New Bedford Lands NECBL Team

New Bedford, Massachusetts- New Bedford Mayor Scott W. Lang today joined with New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL) team owners Robin Wadsworth and Rita Hubner at the End Zone sports pub to officially announce the New Bedford Bay Sox team will make the City of New Bedford its new home. Formerly known as the Torrington Twisters, the New Bedford Bay Sox signed a three-season lease with the city for the non-exclusive use of Paul Walsh Field earlier this week. The New Bedford Bay Sox is one of twelve teams affiliated with the NECBL, one of the premiere collegiate baseball leagues in the country. NECBL players are heavily scouted by Major League Baseball teams.
Team owners Robin Wadsworth and Rita Hubner say it was the community’s passion for baseball and the reception they received from city officials that made them realize New Bedford was the best place to locate their championship team. “New Bedford has a sense of pride, community and passion that clearly shines through; their enthusiasm is second to none. It quickly became a virtual no brainer, the minute we engaged with Mayor Lang, Matt Morrissey and other community leaders,” Wadsworth said.
Mayor Lang said, “This team will be a flagship for New Bedford throughout the New England region and will bring increased visitors to our city, which will in turn help drive the tourism and creative sectors of our local economy. In addition, these young collegiate student athletes will serve as role models for the youth of our city, both from an academic standpoint as well as from an athletic standpoint. I know that the people of New Bedford as well as those who live in the communities in this region will support the Bay Sox in an enthusiastic way. I have tremendous confidence that this initiative in addition to the many other projects that are ongoing throughout our city will have a positive effect on the citizens of New Bedford during these challenging economic times.”

Founded in 1993, the NECBL began under the leadership of George Foster, former Cincinnati Reds and New York Mets All-Star and Major League home run leader, and league founder Emmy Award-winning television producer/director Joseph Consentino. Play started in 1994 and today the NECBL has become a strong twelve team league that plays in all six New England states and recruits players attending U.S colleges from New England, the other forty-four states and foreign countries.
The NECBL begins its summer season in early June and plays an eight-week, 42-game-per-team schedule, making 21 of the New Bedford Bay Sox’s regular season games home games. The New Bedford Bay Sox opening day is scheduled for June 4th at 6:30pm against the Holyoke Blue Sox at Paul Walsh Field in New Bedford.