By John Romano
The North End Athletic Association’s 2025 Baseball season for our 4-12 Year Old in house baseball programs were wrapped up on Saturday, June 28. As was much of the season, yesterday we were under the threat of rain most of the day with the T-Ball and Minor League final games playing with a light drizzle falling! However, that did not stop our tough young players from finishing up the season on a positive note. The day started out with our Boston Red Sox Foundation T-ball program for 4/5 year olds, which is part of the Nike Junior RBI program. Under the help of Alex Puopolo and some wonderful parents, the T-Ballers finished out the season with a fun morning. After the session was completed, there were pizza, chips and soft drinks for all the players and their families, as well as medals for all the participants!
Just afternoon time the Minor League finished up its season with a blend of all 5 teams playing a final game, with school being out earlier in the week, many folks were already heading to vacation spots or visiting grandparents. However a fantastic final game was played and all of players had a great day. Again there was there were pizza, chips and soft drinks for all the players and their families, as well as medals for all the participants! Also for each team we awarded a Most Improved player and a player with the best Sportsmanship – that award is named after NEAA Chairman Ted Tomasone.
Awards as follows:
A’s: Most Improved: Hugh Balsam, Sportsmanship: Dylan Ronan
Rays: Most Improved: Matteo Magherini, Sportsmanship: Johnathan Keonigsaman
Phillies: Most Improved: Nolan Maklarikis, Sportsmanship: Keegan Davis
Orioles: Most Improved: Arman Vahdat , Sportsmanship: Max McGovern
Rockies: Chose to give both as a team award
Minor League Coach of the Year was the Rockies Head Coach: Marcko Maglich
To wrap up the 9-12 year olds Major’s season, a Futures Allstar Game was held with 9/10 year old players from all four Majors teams as well as a few 8 year old call ps from the Minors. It was a fun game to watch and for the kids to play. Each team selected an MVP from the other team. Winning Team Coached by Rick Martignetti the MVP was Jack “Sully” Sullivan, the MVP from the Team Coached by John pregmon was Lucca Tizzano.
To conclude the End of Baseball Bash, the Annual North End Vs Charlestown Little League All star Game for 11 and 12 Year olds was played. Father Michael DellaPenna, Pastor of St. Leonard’s Parsh blessed all the players and explained to them that the important thing is to have fun, good sportsmanship and enjoy the game! The Players from both teams enjoyed a fun filled evening under the lights. The Festivities were kickked off by City Councilor Gabriella Coletta Zapata who through out the first pitch. The Councilor represents both neighborhoods and she threw a strike to kick off the game!
The Charlestown Squad was a little more seasoned and beat the North End Team 15-4. MVP Awards were given to a player from each team. The North End MVP was River Purcell and the Charlestown L.L. MVP was Noah Smith.
Throughout the 9-12 year olds games, there was pizza and chips and softdrinks for all the players and their families.
The night concluded with the North End Athletic Association providing medals to all the 9-12 year-old players, except the Tigers who were the playoff Champs and they received trophies! Lastly season awards were given for a Carangelo Award Winner from each team named after Uncle Fred Carangelo:
Marlins: Parker Watson, Tigers: Jeremiah Burns, Cardinals: Treyson Scarpa and Cubs: Eli Margalit
The League Rookie of the year was given to Jack ‘Sully” Sullivan,, The League Best Pitcher to Will McGovern, The Sportsman of the Year: Grayson Miller and Finally the League MVP to Gianluca DeMarco. The Major League Coach of the Year went to Tony Merlino of the Cubs.
Special Thanks to all the coaches and commissioners for another great season, they are all volunteers who do a fantastic job throughout the year beginning on April 1st.
Also a big thanks to the sponsors of the Allstar Game: Ausonia Council Knights of Columbus #1513 in the North End, Boston Specialists, Mangia Mangia, Boston Bottles/Sidecar, Burns Family, Merlino Family, Courville Family, Wharton Family, Randolph/Marci Family, Miller Family and the Margalit Family.
Our Team Sponsors this year were as follows: Majors: St. Anthony’s Feast, St. Agrippina’s Feast, Regional Review, Tomasone Club; Minors: McGovern Auto, Richards MotorCars, Boston Food Tour, North End CARES, Boston Bottles. Boston Red Sox Foundation Nike RBI Program sponsors our T-Ball Program.
We look forward to the Mayor’s Cup in July and watch for Dodgers Baseball (13-15 Year Olds) who play in the Lou Tompkins Allstar Baseball League in July and August.
Congratulations to all the players and coaches for a great season!