Wednesday, January 28, 2009

John Leahy Fan Club

Hi everybody...for those of you who haven't already been contacted by someone about it yet, a new fan club has been created for the former voice of the Yawkey League on Comcast, John Leahy. Most of the players in the league, know him as just plain old John.

John started his career calling hockey and football for his alma mata, Stoughton High School, and to this day, probably still gets a chance to do their games. From there, John worked for the San Jose Sharks and then came home to work for Comcast. For 6 years he called the Yawkey games with Al Segal and others.

From there, John got THE call up and did the play-by-play for the North Shore Spirit of the Can-am League in Lynn, Mass. It was at that time, when John received the coveted Jean Yawkey award from the YBL. After the Spirit disbanded, John caught on with the Kalamazoo Kings of the Frontier League in Michigan.

He currently is calling play-by-play for the Merrimack Warriors here in Andover. Last year, he even did a stint as a sideline reporter for ESPNU.

So, if anyone would like to join this ICON'S fan club, just go to www.facebook.com and search John Leahy fan club.

Brockton Rox Winter Dinner

Brett Rudy sent an update, as he usually does, with current events.

On February 6th, 2009, the Brockton Rox of the Can-Am League will be holding their annual winter dinner. At this season's event, the guest star's will be none other than former Boston Red Sox great closer, Lee Smith, along with Ex-General Manager Dan Duquette and new Rox Manager Chris Carminucci.

The doors open at 6pm, and dinner will be served at 730pm. There are limited single tickets available at only $55, with private tables of ten still open, as well.

There will be an aucfion and a raffle at the event, with proceeds to benefit Father Bill's and Mainspring, the cause for the prevention and hopeful end of homelessness for all in the state of Massachusetts.

Those interested in more information, or in acquiring tickets to this great event, need call (508) 559-7000.

Thank you.

Thursday, January 1, 2009

The birth of a champion 2 by Skip McCarty











This is the second in a series of stories by Coach of the Year Skip McCarty of the East Boston Bluefish

The hitting slumps of the 2006 playoffs and the pitching slumps of the 2007 playoffs may have been solved at the beginning of the 2008 season. To ensure this marked the returns of jack o'all trades Anthony Leonelli, along with the pesky recruiting of Larry Charbonneau, which would bring the Bluefish their latest round of stellar shortstops, Eckerd college grad Jason Recore.

Jason would follow in the steps of YBL allstars Ryan McCrann and Bluefish turned future Brockton Rox, Nick Vadaro, with stellar offense at the top of the lineup.

Then one day, I received an e-mail from Chris Santosuosso, asking if we had room for another Billerica kid on our team named Chris Hartery. After clearing things up with Savin Hill, the Bluefish had added their third baseman of the future. This one had not only a great bat, but also a great glove.

The last pieces of the puzzle would be our pitching staff. Leonelli would come through with the biggest prize of all; Chris Sandini, a college player who just one year earlier had received a cup of coffee in the Cape Cod league.

If these additions were not enough, just as the season began I received a call from Nate Titcomb, who was interested in playing for us. He would bring with him yet another big pitcher, his older brother Ian. Each of them would prove to be a vital cog in the maverick clubs championship run of 2008.

-Continued next month.