The Somerville Alibrandis announced yesterday that RHP Lamarre Rey has been signed by the Frontier Greys of the Frontier League. In 2013 YBL action, between regular- and post-season play, he pitched 52.2 innings without surrendering an earned run. In the first round of last year’s playoffs, he hurled a no-hitter against the Maddogs. The Greys will open their season on 5/16.
Filed under YBL News
Here is a WCVB News feature on YBL pitcher Jeff Allison, a former first round draft pick out of Peabody High School by the Florida Marlins. This is the latest installment in his incredible story of addiction and redemption, which has drawn widespread coverage over the past couple years from the likes of Peter Gammons and many others. For the past two seasons, Allison has been a member of the now-defunct Malden Bulldogs. The league looks forward to seeing him in a new YBL jersey for 2014 (though our hitters may find this a dubious hope).
Also check out http://jeffallison.org.
Filed under YBL News
Nick Vennochi is the new player-manager of the Malden Maddogs. He has taken the reins from Dave Hanley, for whom he also played at Emerson College from 2008-11. In his senior year, he was the captain and team MVP. That was a tremendous achievement for a guy who was cut from his high school team all four years at St. John’s Prep in Danvers, and it speaks volumes of his tenacious character.
“I was cut four straight years in high school,” he said, “but kept playing the game because I loved it so much and didn’t want someone else ending my career. I want to stop playing when I’m ready. I kept with it and made the Emerson team and started for three years.”
You can expect the Maddogs to play a gritty, unrelenting style of baseball on Veno’s watch.
Nickname: Veno
Positions: 1B, 3B, C, RF
Bats/Throws: R/R
Clubs played for in YBL:
South Boston Saints, 2009
Medford Maddogs, 2012-present (now Malden Maddogs)
Where did you grow up?
Melrose
Where do you live now?
Malden
Where did you go to college?
Emerson College
When is your birthday?
March 5, 1989
Do you coach/play anywhere outside the YBL? Where?
Played in MSBL for Blue Jays.
What do you do for a living?
Instructor at Extra Innings in Middleton, and Assistant to the Sports Communications Director at Wentworth Institute of Technology.
If you played pro ball, what was the most interesting city you called home?
No pro ball, but I did work for the Cotuit Kettleers in the Cape Cod Baseball League in 2010 when they won the championship. I did play-by-play and color commentary with Nick Coit of WLNE-TV. I also worked for the Lowell Spinners in 2011 in their merchandising department. In Cotuit, I was lucky enough to watch Deven Marrero of the Boston Red Sox organization play. And in 2011, the Spinners third baseman was Garin Checchini, also of the Red Sox.
What baseball awards / honors have you won in your life?
MVP Emerson Baseball 2011. All-GNAC Conference Third team, 2011.
Been part of any championship teams prior to / outside of the YBL?
Nope.
Favorite MLB position player of all time?
Chipper Jones
Favorite MLB pitcher of all time?
Pedro Martinez
What are the three best movies you’ve seen in the last year?
The Great Gatsby, Gangster Squad, American Hustle, Lone Survivor (Yeah, I gave you four.)
What concerts have you been to in the last year?
Drake
Read any good books lately?
The Science of Hitting by Ted Williams
Who is the most underrated player on the Maddogs?
Ryan Garber
Who else on the Maddogs would make for an interesting interview?
Geoff Lopes
Who is the toughest pitcher to face in the YBL?
Chris Dion
What was the most exciting moment you’ve had in the YBL?
Starting 3-13 last season and making the playoffs.
How would you improve the YBL?
Let scheduling software make the schedule. Play everyone twice. And less talk and more focus on the game we all love.
What are your hobbies/passions outside of baseball?
Gym, golf, friends.
What was the greatest accomplishment in your life?
Graduating college and getting a Masters degree.
Who is the most influential person(s) in your life?
My parents, Tom and Joan.
Tell me something about you that people wouldn’t know.
