Former ICL Star John “Pancho” Webb Passes Away

John “Pancho” Webb, a star with both the Hosmer Chiefs and the Medford Mustangs in the late 1960’s and 1970’s, has passed away. He was scheduled to be inducted into the Intercity League Hall of Fame.

Pancho was drafted by the Red Sox and spent time in their minor league system. He is member of the Medford High Hall of Fame where he was a standout infielder, hockey player, and a place-kicker/wide receiver on the 1967 MHS Class A champion undefeated team.

Pancho’s obituary is below:
John J. Webb a life-long resident of Medford passed away unexpectedly at home on January 17, 2022. He was 70. He graduated from Medford High School, Class of 1969.
John was born in Lynn, the cherished only son of John T. and Anna E. (Galanti) Webb. Survived by his sister Karen Saporito and her husband Richard of Wilmington, MA. Uncle of Nicholas Saporito and his wife Tamara of Medford, Jessica and Dan Kretzenger of Tewksbury and Michael and Kristen Saporito of NH. Great-Uncle to Sophia, Bella, Charlie, Thomas and Tessa.

John who was known to many as ‘Pancho’ was raised and educated in Medford and played sports throughout his life. He was a star athlete, especially with the Medford High Mustangs Baseball team and was inducted into the Medford High School Hall of Fame.

John relocated to Florida for a short period when he was drafted by the Boston Red Sox Farm Team; this was such an exciting time for him and quite an accomplishment. Soon after, Major League Baseball went on an extended strike and all the rookies were released. John then returned home to his family in Medford.

John took a job with the Boston Housing Authority for several years and he continued to follow his favorite Boston Sports Teams.
At John’s request all Funeral Services will be private.

ICL Announces 2021 Award Winners

The ICL managers have cast their ballots and the votes have been tabulated!!

Here are the 2021 ICL Award Winners. Congratulations!!!

EDDIE LARSON MVP– Andrew Mazzone, Middlesex Expos

TOM CASSELL OUTSTANDING HITTER– Andrew Mazzone, Middlesex Expos

OUTSTANDING PITCHER- Ryan O’Rourke, Lexington Blue Sox

FIREMAN OF THE YEAR- Bobby Tramandozzi, Melrose Americans

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR- Gage Gaunt, Lexington Blue Sox

ROOKIE PITCHER OF THE YEAR (Co-Winners)
Tommy Leone, Andre Chiefs & Max Tarlin, Reading Bulldogs

SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD- Joe Pascucci, Umpire

PLAYOFF MVP’s (Co-Winners)
Jose Feliciano & Dom Zaher,Lexington Blue Sox

PLAYOFF OUTSTANDING PITCHERS (Co-Winners)
Ryan O’Rourke, Manny Delcarmen & Pat McGowan, Lexington Blue Sox

Baseball Software & Apps

Best 4 Baseball Apps That Deserve a Start Next Season

Amateur baseball players have always been interested in using statistics, seeing videos of their play, and leveraging data analytics for improving their performance. However, most of this technology wasn’t available to them without a big-league budget.

Provided are 4 apps a baseball league could incorporate to provide its players with both a competitive edge and a more enjoyable experience. The ICL is only using one of these software tools today, but perhaps others are on the horizon. Plus, several of these apps have ties to our local baseball community!


400hitter

400hitter is statistics software that includes player stats, league standings, league scheduling, umpire assignments, player registrations, and more. The Intercity League began using it in 2006, and has every year since. While it does not provide real-time play-by-play like GameChanger does, it us the best baseball software on the market for amateur baseball leagues.

400 Hitter Baseball Stats

400hitter was created by Mike Ganley, a player in the Boston Men’s Baseball League. His tool was quickly caught on, and today is used by the ICL, Boston MABL & MSBL, and most of the amateur leagues across Greater Boston, including the Yawkey, Park, Commonwealth, North Shore, and Cranberry leagues.

400Hitter keeps track of a player’s statistics across their career, wherever they play. So when a player changes teams or leagues, their statistics remain linked – as long as their league is in the 400hitter network – as most Boston-based leagues are.

