EMASS 65's Win Eastern National Championship

The EMASS Bostonian 65's continued making memories at the National level by winning the Eastern National Championship this past week in Raleigh, North Carolina. In May they had previously won the Atlantic Coast Championship which was played in Loudon County, Virginia. By winning the 'Easterns', the Bostonians have earned the right to play the Western champions from Tuckwila, Washington for the National title in Phoenix during the World Championships in October.

Playing in nearly 100 degree heat, Joe Salzano's men only suffered one loss and were seeded #2 entering the double elimination phase of the competition. In the elimination round they defeated all the other teams in their AAA bracket to emerge as the Champions. Their team batting average was .578. The EMASS program is now nationally recognized for its athletes at all age levels.
The team that the Bostonians defeated in the Championship game actively recruits its players from 5 Southern states while the EMASS team had only 1 non-EMASS athlete.

EMASS players selected to the All-Tournament team were: Tom Hall, Ray LePage, Bob Clifford, Stu Gray & Bud Dodge.

The players in the above photo (Left->Right):
Top Row: Bob Clifford (Peabody/OF), Ken Savage (Medway/H), Joe Marmai (Peabody/SS), Bud Dodge (Canton/OF-P), Stu Gray (Cambridge/P), Tom Hall (Medway/OF) and Dave Joseph (Peabody/1B).
Bottom Row: Peter Keville (Chili Peppers/OF-C), Joe Salzano (Cambridge/Mnger-C), Ray LePage (Cambridge/OF), Don Murphy (Peabody/C), Dave Wainwright (Medway/OF-3B-2B) and Al Penney (Peabody/2B).
Not Pictured: Dave Clark (Falmouth/3B).

On August 8th a mostly EMASS 55 + team known as the Hannington Bombers won the 2010 Eastern National Championships in Raleigh, North Carolina. They compiled a 6-1 record with their only loss coming in the finals at the hands of the Carolina Cobras 17-16 in extra innings, which necessitated an “if” game. The Bombers then pounded out a 21-8 victory spearheaded by timely hitting and stellar defense. The turning point in the game came in the fourth inning when a runner was thrown out at the plate by the left fielder Andrew (Grit) Harmon trying to score from second. They, thus become the second EMASS team to earn a birth in the USSSA Tournament of Champions as well as an opportunity to play for the USA National Championships in Phoenix, AZ against the Western National Champions (Spot Bar and Grill, OR).

The EMASS players on the team were Michael Swinamer (OF), who led the team in hitting (.912), Paul Casey (P) , Dan Sides (2B) , John Gauvin (1B) and Larry Moone (C), all from Canton, and Bill Curry (OF/Canton Thunder), and Tim Veo (3B/Wayland).

EMASS, Worcester, Springfield and Cape Cod sent teams of their oldest players, ranging in age from 76 - 80. EMASS won both games, beating Worcester in a fairly close game and the Cape by a big score. The Cape team and Worcester both beat Springfield.

It was sort of an historic occassion -- probably the largest gathering of very old players in senior softball history! Without a doubt the quality of play among 80 year olds (or near 80) will improve in the next five years, just as the quality among 75 year olds has in last five years. Having an EMASS "presence" in this age group is important.

My hearty thanks to Fred Scerra and Jerry Levin who umpired the games.
~ John Stewart

Bostonian Shoes 65's Win Atlantic Coast Championship in May

Joe Salzano's Bostonian Shoes (6-1) swept teams from Delaware and New Jersey and won two of three from the New York Streaks at the Atlantic Coast Championship in Loudon, VA in May to qualify for the triple A division
Tournament of Champions in Polk County Florida in February 2011. Strong defense, solid pitching, and a combined team batting average of .683 propelled the team to the championship.

Avenging an earlier one-run elimination loss to the New York Streaks at the Winter Nationals in Fort Myers in November 2009, the Bostonians won the first game between the two teams 26-11, lost the second 29-6, and then regrouped to win the finale 23-14.

The Bostonians placed six players on the All-Tournament team: Bud Dodge, Stu Gray, Tom Hall, Dave Joseph, Peter Keville, and Ray LePage.

The team: Dave Clark (Cape Cod), Bob Clifford (Peabody), Bud Dodge (Canton), Stu Gray (Cambridge), Tom Hall (Medway), Dave Joseph (Peabody), Peter Keville (Belmont), Ray LePage (Cambridge), Joe Marmai (Peabody), Al Penny (Peabody)
Steve Picone (Marlboro), Joe Salzano (Cambridge), Ken Savage (Cambridge).


Hannington's of Massachusetts goes undefeated at the New England Classic Qualifier

Hannington's (6-0), playing as an exhibition team under manager Joe DeFelice, swept the division AAA field at the New England Classic Qualifier at Branford, CT in May. Winners of the AAA silver medal at the 2009 Huntsman Games in October, Hannington's kept its momentum going this season with victories in Branford over the Syracuse Cyclones (20-5), the Connecticut Edge (19-8), Western Mass (12-8), and twice vs Cozy Grille (RI) 15-11 and 20-13, plus a forfeit by the Edge.

In addition to DeFelice, current and former EMASS players on Hannington's included Bud Dodge, Peter Keville, Justin McGrath and Spider Walsh. The roster also included: Bob Brown (R.I.), Charlie Howe (New Hampshire), Art Robichaud (Tewksbury), Don Swann (R.I.) and Tom Wilburn (South Shore).

EMASS Minutemen win the 2010 Pompano Invitational Sunshine Seniors Tournament, May 2010

This year the Minutemen (5-2) swept the defending champion Delaware Stars and Pompano's own Dianne's Dirty Dozen, two games apiece, and avenged an earlier final-inning loss to Joe DeFelice's EMASS Patriots, as they won the Invitational for the first time in five tries. Solid pitching by Allan Kupel and Stu Gray, combined with timely hitting and strong defense up the middle and in the outfield made the difference. Dave Hadden was exceptional at shortstop and at the plate, going 21-22 (.950) with nine triples in seven games, while Kupel, Don Waldorf, Tom Hall, and Dave Brisson also excelled offensively and defensively in a team effort that included timely contributions from everyone on the roster.

Notably, a third EMASS team, Jim Boice's EMASSacres, playing for the first time in the annual tournament, came from behind twice to post exciting wins against the other two EMASS teams.

The Minuteman roster photo (standing from top left): Dave Brisson, Tom Hall, Stu Gray, Bud Carrier, Don Smith, Jack Spengler, Dave Hadden, Jim Raymond, Shelly Ganz; (kneeling left to right): Peter Keville (Mgr.), Don Waldorf, Marshall Krasnow, Allan Kupel.