Yawkey Baseball League

Ryan Bere is the Kevin Bacon of the Yawkey Baseball League.  Scanning his career stats on .400 Hitter, you quickly realize that every amateur baseball player in the greater Boston area is within 6 degrees of separation from Ryan and the many teams/ballplayers he has played both with and against.  As a jack of all trades who can play literally any position, Ryan has slugged 200 hits in his illustrious career playing for the likes of the Brighton Minutemen & Chelsea Cyclones of the YBL, as well as the Orioles, Blue Jays, and Cutters of the Boston MABL, and Royals of the MWABL.  As if playing for 5 teams in a calendar year wasn’t enough baseball, Ryan is also one of only a handful of “Iron Men” who play every inning of the annual “100 Innings of Baseball Spectacular” which has raised over $600,000 for ALS research since its inception.

A baseball-aholic if there ever was one…get to know Ryan Bere of the Brighton Minutemen:

 

Nickname:  Ryno

Position(s): Super Utility, literally have played every position for every team I’ve been apart of.  Best position is 3B or SS

Bats/Throws: Left/right

Club(s) Played for in YBL: Winter Hill Cyclones-2010;  Brighton Minutemen: 2012-present

Where did you grow up: Belmont,MA

Where do you live now: Belmont,MA

Where did you go to college: Rhode Island College

Birthday: 4/29/86

Do you coach anywhere outside the YBL?  Coached in the MABL from 2009-2013; Asst. Coach for Dirt Dawgs 14U AAU Softball

Awards/Accolades: 2010 Manager of the Year in the MABL

What do you do for a living?  Store Manager for Olympia Sports

Been part of any championship teams prior to / outside of the YBL?  2010 MABL Blue Jays

Favorite MLB position player of all time: Ken Griffey Jr

Favorite MLB pitcher of all time: Nolan Ryan

What are the three best movies you’ve seen in the last year?  Lone Survivor, Captain American Winter Soldier, Captain Phillips

Who is the most underrated player on the Minutemen? Kevin Loveless – he’s got some good stuff on the mound.  He always seems to keep the game close for us when he takes the hill.

Who else on the Minutemen would make for an interesting interview? Steve Walsh – he always has something to say.

Who have you most looked up to in the YBL? Rob Linn – he has been in the league for a while and goes about the game the right way.  One of the best clutch hitters I’ve played with.

Who is the toughest pitcher to face in the YBL? JT Ross of the Black Sox – I literally strike out every time against him.

Who is the toughest hitter to face in the YBL? Marc DesRoches – he can hit to all fields and always is a tough out.

What was the most exciting moment you’ve had in the YBL? A game last year against South End, I pitched in relief.  I went from getting a potential save to almost getting a loss, and finally our team pulling it out and I got the win.  Since that will probably never happen again I’ll always remember it.

How would you improve the YBL? I think it is run pretty smoothly compared to some of the other leagues I play in.

What are your hobbies/passions outside of baseball? Big into fantasy football and spending time with family/friends.

What was the greatest accomplishment in your life? I coached my MABL squad to the 2010 championship and also getting to interview Cal Ripken Jr.

Who is the most influential person(s) in your life? My parents and my grandfather.  My dad was a big influence in the way I play, always taught me that hard work and dedication will always pay off.

Tell me something about you that people wouldn’t know: I can throw a perfect spiral with either hand.

How does your significant other handle your baseball habit? She handles it great.  She is always trying to make as many games as possible.  Very understanding about my love of baseball, since she has a love of the game as well.

What drives you to keep playing ball every summer? I love the game and wouldn’t know what to do with my summers if I didn’t play.  I’ve been playing since I was little (haven’t grown much since then either) and don’t see that changing until I can’t swing a bat or field a ball.

 

Predictions for the 2014 YBL Playoffs:  Somerville – have to go with the team that knows how to win the big games.

Since joining the McKay Club Beacons in 2008, few players in the Yawkey Baseball League have shown the ability to single-handedly generate offense as well as #27, Drew Tambling.  A true “dual-threat” by the very definition of the term, Drew’s light tower power and blazing speed have been filling up YBL box scores for the last half-decade.

As a key contributor to the UMass-Boston Baseball Team’s improbable run to the College World Series in 2010, Drew mashed 9 HR’s, swiped 34 bags, scored 55 runs and drove in 43 RBI’s out of the team’s leadoff spot.  He’s continued to produce in his post-college years, amassing 200+ career hits, 120+ stolen bases, 120+ RBI, 140+ runs and an impressive .383 career Yawkey League batting average.

A stalwart on the league’s many all-star and select teams, Drew notably launched a long home run off of the US Military All-Stars in the Yawkey League’s 2012 thumping of Doug Flutie’s squad, and provided critical stolen bases in the YBL’s 2014 EMass victory over the Boston Park League.

 

Get to know McKay Club slugger (And apparent Bachelorette hopeful…) Drew Tambling:

 

Nickname: Drew

Position(s) LF

Bats/Throws – L/L

Club(s) Played for in YBL: Mckay Club 2008-Present

 YBL All-Star: 2008-2014

Where did you grow up: Sterling, MA

Where do you live now: Dorchester, but by the time this is released I will be living in Singapore

Where did you go to college: Dean College & UMass Boston

When is your birthday: 9/18/84

What do you do for a living: Supply Chain Consultant at Gartner Inc.

Baseball Awards/Honors:

First Team All- LEC NCAA 2009,10

First Team All-Region NCAA 2009,10

4X YBL Silver Slugger

Been part of any championship teams prior to / outside of the YBL?

2010 LEC & Northeast Regional Champs at UMB

Favorite MLB position player of all time?