Having career stats for players and teams also allows for features not found in other stats apps, such as career leaders by league, career leaders by team, day vs. night splits for a player, and rookie stats. Plus, each game’s line scores, box scores and summary can be viewed online as well as shared via social media.

400hitter costs $75 per team and must be used for an entire league to function accurately.

Ganley finished his amateur career in 2009, and today is the Director of Baseball Systems for the Boston Red Sox. You know his work with 400hitter helped him move up to the majors!


ChangeUp

ChangeUp goes beyond what a typical pitch counter does to track pitches within a baseball game. It allows coaches to manage pitcher workloads and assess pitcher performance across multiple teams and leagues.

ChangeUp – Pitch Clicker App Screenshots

This has never been more important across amateur baseball. Pretend Sean Sullivan is pitching on your team. Most managers would love to have him, as he has a career record of 60-29 with a 2.37 ERA. But did you know that in addition to pitching for the Alibrandis in the Intercity League he also pitched for the Boston Bombers in the Boston MSBL?

How can a manager track detailed game appearances and pitching performance across multiple teams in different leagues? They could look it up, page by page in 400hitter, but that wouldn’t really provide any date tied to a player’s pitching availability, or about what innings they are most effective in.

Now, this data can be available as long as all a players’ teams and leagues are using ChangeUp. The Futures Collegiate Baseball League is using ChangeUp today, and the app founders hope their app catches on!

At the competitive amateur level, pitchers use ChangeUp data analytics to understand how effective they are, and managers use it ensure they get strong performance from their staff with fewer trips to the disabled list.

Overall, the ChangeUp pitching app allows users to:

• Accurately track pitching performance across unlimited teams and seasons.
• Ensure compliance with mandated pitch count restrictions and required rest.
• Access powerful analytics focused on effectiveness, durability, and safety.
• Observe trends and growth by seeing historical player profiles.

The ChangeUp platform tracks pitchers from their very first appearance until they hang up their cleats, enabling lifelong career profiles that support training and development. Now pitchers can track their personal growth over a single season or a lengthy career – one pitch at a time.

Download ChangeUp for free from the Apple App Store. League plan prices vary based on need.


Realplay

Realplay delivers video of every swing, pitch, and catch that any player makes on a baseball or softball field. Their cameras capture every moment to help players improve, share their highlights, and hold on to memories.

Realplay Sports Video

Justin Real is the founder of Realplay. Real started playing baseball in the Yawkey League in 2006 and joined the Boston Men’s Baseball League in 2010. He retired from amateur baseball in 2016 to start up his business. Today, his app provides video access to players unlike anything he ever had access to himself.

Every baseball players using Realplay has access to video of their baseball performance – edited, tagged and posted for them after every game. Of course, it requires that a Realplay camera systems is installed at each fields where games are played. Perhaps there are some ICL teams that would be interested in installing cameras at their home field.

The video they produce is unmatched at the amateur level. Their split-screen views allow players to understand how to make the physical adjustments that will help their game. Plus, Realplay offers photo and video albums that can be saved or shared on social media in an unprecedented way. Real-time feedback is now available in a way that never before existed.

Realplay costs $7.99 a month for individuals, or $450 a season for a team.

In December 2021, Realplay was named as one of the 101 Best Massachusetts Sports Companies and Startups.


Switcher Studio

Switcher Studio lets you sync multiple Apple devices to livestream directly to Facebook, YouTube, or other social media platforms.

Switcher Studio Baseball Broadcasting

Today, Local Sports Productions presents many ICL games in such a way that makes the league broadcasts appear professional. Some managers even post occasional Facebook Live feeds directly from their phone.

But with Switcher Studio, whoever is producing from their mobile phone can easily add player names to introduce athletes, player interviews, guests or sponsors to provide commentary. Plus, you can keep score and track counts with custom scoreboards. If you’re up for it, you can even shoot with multiple iPhones to capture multiple angles. Some of the other local leagues around Boston have been using Switcher Studio for several years.

Switcher Studio enables family and friends who cannot attend the game to watch – and comment – as the action unfolds. The players can also watch the game recordings later to see their best performances and which calls the umpires got right (or wrong).

Cell phone data is not an issue if you have an unlimited data plan from your provider. But bring an extra battery pack if you hope to stream a full 3-hour game, as the video can quickly drain your battery.

