Andre Chiefs, Intercity League

Chiefs’ Mike Pagliarulo Named as Miami Marlins Hitting Coach

Mike Pagliarulo, who was a member of the Andre Chiefs Coaching Staff in 2016, was recently named Hitting Coach of the Miami Marlins. Below is a story written by Sun Sentinel Sports Reporter Tim Healey.

There are two things you should know about Mike Pagliarulo, the Miami Marlins’ new hitting coach.

The first is his last name is pronounced Pal-lee-ah-ROO-low — or, as Pagliarulo put it, “however it comes out.” Most people just call him Pags.

The second is that Pagliarulo, 56, is a researcher of sorts, always passionate and sometimes obsessive. The guy does his homework. From an amateur career that brought him to the University of Miami to his major league days when he was teammates with Don Mattingly to multiple stages of a post-playing career, Pagliarulo has made research and preparedness a hallmark of his baseball life.

Pagliarulo would have never ended up in South Florida if not for his research. He was a suburban Boston kid in the 1970s, an all-state player as a junior but not sure how good he really was, playing maybe two-dozen games a year in a part of the country where the winter comes early and stays late. So he started reaching out to college programs to gauge potential interest Florida Stateand Rollins College in the Sunshine State, Southern California and Arizona outside it. And then there was UM. Pagliarulo’s grandparents lived in Pembroke Pines, and during one family get-together he arranged a visit to Coral Gables, too. That’s where he met Ron Fraser, the late and legendary Hurricanes baseball coach, and assistant Skip Bertman. A 6-foot-2, switch-hitting shortstop? Pagliarulo had their attention. He ended up with a scholarship and a successful three-year collegiate career. “I felt like that was where I was born in baseball,” Pagliarulo said in a telephone interview Wednesday, a day after his hiring with the Marlins was announced.

The New York Yankees picked Pagliarulo in the sixth round of the 1981 amateur draft. Three years later, he made it to the Bronx and played third base opposite Mattingly, the All-Star first baseman and MVP candidate. It was the start of Pagliarulo’s 11-season big league career with five teams, plus a one-year layover in Japan. One of his best seasons came in 1991, when he was on the World Series-winning Minnesota Twins.

Pagliarulo spent half of his major league days with the Yankees, with whom he learned further lessons in research — in this case, research on a given game’s starting pitcher. The detailed scouting reports commonplace now were much less so then. “The Yankees had reports on everything,” Pagliarulo said. “I can say I was always prepared for first pitch.”

Research has remained the common career thread for Pagliarulo, but in his post-playing days it took on a more central role. Research became his job, as opposed to the preparation for his job, as he transitioned into the scouting world. Pagliarulo and Willie Fraser — a contemporary and fellow journeyman who also had a Japan stint and joined the Marlins as an advance scout last season — became part-owners of iScout, Inc., in late 2001. They consulted with major league and Japanese teams interested in bringing in players from the other country, a service complete with video scouting reports — a rarity for a turn-of-the-century enterprise.

By the end of last decade, Pagliarulo joined the Los Angeles Angels as a major league and advance scout. In 2013-14, he was the hitting coach for Triple-A Indianapolis in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ farm system, Pagliarulo’s only professional coaching gig until this week. Gregory Polanco, Josh Harrison and Jordy Mercer were among his charges. After two seasons, Pagliarulo wanted more. “I knew I could have an impact on a major league club,” he said. He started plotting his next move, getting back to his research roots: Now what? Instead of a high school kid looking for a college, Pagliarulo was the middle-aged father of two grown children and looking for another direction. He reached out to people in the game he knew to see where might be a fit. He thought hitting coordinator, usually a sort of organizational floater/overseer spending time with various minor league teams, would be a logical next step.

Talks with the Marlins and Boston Red Sox last winter didn’t result in a job. A year later, with the Marlins moving on from Barry Bonds after one season as hitting coach, Pagliarulo got the job. As he works with assistant hitting coach Frank Menechino, Pagliarulo will be tasked with helping Marlins hitters digest the occasionally intimidating library of information available to them — including video, an aspect of the club’s offensive game Mattingly stressed needed to get better as Miami’s season petered out to a disappointing end in September. Pagliarulo is confident he can do that. The skill set he has developed over the course of decades is one of a modern major league hitting coach. “I’m so glad the technology is as advanced as it is,” Pagliarulo said. “From my lived experience, with that technology, I can expand on what I’ve learned and what [players] need to learn.”

thealey@sun-sentinel.com, @timbhealey Copyright © 2016, Sun Sentinel

 

Next Hall of Fame Dinner will be in 2017

The Intercity League Board of Directors has announced that the next Hall of Fame Dinner will be held sometime in 2017.

