2010 SEASON – GUTS, GRIT AND A LOT OF HEART

The 2010 season for the McKay Club Beacons ended last night at McConnell Park as the Yawkey League Champions of 2008 and 2009, the West Roxbury Bluefish, won the first round of the playoffs 3 games to 1.  It was an exciting Game 4 as Mike Barthel pitched another complete game, Drew Tambling hit his second homer of the series, Jack Owens batted a homer shy of the cycle, Connor Reinfurt had a 3-4 night, Bryan Curran went 2-4 with a double and Tom Michael also went 2-4 with 2 runs scored.  On most nights, this offensive performance is good enough to win. The 12 hits were the most recorded by the Beacons in the series, but it was the defensive side of the ball that came back to bite them.  After an errorless Game 1 that resulted in an exciting win, the McKay Club recorded 21 errors in the next 3 games – including 5 in Game 4.  On the other hand, West Roxbury made almost all their key plays on defense.  A blast by Mike Barthel in the seventh inning was caught in the deepest spot in right field by Pat Laffin. (Needless to say, not much ‘laughin’ on the Beacon bench after that catch)

This series exposed the strengths and weaknesses of the McKay Club. There is no doubt that this team will make additions and adjustments to compete for the Yawkey League Championship next season.  Thank you to our fans who supported us.

Notice to Players: Check this site periodically in the offseason for team updates. Congratulations on a successful 2010 – you are a great team and will be even better next year.

It is tough but sometimes easy to be an underdog. The Beacons have suffered that status for many years. In fact, their last play off victory was 6 years ago. The status was self imposed - the team could never find the "formula".

Things have changed for the McKay Club. They won five games in a row to sneak into the playoffs in 2009 & went down large to the Malden power-house three games in a row. 2010 was a better year. The UMass Boston contingent showed up late because they had bigger fish to fry. When all was said and done the Beacons amassed a 20-12-1 record - good for 2^nd in the YAZ Division and a 7^th seed in the playoffs.

Game One of the 2010 Championship Series looked like more of the same for the Beacons. “It was nice to make a visit in the show, but maybe we did not belong there." OHHH !!! That was so wrong! The Bluefish, behind the solid pitching of Chris Sandini took an early 4-1 lead. They added 1 more and all seemed lost with Big Game Mike Barthel on the bump.

The Beacons got close in the 5^th by making the score 5-3. “Well, hey if we lose, it will not look that bad in the line score." OHHHH !! that was so very wrong! Sandini sat and the Beacons plated 4 in the top of the 7^th to take the lead and hold on to JUST WIN, 7-5!

Lots need to be accomplished in this series, but no team can ever take what the McKay Club accomplished on August 12, 2010! One of the best games I have seen in my long 42 year baseball coaching career. One of the most emotional wins I can ever remember. A young, upstart team that never got any respect forced everyone in Boston amateur baseball to take notice for at least one night.

Game 2 of the series Friday, 7:30pm, Rogers Park in Brighton.

AL THOMAS A's  2     McKAY CLUB BEACONS  1

It took an extra inning of baseball, but Al Thomas outlasted McKay Club 2-1 at McConnell Park.  Bryan Curran took the hill for the Beacons and pitched 8 outstanding innings sending just one walk to first, striking out 5 and allowing 2 runs - neither of them earned.  In the sixth, Curran recorded the 3 outs on just 4 pitches despite giving up a hit. 

Al Thomas Club got on the board first in the third inning when Mark Daly came around on an RBI base hit by Steve Lambert.  Daly reached on a throwing error by Dan Ciocca at third base. It was a routinely played grounder, but Dan's throw pulled Mike Barthel off the bag at first. Daly then reached second on a sacrifice before Lambert drove him in.  The McKay Club had plenty of chances to make something happen in this one, but couldn't execute the hits to break it open.  Peter Karl scored the only run for the home team by reaching base and scoring on defensive errors. A total of 9 runners were left on base, 3 of them at third, including a bases-loaded fifth inning that didn't produce a run. The A's got Katsiroubas home in the top of the eighth, but Ciocca threw out Bill Donahue at the plate that resulted in that inning ending on an interference call as Donahue attempted to kick the ball out of Kyle McKay's glove. The Beacons weren't able to get a run across in the bottom of the eighth, ending the game.

Special 'shout-out' to Peter Karl who played his last game of the season for McKay Club.  P.K. is off to travel around Europe and the McKay Club wishes him fun and safe travels across the pond.

Next game is Saturday, July 31 at 5:00pm vs. Savin Hill at McConnell Park.

McKAY CLUB BEACONS  4     REVERE ROCKIES  3

Mike Barthel pitched a complete game to win this hard-fought contest against Revere on a hot afternoon at McConnell Park.  Mike allowed 3 runs (2 earned) with 6 strikeouts and no walks as McKay Club outlasted the Rockies 4-3 for win number 16 of 2010 and their third straight.

Early on, the Rockies were first on the board with runs scoring in the second inning.  It seemed everything hit was going to the right side, keeping Ryan Oshima busy at second.  With a 2-0 lead in the third, Revere advanced Buccierelli to third but left the threat there when Cory Dalton made an outstanding catch on the run in right to retire the side.  Revere got one more run in the fifth to account for their third run of the game.