Switcher Studio costs $45 a month during baseball season.


Interested in any of these baseball apps for your league? Tell your manager so they can bring it up at the next Board meeting. And best of luck on the ballfield next season!

John McEvoy, Jr longtime ICL player passes away unexpectedly

John William McEvoy, Jr.
Assistant Middlesex District Attorney

Of Belmont, Passed away suddenly at home on August 25, 2021, at the age of 66. Devoted husband of M. Jane Walsh for nearly 41 years. Father of Matthew and Robyn McEvoy of Sudbury; Michael McEvoy and Dan Nadeau of Boston; and Elizabeth McEvoy and Michael Birch of Natick. Grandfather of Stella McEvoy, Eva Birch and Jack Birch. Brother of Kathleen McEvoy of Cambridge and the Honorable Christine McEvoy (RET) of Belmont; son of late John William McEvoy, Sr. and the late Eva Antonelli McEvoy of Belmont.

Born in Brighton, MA, in 1954, John was a graduate of Belmont High School, class of 1972, and Brown University, class of 1976. While at Brown, John played football and baseball and was captain of the Varsity Baseball Team. After college, he continued to play baseball in the amateur Intercity Baseball League for the next 18 years. In his later playing years in the ICL, he founded the Peter Fuller team, which played home games at Belmont High School. He would coach and play for the Peter Fuller team until the age of 39. His son Matthew followed in his father’s ICL footsteps as Matthew played 13 seasons in the Intercity League. Matthew played 10 seasons with Watertown and played three seasons with Lexington, winning the ICL championship each year.

John graduated from Suffolk Law School in 1979 and was appointed an assistant Middlesex District Attorney later that year. He served in that capacity in the office he loved to the present day, for 42 years. During those four decades, he was honored to serve as a supervisor for each of the three regions within the Middlesex DA’s office, as chief of homicide for more than 20 years and as First Assistant District Attorney for 3 consecutive administrations.

An accomplished trial attorney, John never forgot to credit the professionalism and tremendous work ethic of the State and Local Police as well as the Appellate Bureau upon whom he depended. One of his greatest satisfactions was witnessing the continued accomplishments of the many talented, dedicated assistant district attorneys whom he helped train. He was genuinely grateful to the countless families with whom he worked toward securing justice.

John’s most important priority was always his family. He was deeply committed to his wife, Jane, his partner for life. He was a loving, enthusiastic, and forever proud Father, and honored to be beloved “Papa” to his grandchildren. John also shared his passion for sports with his children and community, selected as coach of dozens of youth teams. There he was respected for his knowledge and more importantly for his kindness.

John is survived as well by many cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.

Visiting hours will be held in the Brown & Hickey Funeral Home 36 Trapelo Road Belmont on Thursday Sept. 2nd from 4:00 – 7:00 PM. A funeral mass will be celebrated in St Joseph Church 128 Common Street Belmont on Friday Sept. 3rd at 10:00 AM. Relatives and friends invited. Interment Highland Meadow Cemetery, Belmont. Please wear face masks and social distance at all indoor services.

Lexington steals its way to a 16th Intercity League Championship

By Bruce Hackett

Watertown – The score was knotted at 1-1, the bases were loaded with one out in the bottom of the sixth, and the stage was set for Lexington to use one of its favorite plays – the suicide squeeze. As Julian Alvarez broke for home and batter Alex Krylov squared to bunt, the play didn’t quite happened as drawn up. Krylov didn’t get the bunt down as the pitch was high and Alvarez slid across home plate with the championship winning run.

Despite switching the game to Victory Field in Watertown, the Blue Sox were ready to win their sixth consecutive championship, the first ICL team to accomplish the feat, It was also the Sox 16th ICL title.

The inning started with Josue Feliciano singling to start the rally. Gage Gaunt got down the sacrifice bunt to move Feliciano into scoring position. Expos starter Cam Monagle intentionally walked Alvarez. Luke Hall delivered a double to left scoring Feliciano and tying the game at 1-1. Dahiandy Johnson is intentionally walked to load the bases and set the sweet championship winning play.

