship #16.

Playoff Preview

After a game 1 scare in the first round that put EBK in a 0-1 hole at the hands of the South End Astros, the Knights rifled off 6 wins in a row to punch a ticket to their first YBL Championship Finals. They are peaking at the right time, and opposing hitters have been unable to catch their breath at the onslaught of right-handed power arms. 73 K’s in 49 playoff innings against 2 of the better hitting squads in the league…that is not an accident.

At the same time, Somerville seems to have hit their stride with convincing series victories over the South Boston Saints and Stoneham Sabres.  If any team can counteract the bevy of talent that is the Knights staff, it may be the Alibrandis who enter the finals with the most runs scored (48) and most extra base hits (20 w/ 4 HR’s) in the playoffs.

Somerville LF Billy Karalis enters the series with 16 RBI in 7 games, just 3 shy of the YBL Postseason record set by Marc Hordon in 2007 (19 RBI in 12 games).  After mediocre showings in the regular season, David Lightbody and Ted Dziuba have come alive in the postseason, combining to reach base 31 times in 7 games with 20 hits, 13 RBI and 16 runs scored.

Injuries might play a huge factor for both squads entering play Wednesday night.  Perennial silver sluggers Mike Maguire and Wilson Mercado both went down with leg injuries late in the semi-final round, and their ability to bounce back from injury will have a direct effect on the offensive outputs of both squads.

Any good manager will tell you that pitching wins championships and each of these teams can bring it. But with the offensive powers up and down each lineup, the eventual outcome will be determined by who can keep some stout lineups at bay and avoid the crooked numbers.  This has all the makings of a fantastic championship series…

* Who do you think will take home the McKay Trophy?!?

* Will Karalis keep making it rain ribbies?

* Will Mendez throw more innings in the series than he did all regular season?

* Will Somerville show up to Trum for game 1 out of habit?

* Will Stu be holding court with the AlibrandiNation ladies?

* Has EBK already used up their 2015 Gatorade bath?

Predictions welcomed in the comments section

The boys from the Yawkey League will attempt to take back the EMass Tourney crown this upcoming Sunday, July 12, 2015 at Campanelli Stadium in Brockton, MA, home of the Brockton Rox (1 Feinberg Way, Brockton, MA 02301).

The YBL will take the field in the first game at 1:30pm against the Cranberry League All Stars, a rematch of the 2014 championship game. The winner will play in the Championship game at 7:00pm (against the winner of second game, played at 4:30pm between the Boston Park League and the Intercity Baseball League). Eric Bellavia will ‘Man the Woodwind’ for the YBL team again this year, and he has chosen the following support staff to help put the YBL back on top:

John Griffith (Brighton Black Sox) #26
Branden Eaton (East Boston Knights) #7
Colucci & Son (Stoneham Sabers) – Angelo #13 and Stefano #36

Between the chalk, the YBL will field the following starters for game 1, as determined by league manager voting:

C – Marty Dunlap (East Boston Knights) #13
1B – Billy Uberti (Brighton Braves) #6
2B – Dylan Wicks (South Boston Saints) #5
SS – Stefan Botarelli (Stoneham Sabers) #5
3B – James Katsiroubas (Al Thomas Athletics) #16
OF – Julian Alvarez (South End Atros) #25
OF – Freddi Carrera (Al Thomas Athletics) #4
OF – Matt Lavanchy (McKay Club Beacons) #21
DH – Bobby Foote (Reevere Rockies) #32
SP – TBD

Reserves, chosen by the YBL All-Star Committee:

C – Kyle Rufo (Revere Rockies) #13
C – Geoffrey Lopes (Malden Maddogs) #5
1B – Kent Graham (South Boston Saints) #18
2B – Mike Oliveira (East Boston Knights) #11
1B/3B – Jeff Cady (Savin Hill Dodgers) #23
3B – Kenny Polanco (East Boston Knights) #24
OF – Steve Lambert (Al Thomas Athletics) #24
OF – Lionel Danielson (McKay Club Beacons) #6
OF/C – Anthony Perry (Somerville Alibrandis) #10
OF/P – Alex Wong (Revere Rockies) #24
OF – Chris Santosuosso (Revere Rockies) #77
P – Jeff Allison (East Boston Knights) #45
P – John Tangherlini (East Boston Knights) #17
P – Mike Baryski (McKay Club Beacons) #7
P – Greg Dubela (Stoneham Sabers) #25
P – Jeff Croteau (Malden Maddogs) #10
P – Brian Tanguy (Somerville Alibrandis) #21
P – JT Ross (Brighton Black Sox) #22
P – Vlady Camacho (South End Astros) #12
P – David Montiverdi (Stoneham Sabers) #41
P – Brady Furdon (McKay Club Beacons) #14

And rounding out the roster are the manager’s selections:

P – Max Ockner (East Boston Knights) #18
SS – Jose Paulino (East Boston Knights) #3
P – Chris Dion (Stoneham Sabers) #31
1B/DH – Nate Laliberte (Revere Rockies) #3

A great ballpark, hopefully a beautiful day, and almost 10 hours of quality baseball. Concessions will be open, so come down and support the team!!

ALL PLAYERS:
Please report to Campanelli Stadium for 12:00 (please, no later than 12:30). Go to the front entrance where there should be ticket-takers, and they will point players in the appropriate direction). As there are no changing facilities made available for this event, players have been asked to be close to fully-dressed in playing gear upon arrival (throw on spikes and jerseys when there, but please have pants on already).

**This is the roster as of 7.9.15 at 7:50am. Any changes to the roster will be updated on this page.**