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!!!

Needham Baseball and Softball is pleased to announce the opening of registration for the 2021 Fall Baseball Season.  

Registration is open until late August under Open Registrations Fall Baseball.

The following leagues will run.

2021 1st and 2nd grade Fall Development League

The Needham Fall Development League is for boys and girls in first or second grade who are still getting ready for competitive travel baseball. This program will prepare them for the next level of play by reinforcing critical skills, such as fielding, throwing and hitting in a fun and engaging way, with practices, drills and games. 

The season will consist of eight practice sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Each practice session will last one hour and operate from approximately 4:00p - 5:00p or 5:00p - 6:00p. Parents are encouraged to state their time preference during registration, and efforts will be made to accommodate requests. Those registering early will be given priority in their preferred time slots.

Teams will play a series of coach-pitch games on Sunday afternoons from 4:00p - 5:30p. 

The season will begin shortly after Labor Day and continue through mid-October. Teams will be divided primarily according to elementary school and both 1st and 2nd graders will populate each team.

In Grades: 1 to 2 for 2021-22 School year

2021 9-12 y.o. Fall Baseball

This year, Needham Baseball will be offering fall baseball at the Majors, AAA and AA levels that will offer instructional and competitive opportunities.

Teams are balanced across each age group, according to the following rules:

• Majors – all players who are playing in the Majors Division of Needham Little League in the current Summer season (or who were placed in Majors for the previously-scheduled Spring season but withdrew this summer) or who turn 12 years old will be placed in Majors. However, players who turn 13 years old September 1, 2021 or thereafter and who played in Majors this Summer will play in Intermediate Program this Fall; see below.
• AAA – all players who are playing in the AAA Division of Needham Little League in the current Summer Season (or who were placed in AAA for the previously-scheduled 2021 Spring season but withdraw this summer) or who turn 11 years old between September 1, 2021 and August 31, 2022 will be placed in AAA (unless that player is playing in Needham Little League Majors level in the current Summer season).  Players who will turn 9 or 10 years old on or before August 31, 202 and are in 4^th grade (2021-2022 school year), will be eligible for consideration to play in AAA at the discretion of the league director or via a draft process.
• AA – all players who are in either 3^rd or 4^th grade for the 2021-2022 school year and do NOT fall into one of the above categories will be placed in AA.

Players who are 13 or strong 12 year olds, can choose to register and play for the Intermediate Fall League

Players who will be at least 13 but not older than 16 as of August 31, 2021 can register for the Big Diamond Fall baseball program, which is expected to participate in the Norwood Recreation League.

Open to: Boys & Girls born between: 09/01/2009 and 08/31/2013

2021 Teenage Fall Baseball

The Needham Baseball Teenage Fall program is a program for players graduating from the 12-year old major league division through those 15 years old.  Teams are balanced. 

13 year old players will be introduced to Official Baseball Rules (leading, pickoffs, dropped 3rd strike, etc.) on an Intermediate-sized diamond, with 50' pitching and 70' basepaths.  For the past two years, this has been conducted as a travel team against nearby towns also setting up this opportunity for those 13 years of age, primarily weekend games. (Occasional exceptions have been made to allow less experienced 14 year olds play on the intermediate diamond in this league.) 

14 and 15 year old players will play in the Norwood Diamond Club league, on full-sized diamonds.  Traditionally, all games are Friday night, Saturday and/or Sunday, in Norwood, Mass (approximately 20 minutes from Needham) on some of the finest diamonds in the area.  Typically, each team plays two games per weekend for a total of 12 games.  The games are developmental and designed to familiarize players with leading, stealing, balks and other facets of Little League and High School baseball.  Participating towns have included Norwood, Stoughton, Canton, Dedham, Walpole, Newton and other surrounding towns. 

Teams may practice during the week at fields in Needham.  
 

Open to: Boys & Girls born between: 09/01/2005 and 08/31/2010

Needham Baseball and Softball is pleased to announce the opening of registration for the 2021 Fall Softball Season.  Registration is open until July 31^st under Open Registrations.

1^st & 2^nd Grade In-Town Softball League

A 1^st and 2^nd grade Fall League practices and plays games in Needham. The Fall In-Town League starts in early September and lasts until October. The league includes practices and games during weeknights in September and options to practice on weekends based on coach’s input. By October, games are played on weekends due to loss of daylight.

10U, 12U, 14U and 18U Travel Softball Leagues

Fall Travel Softball for 10U-18U enters our teams into two neighboring travel leagues - Charles River League and Metrowest League.

The Fall Softball season will begin with practices and games starting in early September (after Labor Day) and will run through October. Teams are formed based on coach evaluations in their age group and any player preferences to play Saturdays and Sundays for the Charles River or Metrowest League.

Charles River League

The Charles River League is a local league that plays doubleheaders Sunday mornings throughout the fall. Age levels for this league are 10U, 12U, 14U, and 18U.  Games begin in mid-September and run through the end of October and are played against teams from other towns (Newton, West Roxbury, Dedham, Wellesley, etc.). Practices will be scheduled with input from the coaches.

Metrowest League

The Metrowest League is a league based on school grades playing single games on Saturday afternoons for 3-4 graders and Sunday afternoons for 5-6 graders. The league consists of teams from Ashland, Holliston, Medway, Medfield, Franklin, etc. Practices will be scheduled with input from the coaches.

AL Majors fight to the finish!

The NL All Star Majors team edged the AL Majors All Star team in a high-scoring thriller at the recently renovated Mills Field on Sunday, June 13, 2021. The NL team jumped out to a lead early with strong pitching and hitting, and the AL team battled back with timely hitting and solid fielding. In the Home Run Derby before the game, Will Lavelle came back to hit four in a row in the final round to take the title. Rory Funke, Will Cassidy and Colin O'Donnell also reached the final round of the slugfest. Representing the AL: Tyler Berger, Bennett Christie, Seth Feigenbaum, Will Fradette, Bennett Kalish, Grayden Loeb, Adam Markley, Evan Meloni, Will Moore-Ede, Jasper Negro, Liam Velde, Ryan Volante, Teddy Waltzman and Sawyer Wilk.

NL all stars edge the AL all stars in a 9-7 thriller!

The NL All Star Majors team edged the AL Majors All Star team in a high-scoring thriller at the recently renovated Mills Field on Sunday, June 13, 2021. The NL team jumped out to a lead early with strong pitching and hitting, and the AL team battled back with timely hitting and solid fielding. In the Home Run Derby before the game, Will Lavelle came back to hit four in a row in the final round to take the title. Rory Funke, Will Cassidy and Colin O'Donnell also reached the final round of the slugfest. Representing the NL team: William Cassidy, Maddie Call, Rory Funke, Logan Heideman, Patrick Killeen, William Lavelle, Beckham Matusik, Matthew Mullaney, Colin O'Donnell, Jake Schneider, Jack Sherman, Matthew Spalla and Patrick Tracey.