Wayland eNews :: Town Press Release

The Holyoke Giants of the New England Collegiate Baseball League have announced today that the team is leaving Holyoke for the 2008 season. The Giants will be relocating to Lynn, MA. Their new home will be at Fraser Field where the franchise will be fielding a Summer Wood-Bat team under a new name as yet to be determined.

The Giants played for four years in Holyoke at their home field, Mackenzie Field. The team had made the playoffs for three of their four years in Holyoke under two different Managers. Joel Southern led the team for its first three years. Southern had been an assistant at Western New England College where he was also a Chemistry Professor. In 2007, Coach Jason Falcon picked up the reins for the last season in Holyoke also leading the Giants into the Playoffs. Falcon, who is Head Baseball Coach at Clark University in Worcester, led the team to the best record in the League gaining him honors as Manager of the Year in 2008.

Giants Owner, Philip Rosenfield, informed Holyoke Mayor Michael Sullivan of the intended move on Monday Nov 12, Veterans Day. “I called Mayor Sullivan at home to make sure he was the first to hear the news. Mike had been a great supporter of all of our efforts in town. City Hall, Park & Rec and everyone was extremely easy to get along with and very helpful at facilitating any of our requests.” In explaining the move, Mr. Rosenfield explained that the prospect of Minor League Baseball coming to the Pioneer Valley was always at the back of his mind. “If a Minor League team came to western Mass, it would be the best thing that could happen. This is one of the last great untapped Minor League Baseball markets. It’s just that survival for both a Minor League team and our team would be difficult.”

The opportunity for the Giants in Lynn came about in September, when the independent minor league franchise, the North Shore Spirit, from the Can-Am League chose to cease operations. Rosenfield was familiar with the Lynn facility. “I grew up in Swampscott so this will be like a homecoming for me. I am looking forward to seeing old friends and making new ones.”

“I anguished over the decision to move because our organization was coming together. People like Shelly Moynihan stepped up to organize host families, The Faivre family helped every night and Steve Riffenburg and his family, Joanne Wrobel, The Mackowskis, Shelley Whelihan, the Tobin Family, Bill Gorczyka…they were there every night. This I will miss and I feel bad about. I will miss the fans in the back row. I used to kid them that we couldn’t start the game until ever regular fan was in their seats up in the back row.”

The Giants had their high points in their time in Holyoke. Over 100 College athletes were roster players over their four years in Holyoke, including several favorites who were drafted into professional Baseball, including Willie Ortiz & Billy Mottram. In 2007 Michael Thompson pitched the first no-hitter in Giants history at Mackenzie Field against the Sanford Mainers. In 2006, Scott Barnes, a local favorite from Chicopee and St. John’s University, pitched for the Giants. For the past two years a Giants pitcher was named NECBL Pitcher of the Year; Jay Monti of Sacred Heart U. in 2006 and Shawn Gillblair of Eastern CT State U. in 2007.

Holyoke could be considered for a NECL team if one does become available. Local folks have voiced interest in bringing a NECBL team back to town.

Mr. Mario Tiani, Commissioner of the NECBL commented, “We were always pleased with the fact that western Massachusetts, a community deeply committed to Baseball, was the home for a NECBL team these four years. If we do have teams that become available in the future, we will consider Holyoke as a viable market for our League.”

© 2008 WaylandeNews. All rights reserved. Last updated: Saturday May 03, 2008 12:39 PM.
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