WINTERBALL EXTRAVAGANZA
Winterball began as a concept in 2001 to exist the playing season.
By adding an additional game the first weekend in December, the
length of time leading to the next season would be shortened.
Each year, the MABL battles the MSBL, regardless of temperature.
Beginning in 2004, the game partnered with Toys for Tots and the
United States Marines, requiring each participant to bring a toy
for a child in need as their entry fee. Only once has snow stopped
winter baseball.
GAME SUMMARIES
Year |
Result |
Temperature |
Locale |
2008 |
MABL 5, MSBL 3 |
28° Wind 10MPH |
East Boston Stadium, E. Boston,
MA |
2007 |
MABL 7, MSBL 4 |
37° |
Boston English HS, Jamaica
Plain, MA |
2006 |
MABL 5, MSBL
1 (Game 1)
MABL 4, MSBL 4 (Game 2) |
47° |
Boston English
HS, Jamaica Plain, MA |
2005 |
MSBL 6, MABL
3 |
35° |
Kelly Field,
Hyde Park, MA |
2004 |
MABL 7, MSBL
3 |
40° |
Kelly Field,
Hyde Park, MA |
2003 |
Cancelled - Snow
|
28° |
-- |
2002 |
MABL 6, MSBL
3 |
31° |
Fallon Field,
Roslindale, MA |
2001 |
MSBL 17, MABL
7 (Game 1)
MABL 6, MSBL 2 (Game 2) |
48° |
Fallon Field,
Roslindale, MA |
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
2008 |
Score: MABL5, MABL 3
Site: East Boston Stadium, E. Boston, MA
Date: December 13, 2008
East Boston Stadium was the site of the 8th Annual Winterball
game. The temperature was a brisk 28 degrees with a 10mph
breeze off the water. . Joe Tufo sparked the offense for
the MABL with a 2 run double in the top of the 2nd. Mike
Morgan led off the 5th with a double to right field. Kevin
Bell hit a single to center with two outs, scoring Morgan.
Ryan Bere tried to score from second but was thrown out
at the plate. The MSBL scored another run at the bottom
of the inning making the score 3-2 MABL. Going into the
9th inning, it was 5-2 MABL. Bere came in the 9th to close
the game out and allowed an unearned run to score. Final
score was MABL 5, MSBL 3. .
Bell, Jay Thomas, and Bryan Healey led the way for the MABL
pitching staff, holding MSBL hitters to 2 runs over six
innings of work. Thomas pitched two scoreless innings. MSBL
pitcher Chris Allen allowed 3 runs over three innings of
work, none of them earned. Jeremy Roberts, only 14, pitched
one inning for the MSBL, striking out two MABL batters.
Key contributors to the MSBL offense were Rob Linn and Mike
Hyde both going 2 for 3. Rob Mercer also added to their
offense with an RBI. MSBL pitching staff fanned 16 batters
to 14 for the MABL staff. MSBL
Boxscore Photos
 John
"Smokey" Moore and Ryan Bere with a real All-Star. |
|
 BMBL
Players brave 29 degrees for Toys for Tots |
|
2007 |
Score: MABL 7, MSBL 3
Site: Boston English High School, Jamaica Plain,
MA
Date: December 8, 2007
For the 7th annual Winterball Extravaganza, Boston English
High School was covered in snow and it was just 37� at game
time. More than 30 players donated toys and Boston's Finest
were on hand for the festivities. The MABL defeated the
MSBL, 7-4, led by Kevin Bell and Jay Thomas (both of the
Orioles) who both homered to lead the way.
 Boston's
Finest with MABL & US Marine Tim Fish. |
|
 Kevin
Bell pitches through the snow. |
|
2006 |
Score: MABL 5, MSBL 1 (Game 1), MABL
4, MSBL 4 (Game 2)
Site: Boston English High School, Jamaica Plain,
MA
Date: December 2, 2006
The doubleheader was played in 45 degree cold. All 57 participants
had to donate a toy to Toys for Toys in order to participate.
Game 1 began at 10:30 AM and was won 5-1 by
the MABL (the young guys), led by the pitching staff of
Chris Allen (Reds), Bryan Healey (Orioles), Steve Maycock
(Grays), Rich Wlodarczyk (Tigers) and Jay Thomas (Orioles)
who combined for 17 strikeouts. Game 2 began immediately
afterward. With the MABL leading 4-3 in the bottom of the
7th inning, the final out of the inning was made at the
plate to preserve the score. In the bottom of the 8th inning,
the MSBL plated a run to tie the score 4-4. With the bases
loaded and 1 out, a seemingly game-ending line drive was
hit down the thirdbase line. Pedro Gil (A's) dove and double-up
the runner at third to end the inning. The game ended in
a 4-4 tie due to darkness.
Two members of the United States Marine Corps
stationed out of Ft. Devens came down to collect all the
toys. Thanks to John "Smokey" Moore (Winthrop
Black Sox) for securing the Toys for Tots angle and for
Charity
Hop (a baseball fundraising firm) for coordinating all
the details. Additionally, Boston Police Captain Kelley
McCormick (Somerville Senators) was on hand to assure everything
went smoothly.