The dinner was held annually since 2010 but the Board recently decided to hold the event every two years.

The date of the 2017 dinner will be announced soon.

 

Andre Chiefs, Intercity League

Frank Andre Services

Frank Andre, age 94, a longtime resident of Medford, passed away peacefully, September 21, 2016.  He was the beloved husband of Norma (Luongo) Andre and together they shared seventy years of marriage. Born in Worcester he was one of five children of the late Michael and Phyllis (DeRosa) Andreottola.
 
Frank was raised and educated in Medford and was a graduate of Medford High School. Frank was a prominent local businessman and a true entrepreneur enjoying success in different business ventures. He owned and operated the Medford Cinema for many years as well as Andre Construction Company Inc., which built hundreds of homes in Medford in 1950’s and 1960’s. He also loved thoroughbred horses, owning and operating the Andre Stable for many years that had a string of horses that campaigned at New England racetracks. However his greatest joy was his family. He was an avid sports fan and he cherished being the number one fan of his son and then two grandchildren whenever they were participating in different sports over the years. He especially enjoyed being a fan of his son’s semi-professional baseball team, The Andre Chiefs of the Intercity League.
In addition to his beloved wife, Norma, Frank is lovingly survived by his devoted son, Chuck Andre and his wife Kathy of Medford. He was the doting and loving grandfather of Michael Andre and his wife Gwen of Medford, and Carla Andre of Medford. He was the cherished brother of Lena Mills and her husband Frank of Medford, the late Frances Belmonte, Anthony Andre and Nicholas Andreottola. Also survived by many loving nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held from the Dello Russo Funeral Home, 306 Main St., MEDFORD, Monday, September 26th, at 9:00 AM followed by a funeral mass celebrated in St. Francis of Assisi Church, 441 Fellsway West, Medford, at 10:00 AM. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. Visiting hours at the Dello Russo Family Funeral Home will be held on Sunday from 3:00 thru 7:00 PM. Services will conclude with burial at Oak Grove Cemetery, Medford. To leave an online message of condolence please visit www.dellorusso.net

Services for Dave Ahern

AHERN, David M. of Bedford. Passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Sunday Sept. 4, 2016. He was 28 years old. Beloved son of Joseph and Denise (Cajolet). Loving brother of Joseph Ahern and wife Catherine Middleton of Los Angeles, CA, Michael “Chip” Ahern of Boston and Rachael Ahern of Somerville. Boyfriend of Mia Morgan of Bedford, NH. Grandson of Alice Cajolet of Cambridge and Irene Ahern of Medford. Nephew of Kathleen Friedman of Lexington, Karen DiRusso of Medford and Paul Ahern of Medford. Also survived by many cousins. David was an accomplished baseball player. He played right field and pitcher at Babson College. During his senior year he was awarded All American. Most recently he played for the Lexington Blue Sox. Relatives and friends are invited to attend visiting hours in St. Agnes Church, 30 Medford St., Arlington on Friday from 3-8 pm. A funeral mass will be held in church on Saturday at 11:30 am. Burial in Westview Cemetery, Lexington. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Michael Neely Foundation c/o www.camneelyfoundation.org For directions, donations, or to send a condolence visit www.keefefuneralhome.com

Dave Ahern, #41, has made it home

DA honor

 

IN MEMORY OF DAVE AHERN

November 2, 1987-September 4, 2016 

Intercity League champion Lexington Blue Sox pray for stricken teammate

The following story appeared in the Boston Globe on August 28.

By Marvin Pave GLOBE CORRESPONDENT  AUGUST 28, 2016

The Lexington Blue Sox captured their second straight Intercity League baseball title on Tuesday night with a 5-4 victory over Andre Chiefs at Morelli Field in Melrose.

But their celebration was subdued, their thoughts quickly turning to prayers for their stricken teammate, Dave Ahern.

A 28-year-old outfielder/pitcher who starred at Bedford High and then Babson College, Ahern has been treated at Tufts Medical Center since going into cardiac arrest last Thursday.

