Needham Fall Softball offers a great opportunity for players to gain experience in the game outside of the traditional season. Players can continue playing games throughout the fall while also having a chance to work on fundamentals, hone more advanced skills, play new positions, and learn more about the game.  Many of our players participate simultaneously in other sports, with a special devotion to softball.

Registration.  Registration is now open and will run to end of July.  Please visit Open Registrations at http://www.needhambaseball.com/  Late sign-ups will only be permitted if room is available. 

Season.  The Fall season will begin with practices and games starting in early September (after Labor Day). Game and practice schedules will be ready in late August or early September, depending on the program. 

Programs.  This season we are happy to offer the following programs (please visit our Fall Softball Leagues for detailed information):

2022 Fall 1^st and 2^nd Grade In-Town Softball (for girls born between 06/01/2014 and 08/31/2016)

2022 Fall 10U, 12U, and 14U Fall Travel Softball (for girls born between 01/01/2007 and 08/31/2015)

2022 Fall 18U Travel Softball (for girls born between 09/01/2004 and 08/31/2008)

We’re excited for another great fall season.  See you on the diamond!

Any questions – please contact the Fall League Director.

In the town majors World Series, in part with a last-inning rally, the Mets defeated the Red Sox by a score of 12-5. Mitchell Pollack took the hill for 5 innings, striking out 10 and walking 1, giving up 2 earned runs. CJ Galvin closed it out 1-2-3 despite facing a very dangerous top of the order for the Sox. The Mets had 12 hits, spread up and down the lineup, with everyone contributing.

For the Sox, Connor Callahan started and struck out 8 while walking none over 4 1/3 innings. In the AL pennant game, Brandon Lopez threw a complete game gem, shutting out the offensive-powerhouse Royals, while striking out 12 and walking just 1.

Noah Siegel led the Mets to the NL pennant with a complete 6-inning game, striking out 12 and walking 1, in a 9-1 win over the NL-West champion Rockies. Siegel and Blake Carr both went 3-for-3 with a double at the plate in the NL pennant game.

Pictured from left to right are Hudson Best, Brodey Kaplowitz, Blake Carr, Eli Roth, Ben Bean, Mitchell Pollack, CJ Galvin (kneeling), Zack Eacott, Noah Siegel, Max Kaplan, Sid Phatak, and Miles Getzik. Mets coaches are Barry Pollack, Paul Galvin, Erik Eacott and Kris Getzik.

Congratulations to these players who were selecetd by their peers and coaches to represent Needham on the Road to Williamsport. Come out and support them in the District 11 Tournament later this month. 

If your son or daughter is between the ages of 6 and 12 years old, please consider enrolling them in the Birdball Baseball Camp this summer at Boston College. Intructors will be current coaches and players at BC, one of the top Division I baseball programs in New England. All sessions run from 8am-3pm and extended day options are available if needed.

July 5th-8th

July 11th-15th

July 18th-22nd

July 25th-29th

Please visit www.birdballbaseball.com for more information.
 

The Village Club is pleased to announce the winners of this year's Major League Baseball® Pitch, Hit & Run™ competition held on Opening Day.

SOFTBALL

Age Group 7/8: Carly Horman

Age Group 9/10: Gia Poulous

BASEBALL

Age Group 7/8: Luca Cistulli

Age Group 9/10: Noah Eacott

Age Group 11/12: Mitchell Pollack

Based on their scores, they may advance from a local event to a Team Championship and then to the National Finals, which will be held during the 2022 MLB® WORLD SERIES™.

Congratulations to all who participated and good luck to our five winners as they represent Needham.

Parade, Ceremony, Activity and Other Important Information is below.

TEAM PHOTOS

Team photos are scheduled before the parade for baseball teams AAA, AA, A, 1st grade, and Kindergarten and softball teams Seniors, Majors, Minors, Rookies. You should hear from your coach with specific times per division/team. As a thank you, sponsors receive a team photo and all players receive a complimentary team photo. We appreciate your player's participation. 

PARADE

Players and coaches will meet at Greene's Field at 10:40am

The parade begins at 11:00am SHARP

Players & coaches will march from Greene's Field to DeFazio Park via Great Plain, Fair Oaks, and Dedham Ave.

Players need to wear their team uniform and comfortable shoes; they do not need equipment or cleats. 

However, if they want Wally or Tessie to sign their glove, then parents should bring it separately.

Do not throw candy or anything else during the parade.

Cheer for your player along the parade route...and then meet them at DeFazio.

CEREMONY

The ceremony will begin at approximately 12:00pm or as soon as all coaches/players are settled into the outfield of Small Field.

Only coaches and players will be allowed on the field. 

Players and coaches will sit on the grass; no one will be on the infield. 

Parents will not be on the field and will watch from behind the fence.

Parking is available at DeFazio, the DPW, and Pollard School. As the parade approaches, you will not be able to park.

Do not park along Dedham Ave or adjacent side streets.

• Singing of our National Anthem
• Little League Pledge of Allegiance
• Presentation of the Bergin Award and Windhorst Award scholarship winners
• Introduction of our Special Guest speaker
• Special Guest along with the NHS baseball and softball captains throw out the first pitch

ACTIVITIES

Following the ceremony, teams will be provided with hotdogs and water bottles courtesy of Roche Brothers. 

Players and families are encouraged to enjoy activities provided by some of our sponsors. 