Boston Police Chief Kelley McCormick, John "Smokey"
Moore, Toys for Tots representatives from the U.S. Marine
Corps and Brett Rudy. |
|

James "Santa" Barnes and Smokey Moore. |
|
2005 |
Score: MSBL 6, MABL 3
Site: Kelly Field, Hyde Park, MA
Date: December 3, 2005
With the temperature 35 degrees at game time, the 5th Annual
Winterball Extravaganza was played, Saturday, December 3rd
at 11:00 a.m. at Kelly Field in Hyde Park. The MSBL defeated
the MABL, 6-3. Players who participated donated a toy to
Toys for Tots, a charitable toy drive held by the U.S. Marine
Corps. Countless toys were donated and more than 40 players
suited up for the contest.
The MSBL scored 6 runs off just 3 hits, drawing a rediculous
12 walks and 2 hit batsmen. Andy Lewis (Randolph Grays)
and Dickie Pacino (Somerville Cubs) had key RBIs. Tony Catalano
(Lexington Astros) started the game on the mound and notched
the win. For the MABL, the squad picked up 7 hits, of which
Pedro Gil (Athletics) had 3 of them, including a triple.
Jay Thomas (Orioles) took the loss, though he struck out
7 in just 3 innings of work.

Toys for Tots representatives from the U.S. Marines,
Jack McDonald and Paul Nolan, pose with Tim Fish of
the MABL Orioles, who is also a 6-year veteran of
the U.S. Marines. |
|

Eric Merryfield swings 42 inch stick. |
|
2004 |
Score: MABL 7, MSBL 3
Site: Kelly Field, Hyde Park, MA
Date: December 4, 2004
New in 2004, those who donated a new toy for Toys for Tots
had their entry fee waived. 27 players donated toys and
the Marines were on hand to collect the donation. In this
12-inning contest, the MABL battled the MSBL with 49 players
overall in attendance.
The MSBL jumped out to a quick 1-0 in the second inning
after a walk and a pair of doubles. In the bottom of the
seventh inning with the game still 1-0, Sean Magee (Reds)
led off with a triple and scored on a Jay Thomas (Orioles)
fielder's choice to tie the game. In the bottom of the 8th
inning, the MABL scored 5 runs via hits from Joe Dunne (Reds),
Matt Giblin (White Sox), Ron Viola (Astros) and Mike Lembo
(White Sox) to take a lead they would not relinquish. Magee,
who also pitched the 7th and 8th innings, was the winning
pitcher of record and struck out 6 batters in two innings
of work. Magee also scored an insurance run in the 9th inning,
when Jay Thomas, who also caught all 12 innings, doubled
him home. In the 12th inning, the MSBL rallied for 2 runs,
but ended the game with the bases loaded and the tying run
at the plate. Chris Allen (Reds) made his second consecutive
Winterball start for the MABL and received a no decision.

Toys for Tots representatives from the U.S. Marines,
Jack McDonald and Paul Nolan, pose with Brian Bennett
ad John Breslin. |
|

Dave Joseph of the Brockton A's goes several innings. |
|
2003 |
Score: Cancelled due to snow.
Site: Kelly Field, Hyde Park, MA
Date: December 6, 2003
The 3rd Annual Winterball Extravaganza was canceled due
to almost 3 feet of snow. Ironic.
|
2002 |
Score: MABL 6,
MSBL 3
Site: Fallon Field, Roslindale, MA
Date: December 1, 2002
The game was a 7-inning baseball contest played Sunday,
December 1st at 11:00 a.m. at Fallon Field in a 31 degree
chill. Across the MABL and MSBL, 24 players showed up for
the freeze-fest. Ump Jim DeGraaf called the balls and strikes.
The MABL jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead and never looked
back after a leadoff single by Pedro Gil of the Red Sox
and singles by Mike Lembo and Hugh Guilderson of the White
Sox. Lembo, Joe Dunne of the Reds, Brett Rudy of the White
Sox, Chris Allen of the Braves and Jason Hanson of the Dodgers
each collected multiple hits on the day. On the mound, Chris
Allen (3 IP, 6 K -- including 4K in the first inning!) notched
the win while Garret Fisher of the Dodgers (also 3 IP, 6K)
and Jason Hanson (1 IP, 1K) kept the MABL in the game. The
MABL won the game 6 to 3.

Murray Reed shovels out home plate. |
|

Chris Allen gets MABL start on mound. |
|
2001 |
Score: MSBL 17, MABL 7 (Game 1),
MABL 6, MSBL 2 (Game 2)
Site: Fallon Field, Roslindale, MA
Date: December 2, 2001
More than 35 baseball players across the Boston MSBL and
MABL battled in the First Annual Winterball Extravaganza.
The game-time tempurature was 48 degrees.
The inagural Game 1 was a 3-3 battle going into the fifth
inning when the MSBL collected 5 runs, making the game 8-3.
However, the MABL battled back with a grand-slam off the
stick of MVP Jeff Coveney (who earlier tripled), making
the score 8-7. But 11 MSBL hits in the final two innings
allowed them to be victorious 17-7. In Game 2, nine MABL
hits in the first inning allowed the squad to score all
6 runs they would need to win, 6-2. The game began with
back-to-back triples by Jeff Burns and Dave Mitrou. Dave
Joseph (borrowed from the MSBL for Game 2) pitched the complete
game for the young guys getting the win.

2001 Inaugural MABL Winterball Team. |
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2001 Inaugural MSBL Winterball Team. |
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