The starting pitchers, Monagle and Lexington’s Jake Vesling dominated the first three innings. The Blue Sox sent the minimum nine batters to the plate as Johnson, who had singled in the second, was caught stealing for the second out. Monagle struck out a Sox batter in each of the first three frames. Meanwhile Vesling had allowed two singles through the first three innings with five strike outs.

The Expos ended the scoreless streak when Andrew Mazzone took a 2-1 pitch the opposite way over the fence in left for the 1-0 lead to start the fourth. Dionys Quezada followed with a single, stole second, took third on a fielder’s choice but was stranded there as two strikeouts sandwiched around a caught stealing ended the threat.

The Blue Sox got their second base runner in the fourth when Feliciano leadoff with a single. He would get no further. In the fifth the Sox doubled their hit total with two singles by Krylov and Will Potdevin, but they were both stranded and the score stayed 1-0 Expos.
Vesling was making his first start of the postseason for Lexington. He responded with four good innings as he gave up four hits, one earned run, walked none and struck out seven.

He was followed on the mound by Borja Jones-Berasaluce who pitched two scoreless innings with two hits, no walks and 2 strikeouts to put him in to position to get the win, his first this postseason. Then closer supreme Manny Delcarmen came in to pitch the 7th and Middlesex was retired in order with two strikeouts.

This was the lowest scoring finals game since Lexington beat Reading 2-1 on August 24, 2017 for the 2017 title.
It is tied for the third lowest scoring playoff game since 2006. The lowest is a 1-0 win by Andre over Lexington on August 23, 2013.

Congratulations to the Middlesex Expos for a great first-year season in the Intercity League. They finished second in the regular season and second in the playoffs.
Since 2006 this was the eighth meeting in the finals between top two teams. The number one seed having now won five times.

Another Intercity League season has come to close. After a season away due to a global pandemic the players and their teams were ready to get back on the fields. It was a great season with four teams battling for the top three spots which gave that team a bye in the playoffs.
The race for playoff spots went down to the last week of the regular season.

As the lights go out for the final time for the 2021 season all the players, coaches and team staff want to thank the fans for their attendance and support. Everyone looks forward to seeing you in 2022.

2021 ICL PLAYOFFS- SCORES & SCHEDULE

2021 INTERCITY LEAGUE PLAYOFFS
Play-In Round
Tuesday, August 10
#5 Andre Chiefs 6, #6 Reading Bulldogs 1
(Reading Bulldogs eliminated)

Wednesday, August 11
#5 Andre Chiefs 13, #4 Alibrandis 1
(Alibrandis eliminated)

Semi-Finals (Best of three)
Thursday, August 12
#1 Lexington Blue Sox 3, #5 Andre Chiefs 2
(Lexington Leads Series, 1-0)
#3 Melrose Americans 5, #2 Middlesex Expos 3
(Melrose Leads Serie, 1-0)

Friday, August 13
#5 Andre Chiefs 6, #1 Lexington Blue Sox 5
(Series tied 1-1)
#2 Middlesex Expos 16, #3 Melrose Americans 2
(Series tied 1-1)

Sunday, August 15
#2 Middlesex Expos 7, #3 Melrose Americans 2
(Middlesex wins series, 2-1)
#1 Lexington Blue Sox 7, #5 Andre Chiefs 1
(Lexington wins series, 2-1)

Championship
#2 Middlesex Expos vs. #1 Lexington Blue Sox
(Best of Five)
Tuesday, August 17
Lexington Blue Sox 11, Middlesex Expos 4
(Lexington leads series. 1-0)

Wednesday, August 18
Lexington Blue Sox 6, Middlesex Expos 0
(Lexington leads series, 2-0)

Thursday, August 19, Victory Field, 7:00 PM
Lexington Blue Sox 2, Middlesex Expos 1
(Lexington wins series, 2-1)

Lexington Blue Sox

Lexington blanks Middlesex 6-0, Tonight’s Game 3 Moved to Victory Field in Watertown at 7:00 PM

