Get Fired Up Holyoke. The Sox are Coming to Town.
December 13-- Holyoke has scored a new collegiate baseball team, formally known as the Concord (New Hampshire) Quarry Dogs. The new team, dubbed the Holyoke Sox, couldn't be calling Holyoke home at a better time, as the Former Holyoke Giants recently announced their departure from Holyoke to another location in Lynne, MA.
The Wadsworth Sports Group found Holyoke in the nick of time. The group had just finalized the purchase of the Quarry Dogs on November 8, when they ran into trouble. The new owners could not come to financial agreement with the City of Concord to remain playing there, and were faced with a tall order to find a new home and do so fast, as the 2008 season schedules were already finalizing.
Holyoke was just the saving grace the team needed and in a months time has hashed out the details. At Wednesday's press conference held at the Yankee Peddler, Mayor Michael Sullivan said that he is extremely excited by the unforeseen turn of events. The deal has been struck and the Holyoke Sox are planting their roots in Holyoke soil--a fertile ground tilled by generations of baseball fans and players. The new owners, Karen Wadsworth Rella, her brother Barry Wadsworth and associate, John Ferrara, spoke passionately about the community benefits of the baseball club, sending the message that the game events would bring people together and give young people a positive place to have fun.
"We want to build the strongest organization in the NECBL from our front office and volunteers to our players," Barry Wadsworth said.
He also made clear that the organization would be getting involved with youth groups. He said "this is a real good thing for Holyoke," and that the Wadsworth Group's goal is to "make the Holyoke Sox the number one team in the franchise."
The Wadsworth group also announced their head coach pick, Darryl Morhar, who has most recently coached at George Washington. The Holyoke Sox are a collegiate Baseball Team playing in the The New England Collegiate Baseball League.
The Mayor picked up on the tangible energy surrounding the Wadsworth Group and the Holyoke Sox, saying that he could feel a real excitement in the air of that Yankee Peddler meeting room. The mayor observed, "There's a lot of sizzle here, and the marketing thing is a little more than we've seen in the past." The Wadsworth sports group has something special.
Sullivan said the Holyoke Sox would be beneficial to all the Pioneer Valley, creating a lively venue of entertainment that draws surrounding communities together and benefits them as well.
Mayor Sullivan also stressed the communal importance of the team, citing the positive presence of the ball players from all around the country who "live-in" with sponsoring families in Holyoke during the season. "These player work with local businesses" and "walk the streets" of Holyoke, Sullivan said, contributing to the life of the local economy and community.
The Wadsworth Group has also announced that they will be holding a community business luncheon in February to formally introduce themselves, as well as a Booster Club luncheon in April. The team is looking for volunteers, and believes that their success is a product of strong community support and volunteers that surround the team. As John Ferrara put it, the goal is to "get entrenched in the community," "get kids involved, "donate to charities and organizations," and reach out to The Pioneer Valley.
Games will continue to be played at Mackenzie Stadium. Game schedules will soon be listed at the New England Collegiate Baseball League's website: NECBL.com
To contact the Holyoke Sox, and/or to get involved contact Barry Wadsworth, COO, at (413) 652-9014
The team website will be up and running soon.