• Majors baseball game @ 1:30pm Red Sox vs Pirates
• Abbott's Frozen Custard will provide samples
• Frozen Ropes will have a speed detector
• Meet and greet with Wally and Tessie, the Red Sox mascots
• Buy a 50/50 raffle ticket
• Other items to be raffled include BC baseball camp, Frozen Ropes certificate, Wegman's gift card, Engaging Minds camp, etc.
• NB&S magnets for sale
• Face painting available courtesy of Needham Bank
• NHS Softball team will be selling pennants.
• NHS Baseball Diamond Club will be selling swag and youth players can win a chance to throw out the first pitch at a Varsity game
• The Village Club is running Pitch, Hit, and Run for players ages 9-14; Advanced registrations are required; More info to follow!

Other Important Information:

Dogs are NOT allowed at DeFazio Park *except for service dogs*

Players will stay with the coaches as the teams are dismissed. 

Please identify a meeting spot for your child after the ceremony so you can safely reconnect.

Teams and families are responsible for trash. 

A limited number of turkey and kosher hotdogs will be available - please ask your child's coach to retrieve them.

"Take Me Out to the Ballgame"

The Boston Red Sox invited the Needham National Williamsport team to Fenway Park on August 12, 2021, for a game against the Tampa Bay Rays to honor the team's advance to the state finals of the Massachusetts Little League tournament this summer. Each player received a Manny Ramirez Bobblehead as a gift from the Red Sox. Pictured: Will Cassidy, Will Lavelle, Colin O'Donnell, Patrick Killeen, Jack Sherman, Matthew Mullaney, Patrick Tracey, Cameron Cheng. 

Congrats to Needham Nattys for a tremendous Williamsport run!

For the Needham National Little Leaguers, the Road to Williamsport began in June with teams from 191 towns in Massachusetts that all sought to fulfill their dreams with a Little League championship. This weekend in Gloucester Mass, Needham National represented Needham extremely well in the final four weekend, featuring tremendous baseball, camaraderie and sportsmanship. In a 9-inning, come-from-behind thriller on Thursday evening against Middleboro, the Rockets were down 3-1 in the top of the 6th with two outs, before coming back to tie the game 3-3 in the 6th and winning it by a score of 7-5 dramatically in the 9th. Needham was knocked out on Saturday by eventual Mass champion Peabody West, but the memories and experiences of district titles, sectional titles, and championship wins will last a lifetime. The Needham National team won 5 Little League championship banners in two annual tournament seasons (2019 and 2021), including two District 11 titles (2019 and 2021), two sectional titles (2019 and 2021), one 10-year-old state championship (2019), one Eastern Regional Tournament appearance (2019) and one Mass state finals appearance (2021). The Little League Tournaments were cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Congratulations to the Needham National team for a tremendous run this year, and for its contributions to Needham Little League's tournament program. Representing Needham National in 2021 are: William Lavelle, Rory Funke, William Cassidy, Matthew Mullaney, Jack Sherman, Colin O'Donnell, Patrick Killeen, Matthew Spalla, Blake Carr, Colton Harjula, Owen Hammerstrand, Cal Hammerstrand, Cameron Cheng and Patrick Tracey. Coaches: Kevin Lavelle, Jeff Sherman, Greg Harjula and Barry Mullaney.  

Congrats to the Needham National 12s for winning the Section 3 title!

For the first time since 1973, the Needham National 12-year-old Williamsport all star team is headed to the Little League Massachusetts state finals. Needham National beat Brookline 3-0 on Saturday, July 24 in the Section 3 Championship game at Sacramone Park in Everett, Mass. In the game, Rory "Superman" Funke pitched five innings with 14 strikeouts; Colin "The Kraken" O'Donnell hit a two-run home run; Will "The Thrill" Lavelle had two doubles and an RBI; and Patrick "Killer" Killeen pitched a scoreless inning for the save. To advance to the sectional final, Needham National beat Dorchester 1-0 in a dramatic game on Friday, July 23, behind six scoreless innings of pitching by Lavelle (13 strikeouts) and a walkoff single by Matthew "Ice" Mullaney. Cal "The Hammer" Hammerstrand scored the winning run. Needham also beat Melrose 13-4 in section 3 pool play. The Needham National team advances to the state final tournament July 29-31 at Boudreau Field (24 Hough Ave.) in Gloucester, Mass. Games: July 29 vs. Middleboro at 3:30pm; July 30, vs. Pittsfield at 5:30pm; July 31 vs. Peabody at 6:30pm. Please come out and support your Needham Little Leaguers on the Road to Williamsport!

Congrats to the Needham National League 12s - Needham Rockets!!

Congratulations to the Needham National League 12-year-old team for winning the District 11 Championship with a 7-6 victory over Ashland at Metacomet Field in Medfield on Sunday, July 18. The team beat #1 seed Walpole 11-1 in a semifinal game on Saturday to advance to the title game on Sunday. Representing the Needham National 12s are: Rory Funke, William Lavelle, William Cassidy, Patrick Killeen, Jack Sherman, Matthew Mullaney, Colin O'Donnell, Matthew Spalla, Blake Carr, Colton Harjula, Cameron Cheng, Cal Hammerstrand, Owen Hammerstrand and Patrick Tracey. The team advances to the sectional round on Wednesday in Everett, Ma. Go Needham....Rockets!!!