By Bruce Hack
THURSDAY’S GAME THREE WILL NOW BE PLAYED AT VICTORY FIELD IN WATERTOWN AT 7:00 PM.
Melrose – Lexington moved to within a win of taking the 2021 Intercity League championship with a 6-0 shutout of Middlesex in game two of the finals.
Alex Voitik and Josue Feliciano each hit solo home runs to power the Blue Sox offense. Voitik, hit his first round tripper of the postseason, leading off the third inning giving Lexington a 3-0 lead. Feliciano, hit his first of the postseason, leading off the sixth inning, to put the Blue Sox up 6-0.
Pat McGowan and Manny Delcarmen combined on the four hit shutout with two walks and six strike outs. McGowan, in his second postseason start, pitched two 1-2-3 innings in the first and fifth. He stranded four Expos, only two in scoring position.
Though the Lexington streak of scoring in the first inning was stopped, the Blue Sox scored twice in the second, the only runs they would need. Dahiandy Johnson singled with one out, his first of three on the night. He stole second and third with two outs and Brendan Jones stepping to the plate. Jones worked a nine-pitch walk to put Blue Sox on the corners. Number nine hitter Dom Zaher walked on eight pitches to load the bases. Feliciano saw eight pitches, the last one was ball four and Johnson trotted home with the first run of the night. Gage Gaunt reached on error and Jones scored for the 2-0 lead.
After not scoring in the first the Blue Sox scored in the next five innings. Zaher scored the run in fourth on a passed ball. In the fifth Zaher singled to drive in Johnson.
Lexington has now scored in 19 of the 32 innings it has played in the postseason or 59%.
Zach Kirby started for Middlesex, but the Expos ace was not at his best. In the second inning he threw 45 pitches, he pitched 25 of them to Jones, Zaher and Feliciano who all went to full counts. Kirby’s night ended after five innings pitched. He gave up 7 hits, five runs, 3 earned, walked three and struck out eight. There was also three wild pitches among the 124 pitches he tossed.
The shutout was the first for Lexington since August 14, 2019 when the Sox blanked Andre 1-0 behind Mike Geannelis. It was the Blue Sox first finals shutout since August 26, 2018 when they blanked Watertown 8-0 in the title clinching game.

The teams hope to play game three on Thursday night weather permitting. The forecast is not good.
For up-to-date information on the league and status of game three go to www.intercityleague baseball.com

To watch all the action live streamed on You Tube, go to Beyond Sight Sports. The link will be posted on the ICL website and twitter as soon as possible before the start of the game.

Lexington powers to an 11-4 win over Middlesex

By Bruce Hack
Melrose – Lexington flexed its muscles Tuesday night hitting three home runs on the way to an 11-4 first game win over Middlesex at Morelli Field.

The Blue Sox have 1-0 lead in the best of five finals with game two tonight at Morelli at 7:45.

Julian Alvarez started the power show with a first inning solo shot, his second home run of the playoffs, that knotted the score at 1-1. It was the fourth straight playoff game that the Blue Sox have scored in the first inning.

Gage Gaunt made it 3-1 with a solo home run in the third, his first of the playoffs.

In the fifth it was Dom Zaher’s turn to take a jog around the bases as he hit a two-run shot to give the Blue Sox a 5-1 lead. The next four Sox batters all singled with Luke Hall driving in two runs for a 7-1 lead. Alvarez scored on an infield out and Lexington had put up a big crooked number with five runs to take an 8-1 lead.

Ryan O’Rourke was the beneficiary of the Sox offense. The lefty pitched six innings for his second win of the playoffs. He gave up six hits, one run, walked one and struck out five. The strikeouts came in the third and fourth innings as he struck out four straight, two to end the third and two to start the fourth.

Both teams had at least one hit in every half inning. The teams combined for 21 hits in seven innings.

Middlesex had a single in each of the first six innings, but only scored one run and left eight runners stranded.

The Expos took a 1-0 lead in top of the first. Kebler Peralta started the game with a single to left. Jose Paulino walked and the Expos had runners on first and second with no out. A double steal moved both runners into scoring position. With one out, Kenny Higgins popped up down the right field line that was caught by second baseman Brendan Jones. Peralta tagged up and trotted home for the 1-0 lead.

Middlesex was kept off the scoreboard for the next five innings, but finally broke through in the seventh. The Expos scored three runs on three hits and three walks off Sox reliever Jack Schwartz. Michael Oliveira singled, his second of the night, to drive in two.