According to his family and Blue Sox manager Rick DeAngelis, Ahern had not regained consciousness since last week. He had suited up for the Blue Sox in the quarterfinals and semifinals of the Intercity League playoffs.

His No. 41 uniform was displayed in the Blue Sox dugout and also delivered to his hospital room where family, friends and teammates – past and present — have congregated.

Blue Sox players also wore navy blue AHERN 41 t-shirts under their game uniforms and ‘DA’ decals on their helmets and caps as they swept the three-game series against the Chiefs.

BlueSox_28weahern01_liv-knCI-U824094980155IEC-300x225@BostonGlobe.com

Dave Ahern hitting for the Blue Sox (courtesy Lexington Blue Sox).

 

“Dave started playing for us in 2012 and right away became a major contributor, a team leader and a mentor to our younger players,’’ said DeAngelis.
“We rallied around Dave Ahern and his family this past week because he is a special young man and a tremendous human being.’’

A post on the team’s Facebook page said: “Dave, we took pressure off the game and put things in perspective. We all love you, we’re praying for you to make a full recovery . . . your contributions to our championship are immeasurable.’’

Another Facebook posting, by Ahern’s sister, Rachael, said, in part, “your prayers are appreciated. We are all holding David close to our hearts.’’

Last Thursday, before he was stricken at his home, Ahern went to the Granite Links Golf Club to sharpen up for a tournament the following day benefitting the Babson baseball program. He works fulltime as a sales manager.

As a Babson senior, he hit .438 while compiling a 5-2 record on the mound with a 1.19 earned run aveage. He broke or tied nine of the program’s game, season or career records. He was Babson’s Male Athlete of the Year for the senior class.

“He’s the best player I’ve ever had at Babson,’’ said Matt Noone, who has coached at the Wellesley school for 15 seasons.

“Dave has a larger than life personality and he was the guy our team looked to for strength. He was our rock. We’re all hoping and praying that Dave’s strength leads to his recovery.’’

To help defray Ahern’s medical bills, student loans, and rent, his friends have set up GoFundMe page, www.gofundme.com/DaveNeedsUs.

Marvin Pave can be reached at marvin.pave@rcn.com

 

 

This One’s for Dave

Lexington wins 12th ICL Championship By Bruce Hack Lexington Blue Sox Media Relations Director   Melrose – Determined to win for their stricken Blue Sox brother and teammate, Dave Ahern, Lexington held on for a hard-fought 5-4 win and a sweep of the Andre Chiefs for its 12th Intercity League Championship in 22 seasons. For […]

Blue Sox Take ICL Title with 5-4 Win

The Lexington Blue Sox took the ICL Title with a 5-4 win over the Andre Chiefs in game three on Tuesday night at Morelli Field.

More from Bruce Hack is coming soon!!!!!

Blue Sox Take 2-0 Series Lead

Drew Leenhouts tossed a complete game four-hitter to lead the Lexington Blue Sox to a 5-0 shutout win over the Andre Chiefs in Game Two of the ICL Finals.

Game Three is Tuesday night at Morelli Field in Melrose on Tuesday at 8:00 PM.

Game story will be posted soon by Bruce Hack.

 

FRENI PITCHES CHIEFS TO ICL FINALS, SERIES VS BLUE SOX BEGINS ON SUNDAY

For the sixth straight season, and for the seventh time in the last eight years, the Lexington Blue Sox and the Andre Chiefs will meet to decide the Intercity League Championship.

Jared Freni punched the Chiefs’ ticket to the dance with a lights out eleven K, six-hitter, when the he blanked the gutsy and game Reading Bulldogs 3-0 in the deciding game of their best of five series at Maplewood Park in Malden on Thursday night.

Peter Copa was the offensive standout of the night with a first inning RBI single and a third inning solo homer. Steve Gambale drove in the final Chiefs run with a two out single in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Bulldogs’ starter Jack Burke allowed only four hits, and struck out four, in four innings, before giving way to veteran Steve Hueston in the fifth inning.

The best of five Championship Series will get underway on Sunday at Morelli Field at 8:00 PM. All games will be played at the Melrose venue, with Games Two and Three planned for Monday and Tuesday, and if necessary, Games Four on Wednesday, and Game Five to be determined.

All games in the series will begin at 8:00 PM.