News & Notes

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Welcome to the 45th MBCA Coaches Clinic at the Doubletree Inn in Westborough.
Clinic coordinators Frank Carey and Harvey Krupnick have again put together an outstanding lineup of speakers. Special thanks to our Grand Slam and Triple Play Sponsors: Championship-Award Guys, Boston Red Sox, National Fundraising Partners, The Game and On Deck Sports for making it possible for us to continue to improve on a great weekend. Thanks also to National Fundraising Partners for hosting our Friday night social, and Akadema and Miller Net for sponsoring the Friday morning and Saturday morning coffee respectively. Please patronize our sponsors and the many vendors who have joined us for this weekend.

2012 MBCA HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

Congratulations to the members of this year’s class of the Massachusetts Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame: Please join us in honoring our new MBCA Hall of Fame members at the banquet on Saturday night. All are deserving of our recognition.

Neil Luke Greenwald, Tahanto Regional High School: Neil has been coaching baseball for 31 years, 24 as the Head Coach at Tahanto Regional. During that time his teams have won 3 league championships (94, 99, 04), a Central Massachusetts Division 3 Sectional Championship (93) and were a finalist in the State Division 3 State Championship that year. His team’s record is 313 wins, 197 losses for a wining percentage of 61%. He is a member of the MBCA 300 Victory Club. Neil’s teams have consistently qualified for tournament play and are the only team in the school’s history that has participated in the MIAA state finals. For a school with a very small population, Neil has always had very competitive and hardworking teams that exemplified the meaning of good sportsmanship.

John Freitas, Needham High School: John has coached in the Needham School System for 43 years, 6 as an assistant coach and the last 37 as the head coach. During that time his teams have won over 300 games and multiple championships while a member of the Bay State Conference’s Carey Division. Needham has also qualified for the post season 14 times during John’s tenure. John was named as the BSC Coach of the Year in 2001 and 2007. John has had 5 players drafted by major league teams and over 52 have gone on to play in college. The coaches in the Bay State League have high praise for the way his teams conduct themselves both on and off the field. They feel he is a first class coach who teaches young men how to act and perform while competing at a very high level on the field.

Leo Duggan, Oliver Ames High School: Coach Duggan is currently in his 41st year of high school coaching. Leo has never had a year when he was not coaching a high school sport. Assistant football, freshmen and JV baseball, varsity softball, varsity golf and of course varsity baseball are a part of his coaching history. Leo has been the Varsity Baseball coach at OASH since 1987 and begins his 27th year this spring. During his tenure, coach Duggan’s teams have won 351 games, 5 Hockomock League Championships, and 1 State Championship. He was selected Coach of the Year by the Boston Globe in 1993. He is a member of the MBCA and ABCA 300 victory clubs. In 1993 and 1995 he was selected to coach in North-South All Star game.

Joel Peckham, Sharon High School: Coach Peckham graduated from Winchester High School where he played football, basketball and baseball. While at Tufts University in his senior year he was the captain of both the basketball and baseball teams and was selected to the ABCA All-American Team in 1962. He is a member of the Winchester Sports Foundation and Tufts Jumbo Club Hall of Fames. His record at Sharon High School is 424 wins and 391 losses. His teams have won 2 Hockomock Championships and qualified for the State Tournament 21 times. In 1999 they reached the South Sectional Finals. Joel has devoted 40 years of his life to the sport of baseball. He has enriched the baseball experience for his players by planning annual trips to Cooperstown or other special tournaments and by conducting annual clinics for the youth teams in Sharon.

John D. Seed, Jr., New Bedford High School: John was an outstanding New Bedford athlete who attended the University of Massachusetts. He captained the 1976 team and compiled a career batting average of .312, earning first team All-New England honors in his senior year. Coach Seed’s career at New Bedford spans 29 years, 21 as head coach. His coaching record speaks for itself as his 295 wins, 10 Conference Championships, and 3 State Division I Championships would attest. Opposing coaches could not only count on a competitive game but also face a team that respected the game, opponents, and officials. Coach Seed is considered a first-rate baseball coach and first-rate gentleman as well.

Happy retirement to Peter Moscariello:
Pete Moscariello, a long time and valuable board member has decided to retire and step down from his MBCA responsibilities. Pete spent countless hours studying and researching information concerning the aluminum and wood bat issue. Pete’s detailed research and presentations regarding the effects of aluminum bats in comparison to wood bats provided the members of the MBCA with updated and accurate data to make informed decisions. For many years Pete also served as the registration coordinator for the MBCA’s annual clinic. Pete’s effort and time over the years was greatly appreciated.

2012 MBCA AWARD RECIPIENTS

FRED EBBETT AWARD
Dick Paster – Westwood Legion
Steve August – NE Roughnecks
Phil Samco – District 4 legion

ASSISTANT COACH OF THE YEAR
Al Fordiani – Lincoln Sudbury High School
Jack Veo – Hudson High School
Mark Petruzella – Pittsfield High School

MBCA NEWS AND NOTES

Congratulations to Frank Carey: Frank Carey will be inducted into this year’s class of the BCA Coaches Hall of Fame. Frank has been coaching at North Reading High School for 48 years while accumulating over 600 wins. His teams have won 23 League Championships, two Eastern Massachusetts Championships and four State Championships. The North Reading community dedicated the varsity baseball field in his honor.
Frank was instrumental in founding the MBCA serving as its president from 1979-1980. Frank also has organized the MBCA Annual Clinic and the MBCA Sectional All-Star Games for many years. With the BCA, Frank has represented the New England region on the Executive Board, been a member of the Hall of Fame Committee and served as is president in 2006.