I love my family more than anything. And I include my close friends as family. I am a pretty open person, so if you know me, there’s not much you don’t know.
Do you have any pets?
A dog, Zoe; a cat, Rusty; and I’m an uncle to another dog, Cooper.
How does your significant other handle your baseball habit?
My significant other is my baseball habit.
What drives you to keep playing ball every summer?
I love this game. And I get to play with four college teammates, my best friends, and I still love to compete. Nothing is better than winning with your friends.
Filed under Player Profiles
A new era has begun for the Maddogs franchise. At the conclusion of last season, in which the Maddogs went on a tremendous 12-3 run at the end to reach the playoffs, longtime skipper and Franchise Holder, Dave Hanley, retired and handed the reins to Nick Vennochi. Last week, the club announced that they are leaving Playstead Park in Medford, which has been their home for over a decade, and will now play their home games at Maplewood Park in Malden, recently vacated by the folding of the Bulldogs franchise.
Filed under YBL News
Chris Deane has been one of the Yawkey Baseball League’s top hitters for more than two decades. Last year, in his first year with the South End Astros, he won the 2013 YBL Silver Slugger Award (DH), but more importantly, also won the YBL’s Comeback Player of the Year after fighting his way through cancer treatments to bat .381 (37-97) with a .903 OPS and 17 RBI. As a capstone to this amazing season in which he also won a MABL championship with Ben’s Dream White Sox and the Cape Cod Thunder Bat Classic with the Framingham Orioles, he then played all 100 innings of the 100 Innings of Baseball Spectacular, and the story of his battle with cancer was the subject of a New England Baseball Journal feature by Brett Rudy. Look for Deano to keep mashing in the YBL for several more years, because he shows no signs of slowing down.
Nickname: Deano
Bats/Throws: R/R
Position(s): DH now, but I fill in anywhere as needed.
Club(s) Played for in YBL?
21 years in the league this season. Started with Savin Hill, spent 14 years with McKay Club, and also played for Malden and Southie, but now I am an Astro.
Where did you grow up?
Southie
Where do you live now?
Plainville, but moving back to Quincy by the summer.
If you served in the military, where?
USMC
When is your birthday?
10-19-1975
What do you do for a living?
Local 7 Union ironworker
If you played pro ball, what was the most interesting city you called home?
Osceola County in Florida (Osceola Astros, Houston A ball affiliate)
What baseball awards / honors have you won in your life?
I have won a few, but most recently I won Comeback Player of the Year in the YBL…..really meant a lot to me!
Been part of any championship teams prior to / outside of the YBL?
Outside of the YBL I have won two with the Scituate Tides and one with Ben’s Dream White Sox
What years have you been an All-Star in the YBL?
14 times, but cant remember the years.
Favorite MLB position player of all time?
Ted Williams
Favorite MLB pitcher of all time?
Nolan Ryan
Who is the most underrated player on the Astros?
Rommel Richardson Peguero
Who have you most looked up to in the YBL?
Marc DesRoches
Who is the toughest pitcher to face in the YBL?
Derek Bates
Who is the toughest hitter to face in the YBL?
Too many to list
What was the most exciting moment you’ve had in the YBL?
My first time at Fenway
What are your hobbies/passions outside of baseball?
Snowboarding
What was the greatest accomplishment in your life?
My daughter, Callan.
Do you have any pets?
I have a dog named Maddie.
How does your significant other handle your baseball habit?
My girlfriend has been more than amazing considering how much ball I play. We share a passion for snowboarding, so we always have the winters.
What drives you to keep playing ball every summer?
I have played every summer for the last 32 years, so I don’t think I would know what to do if I didn’t play.
Filed under Player Profiles
The next YBL Meeting of Members will take place at 7:30 on Tuesday April 8 at the Freeport Tavern in Dorchester. The Board of Directors will meet at 6:00. All franchises must be represented.
Filed under Announcements