David Justice (the ATL years) I was a kid growing up in the burbs of ATL until I was about 8-9 yrs old. I loved David Justice. One day my mom took me to wait in line for 8 hours to get his autograph. First time I ever met a big leaguer.

Favorite MLB pitcher of all time?

Can’t say I have a favorite. But I think of pitchers in terms of who I would least like to face. I think that honor would go to Randy Johnson. I’d **** myself.

What are the three best movies you’ve seen in the last year?

I’m more of the type to binge on TV Shows on Netflix. This past year I watched the entire Sopranos series for the first time. I watched the whole thing in like 3 weeks. I think I almost got fired for being so tired every day.

What concerts have you been to in the last year?

Queen, Foster the People, Marina and the Diamonds, Zedd.

Read any good books lately?

I like dystopian novels… The Maze Runner trilogy is sick.

Who is the most underrated player on your team?

Dan Brien has had a sneaky awesome year and maybe the prettiest swing on the McKay Club.

Who else on [your team] would make for an interesting interview?

Lionel Danielson, “right down the middle”

Who have you most looked up to in the YBL?

Guys like DesRoches, Tenney, Iafolla, and Del Rio just to name a few of MANY that show up year in and year out and compete at a high level and sustain long careers.

Who is the toughest pitcher to face in the YBL?

JT Ross has always made me look stupid

Who is the toughest hitter to face in the YBL?

It changes every year, but right now I’d say Freddi Carrera. He’s one of the few dudes that never strikes out, can spray the ball anywhere, has the strength to push a flair into a hit and then steal two bags. Great kid, great player.

What was the most exciting moment you’ve had in the YBL?

Fenway.

How would you improve the YBL?

I’d like to see the EMASS Tourney turn into an event that grows into a weekend-long, double elimination, NCAA style tournament where all the amateur leagues in MA can make a bid for the title. There’s some legit leagues in central and western MA.

What are your hobbies/passions outside of baseball?

Golf, Guitar, Songwriting, Netflix.

What was the greatest accomplishment in your life?

Landing my job and starting my career. Scariest and hardest thing I had to ever do was give up the dream and put on the working shoes. But I’m thankful everyday that I did.

Who is the most influential person(s) in your life?

My Father, Mark Tambling. So smart, so humble, so successful, so stress free. I seek his advice and approval for everything I do. I always want to make my father proud.

Tell me something about you that people wouldn’t know.

Last summer, I was asked on the street by a casting recruiter to be a contestant on the Bachelorette. So this January, ABC flew me and 50 other dudes from all over the country to LA and put me up in the Beverly Hills hotel for the weekend. For 3 days, they put me through all sorts of crazy on-set interviews and testing. Then in the end, they cut me loose. It was probably for the best.

Do you have any pets?

I have a cocker spaniel named Lady, she’s awesome.

What drives you to keep playing ball every summer?

Three things: Win a Title; Hang out with the Bros; and Pad the Stats.

Got any Predictions for the 2014 YBL Playoffs?

A’s in 7… I think they got it this year!!

 

Is there a hotter hitter in the Yawkey Baseball League than Brighton Braves All-Star First Baseman Billy Uberti?  Currently atop the YBL leaderboard with a .509 batting average and an ungodly .606 OBP, the Brighton Braves slugger is putting the finishing touches on a monster offensive campaign, with many of the YBL faithful considering him a strong MVP candidate.  Flashing gold glove caliber defense to complement his offensive prowess, Billy was recently selected as the starting first baseman for the YBL squad in the 2014 EMass All-Star Classic, providing several clutch ABs in the league’s 15-10 defeat of the Boston Park League.

 

#6 in your programs, but #1 in your hearts… get to know Billy Uberti:

 

Nickname: Billy Baseball

Position:  1B

Bat: L Throw: L

YBL Team: Brighton Braves  2011-Present

YBL All Star: 2012, 2013, 2014

Hometown: Newton, MA (still live there)

College: Lasell College

Birthday: 12/21/90

Do you coach anywhere?  Next fall I begin my coaching career as an assistant at Lasell College

Employment:  Sales Associate at James A Ryan Insurance Agency

Favorite MLB Position Player: Ken Griffey Jr.

Favorite MLB Pitcher: Pedro Martinez

Three Best Movies seen in the past year: That’s My Boy, Great Gatsby, Prisoners

Most Underrated Player on the Braves: Brendan Ryan, pitcher with great mound presence, spots his pitches and has good stuff. I wouldn’t want to hit against him.

Who else on the Braves would make for an interesting Interview: Smitty, the guys got great stories from 10 plus years in pro ball

Who have you looked up to in Yawkey League?  Teddy Dziuba (Somerville) He is one hell of a ballplayer, but also plays the game right. Every time I compete against him, with him or talk baseball with him I learn something to make me a better player.

Toughest Pitcher: Chris McKenzie (Somerville): I haven’t faced every pitcher in the league yet, but he’s got the type of stuff that when he gets you out you tip your cap to him. Not many pitchers I would say that about.

Toughest Hitter: James Katsiroubas (Al Thomas): kids rakes someone who will capitalize on any mistake

Most Exciting Moment in YBL: Playing in the All Star game at Fenway Park

How would you improve the YBL?  Make trades possible if both players agree on it. I think a trade system will allow teams to better develop and bring some tension to the league.

What was the greatest accomplishment of your life: Being the captain of my college team, always an honor to wear the C

Most Influential Person in your life: My father, he taught me everything I know on and off the field. He is gone but his lessons will live with me forever.

Do you have any pets: Female boxer named “Miami,” best dog in the game.

What drives you to continue to play baseball: I simply love the game, and until I am unable to produce at a high level I plan to continue being a ballplayer.

YBL 2014 Playoff Prediction:  Since the Braves are out I’m going with Somerville, hard to pick against them until someone takes them down in a series.