Kirk Fredericks, a former MBCA president, was selected as the BCA District 1 Coach of the Year. Kirk coaches the Warriors from Lincoln Sudbury who won the Division 1 State Title by beating Minnechaug 10-2 last June. It was the second Division 1 State Championship for Lincoln Sudbury in the last 5 years (2007). Lincoln Sudbury also captured the Division 2 State Championship in 2005. In addition to winning the 2011 Division 1 State Championship Coach Fredericks earned his 200 win this past season.

Welcome new board members: Dwayne Follette of Plymouth North High School, Erik Mandell of Minnechaug Regional and Justin Richards of Oxford High School.

William Herdiech of Greenfield High School was selected as the BCA District 1 Assistant Coach of the Year. Coach Herdiech has been an assistant to the Greenfield Baseball Team for 14 years. Prior to being an assistant at Greenfield, Bill coached both at the high school and community college levels. Bill is well respected by the members of the Greenfield coaching staff for his knowledge of the game.

Bob Roscoe / Strong’s Field-East Bridgewater: Strong’s Field located in East Bridgewater which is cared for by Bob Roscoe was named the BCA District 1 Field of the Year. Bob has spent countless hours taking care of one of the most beautiful fields in New England.
 
Dave MacLaughlan of Greater Lowell Technical High School and a member of the MBCA Executive Board received a service award from the BCA for his long time involvement in high school baseball. Dave just finished his 40th year; a wonderful accomplishment!

Tyler Beede of Lawerence Academy was named District 1 Regional Player of the Year and First Team All American by the BCA. In 51 innings pitched, Tyler recorded a record of 8-0, struck out 102 in only 51 innings and had an ERA of 0.69.

Patrick Connaughton and John Magliozzzi of St. John’s Prep (Danvers) and the Dexter School of Brookline respectively were both named to the BCA District 1 Regional Team. Patrick compiled a 2-2 record and a 1.83 ERA as a pitcher. As a position player he hit .400 and 4 home runs. As a pitcher for Brookline, John was undefeated with a record of 6-0, had an ERA of 1.25 and struck out 41 in 34 innings.

2011 MIAA SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD
RANDOLPH HIGH SCHOOL

MBCA VICTORY CLUB
  100 Victories
Keith Verra – Holliston H. S.
Brian Whelan – Westwood H. S.
Paul Funk – Yarmouth H. S.
Dan Hirsch – Arlington H. S.
Paul Worth – North Shore T.H.S
John Demagian – Northbridge H. S.
 
  200 Victories
Kirk Fredericks – Lincoln Sudbury H.S.

  300 Victories
Marc Pelletier – Central Catholic H. S.
Peter Farr – Palmer H.S.
Glenn Lincoln – Westport H. S.

  600 Victories
Jim Curtin – Burlington H. S.
Bill Pettingell – Newburyport H. S.

Nominations needed:  
The MBCA is looking for yearly nominations in the following categories. If you feel there is a deserving baseball person, player or team in your community, the MBCA would appreciate your time to forward their name and accomplishments to an MBCA executive board member.
• Fred Ebbett Award: Award of Distinction
• Assistant Coach of the Year
• Team Sportsmanship Award
• Players for the MBCA All-Star Game

MIAA NEWS
The following is relevant news / comments from the MIAA. The MIAA is the state governing body for high school interscholastic athletics. It is important for all coaches to keep up with current rule changes.

NEW MIAA AWARDS
The MIAA, in cooperation with NESN, is sponsoring several new awards for athletes and coaches. The MIAA has asked us for help selecting Baseball Team Sportsmanship and Coach of the Year Awards. There will be four Sportsmanship Awards (one for each district) and one state-wide Baseball Coach of the Year Award. Nominations are due by March 23, 2012. To nominate worthy candidates, you may go to www.nesn,com/high, www.massbca.com, or call MIAA Student Service Dept at 598-541-7997.

The MIAA and NESN will also be presenting a Student-Athlete of the Month Award. This award will be presented on a monthly basis to one male and one female student-athlete who display excellence in the area of academics, athletics and community service. Nominations may be submitted by principals, athletic directors, coaches, guidance counselors or other school administrators and must be received by the last day of each month in order to qualify for that month’s award. To nominate a student for this award, go the nesn.com/highschool or visit www.miaa.net.

• Required Concussion Course: The MIAA mandates the all coaches take the National Federation’s online course “Concussion in Sports – What You Need to Know” on a yearly basis. Please check the MIAA website for additional information.
• Game Ejections Down! The Sportsmanship Committee sent a letter to the Baseball Committee acknowledging their efforts to promote sportsmanship during the past school year. Student and coach disqualifications decreased (57%) over the past year. A recommendation was made to continue the communication process of the “Strike Two” Policy to umpires and coaches again this year.
• BBCOR Update: All Massachusetts high schools must use BBCOR bats beginning this spring, the 2012 season. Middle/junior high schools must use BBCORs if those students are eligible for high school competition. (Ex: Grade 7-12 schools with a common principal). For more detail information please visit the MBCA website.

SUPER EIGHT BASEBALL TOURNAMENT PROPOSAL
Presently there is proposed Super Eight Baseball Tournament being considered by the MIAA. At this time the proposal is in its initial stages. The tournament is being proposed because based on percentages the private/catholic schools have dominated the MIAA division one high school baseball tournament. Many coaches in the MBCA and athletic directors in Massachusetts feel that there is an unfair playing field since the private/catholic schools have students from numerous communities.

A Super Eight Baseball Tournament would allow the top private and public schools to continue to compete together and at the same time potentially solve the problems that coaches and athletic directors have with the current format.

There are still many questions that need to be addressed including:
• Should this be a state wide tournament?
• What should be the ratio of private/catholic schools to public schools invited?
• What should the tournament format look like?
• Who should pick the teams that should be participating?