Alvarez, Gaunt and Zaher combined to score eight runs, knock out eight hits and drive in six runs along with their three home runs.

Peralta had three hits for the Expos and scored twice. Oliveira added two hits and drove in two.

Michael Smith started for the Expos and five innings. He gave up 10 hits, eight runs, walked one and struck out five.

The two teams return to Morelli Wednesday night for game two switching sides as Lexington will be the visitors.

All of the action of the finals can be seen at Beyond Sight Sports on You Tube. The games are broadcast live and can also be watched later. Check the ICL website and twitter for the exact URL for game two.

Middlesex Expos, Intercity League

Middlesex Tops Melrose to take Semifinal Series

The Middlesex Expos built on a fourth inning three run homer from Brett Samboy, breaking a scoreless tie, and went on to beat the Melrose Americans 7-2 on Sunday night at Morelli Field. With the win the Expos take the best of three semifinal series two games to one.

Samboy led the way with two hits and Michael Oliveira added two hits and a pair of RBI’s. The Expos took advantage of nine walks issued by Melrose pitching.

Scott Hall picked up the win for Middlesex going six innings and allowing just three hits while striking out six. The Americans touched up reliever Ryan Qualey for both runs in the top of the seventh on an RBI single from Pat Costigan and a wild pitch.

The Expos will now move on to meet the Lexington Blue Sox in the best of five Championship Series beginning on Tuesday night at 7:45 PM.

Lexington Blue Sox

Lexington advances to Finals with 7-1 win over the Chiefs

By Bruce Hack
Lexington – Blue Sox starter Robbie Cobb made his first start for Lexington a memorable one as he pitched Lexington into the finals with a 7-1 win over Andre Sunday night.

Cobb, a former Nichols College pitcher, set down the first six Chiefs on 13 pitches. He retired 11 of the first 13 batters he faced through the fourth. In the third and fourth innings he was helped out by his defense. Lexington center fielder Dom Zaher, brought the third inning to a close with a Sports Center Top Ten Plays worthy catch. Zaher raced to his right and after a long run made a diving catch. In the fourth Zaher again flashed the leather making a running catch coming in for the first out of the inning. With one out and Nick Valdario on first Brendan Jones ended the fourth by turning a double play.

Meanwhile the Lexington offense finally got into high gear after two games. In the first two games of the series the Blue Sox had scored eight runs on eight hits. Tonight they scored seven runs on 13 hits, all singles.

For the third straight game the Blue Sox scored in the first inning and quickly took a 1-0 lead. With one out Gage Gaunt reached second on a throwing error. Luke Hall delivered a single up the middle and Gaunt easily scored the first run.

Lexington added two more runs in the third. Alex Voitik and Dahiandy Johnson each had two-out RBI singles that drove in Josue Feliciano (fielder’s choice) and Gaunt (single).

The Chiefs scored their lone run in the fifth. Adam Johnson singled and went to second on a throwing error. After taking third on an infield out Johnson scored on Joe Bova’s ground out to first. Kyle DeRoma walked and that brought an end to Cobb’s night. Borja Jones-Berasaluce came in and finished the inning with a strikeout.

In getting his first playoff win, Cobb pitched 4.2 innings, giving up 2 hits, an unearned run, walked two and struck out two.

Adding two runs in the fifth and sixth innings the Blue Sox took a 7-1 lead going into the seventh.

Lexington closer Manny Delcarmen pitched the seventh and quickly brought the game to an end as he struck out the side.

Chiefs starter Tim Dunphy, in his second start of the playoffs, pitched 5+ innings giving up 11 hits, 6 runs, 3 earned, walked one and struck out one.

Johnson drove in three runs for Lexington on run-producing singles in the third and fifth innings. At the top of the order Feliciano and Gaunt each scored two runs with Gaunt adding an RBI. Voitik and Zaher each scored and drove in a run. All nine Lexington starters had at least one hit, with four of them, Johnson, Alex Krylov, Jones and Zaher each getting two.

Lexington will be making its 14th consecutive appearance in the finals. All of the games will be played at Melrose’s Morelli Field with 7:45 start times. The action can all be watched on You Tube at Beyond Sight Sports.

First game of the Championship Round is Tuesday, August 17.