January 14, 2011
New summer collegiate league eyes N.E. players
by NEBJ Staff/
Former Lowell Spinners infielder Mike Chambers will manage Nashua in the new summer collegiate baseball league. (photo: Jason Kennedy/Lowell Spinners)
Editor’s note: This article originally appeared in the January-February 2011 issue of New England Baseball Journal.
New England college players will get more opportunities to showcase their skills this summer, and fans will have more chances to watch them.
The Futures Collegiate Baseball League of New England last month announced plans to begin play this summer with four to six teams in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine. Teams in Martha’s Vineyard and Nashua, N.H., already have been announced.
The league hopes to capitalize on the increasing popularity of summer collegiate baseball. The gold-standard Cape Cod Baseball League is 125 years old, and the New England Collegiate Baseball League is beginning its 18th season with 12 teams.
“The one thing that makes us unique is that several colleges here in New England have trouble getting their players into the other leagues,” FCBL commissioner Chris Hall told New England Baseball Journal. “Most importantly, our league allows those kids to have the opportunity to play. Plus, with more New England players on the rosters, we believe we’ll get more people in the ballparks to watch them. It’s win-win for everybody.”
Futures League rules mandate that 13 players on each club’s 26-man roster hail from New England or play at a New England-based college. The league will use wood bats and play a 44-game regular-season schedule, running from early June through early August.
The new league was conceived when Nashua’s attempt to lure the Lowell, Mass., franchise of the NECBL failed. That club opted to move to Old Orchard Beach, Maine. So, Hall, the former GM of the Nashua Pride in the independent Can-Am League, said discussions picked up on starting a new league.
The Martha’s Vineyard Sharks, based in Vineyard Haven, Mass., were the first announced team to join the league. The Sharks are operated by Carminucci Sports Group. Club CEO Chris Carminucci also is an owner of the Brockton Rox of the Can-Am League. The Sharks are planning to play at the Vineyard Baseball Park on Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School’s campus.
The yet unnamed franchise in Nashua will be operated by the Lowell Spinners, the Red Sox’ Single-A affiliate, on behalf of owner Eric Butlein, a Milwaukee businessman and acquaintance of Spinners owner Drew Weber. The Nashua franchise will play at Holman Stadium, former home of the Nashua Pride and American Defenders of New Hampshire.
Nashua already has announced that former minor-leaguer Mike Chambers will be the club’s manager. Chambers — a former standout at Londonderry High School and Franklin Pierce College — played 2006 with the Lowell Spinners. Nashua High School South head baseball coach B.J. Neverett will serve as an assistant coach.
Nashua also signed its first player — Brandon Cox, a freshman at Merrimack College and a graduate of Nashua South.
Tony Conigliaro honoree
Detroit Tigers reliever Joaquin Benoit, who overcame a torn right rotator cuff surgery to establish himself as one of the majors’ top set-up man with Tampa Bay, has been named the winner of the Tony Conigliaro Award by the Boston Red Sox.
Benoit, who missed the entire 2009 season, led all AL relievers with a 1.34 ERA in 63 appearances with the Rays.
Benoit will be honored by the Boston chapter of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America at its annual dinner Jan. 20 at the Westin Copley Place in Boston.
The baseball writers also will honor veteran umpire Jim Joyce with a Special Achievement Award for sportsmanship for his candor and courage following his blown call that cost Detroit’s Armando Galarraga a perfect game. Other honorees are Red Sox outfielder Darnell McDonald, who will receive the Jackie Jensen Hustle Award, and Minnesota Twins pitcher Carl Pavano, who will receive the Ben Mondor Award (formerly known as the New England Player of the Year award).
Cape League schedule
The Cape Cod Baseball League’s 2011 schedule features 10 doubleheaders, a continuation of the expanded playoff format and the All-Star Game at Fenway Park.
The season begins June 10 with a full slate of five games, and the schedule includes five seven-inning doubleheaders June 12 and June 19, with each of the 10 teams hosting one doubleheader.
The playoff format expansion to eight teams will return in 2011, and playoff games at non-lighted fields will be moved from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
