The North Adams SteepleCats of the New England Collegiate Baseball League will celebrate the beginning of their 10th season by defending their West Division Regular Season Championship on Friday, June 10 at Joe Wolfe Field. The 2010 season was a record breaking year, but the 2011 season is set to be a year-long celebration recognizing the SteepleCats 10th season and will include a special commemorative logo. 

The 42 game season will begin at home at 6:30 on Friday, June 10 against division foe Vermont Mountaineers.  Opening night will be sponsored once again by the SteepleCats Presenting Sponsor, Hoosac Bank, who will distribute free 10th season commemorative t-shirts to the first 250 adults in attendance.  Following the game, the SteepleCats will thank the community for their support through the years with a fireworks show. This will be the first of three nights of fireworks at Joe Wolfe Field this summer.  While the SteepleCats kick-off their 10th season with fireworks, the organization will also express their gratitude to their fans on the last Saturday of the regular season, July 30th, with another fireworks show following the game against Keene.  The third night of fireworks will of course be the traditional July 4th fireworks extravaganza. 

The SteepleCats host seven home games on Sunday this season and will feature $1 Hot Dog Night every Sunday, all season long.  The first two Sundays will feature a family friendly start time of 4:30 while all other home games will begin at 6:30.  On Sunday, June 12 the SteepleCats will host the 2010 NECBL Champions Northshore Navigators at 4:30 while welcoming players from the Williamstown Cal Ripken Baseball League and students participating in the North Adams After School Program.  The following Sunday, June 19, the SteepleCats will have a very special ceremony to honor the Watterson family, including General Manager Johnny Watterson, who originally founded the SteepleCats organization in 2002. 

The SteepleCats will get right to work in defending their regular season championship as they play 10 games in 10 days.  While the SteepleCats will play 20 games in June, only 7 will be at the friendly confines of Joe Wolfe Field.  July and August will consist of 24 games and favor the SteepleCats as they play 15 of those games in front of a home crowd at The Joe.  July will also include the annual July 4th fireworks extravaganza following the game against the Mystic Schooners.  As the SteepleCats look to extend their play-off appearance to ten consecutive years, the final three games of the regular season will be played on home turf, concluding against division foe Keene Swamp Bats on August 1.

Established in 2002, the SteepleCats and the Sanford Mainers are tied as the fourth longest tenured organization in the NECBL, only behind Danbury, Newport, and Keene.  Two changes fans will notice this summer is the disappearance of the Lowell All-Americans and Bristol Collegiate Baseball Club.  Both organizations have been relocated to new communities in New England.  The Bristol organization underwent major changes and has moved to Groton, CT and is named the Mystic Schooners.  Mystic will remain in the west division and will play the first of six games against the SteepleCats in Mystic during the opening week of the season on June 15. While Lowell may no longer have a team in the NECBL, the organization will continue to be in the hands of the Ayotte family.  Longtime team president, Harry Ayotte, died earlier this spring after a battle with cancer.  His son, Doug, is now the General Manager of the Old Orchard Beach Raging Tide.   The SteepleCats will host the Raging Tide on Sunday, July 17.

Two important exhibition games in the NECBL include a special Team NECBL versus Team USA game at Fenway Park on June 27.  Team NECBL will be comprised of a 28 person roster selected by league general managers to showcase the leagues best talent to the MLB scouts that will be in attendance in hopes of defeating the elite Team USA national team that is comprised of the best of collegiate baseball players in the country and will represent the USA for two months in international competitions around the world.  The annual NECBL All-Star Game late in the season will be held at the home of the Northshore Navigators in Lynn, Massachusetts on Wednesday, July 27th.

The 42-game schedule spanning the New England Collegiate Baseball League will be evenly split with 21 home and away games.  They will play six games each against all five western division rivals (three home, three away) and two games against each of their six eastern division counterparts (one home, one away).

New SteepleCats Team President Daniel E. Bosley, who was appointed in February, has been actively talking with team sponsors to schedule exciting promotional nights and giveaways this season. More information on specific promotional nights will be released as the season nears. The SteepleCats also are seeking additional members of the community who wish to join the organization and contribute in a variety of roles. Anyone interested in helping contribute to the SteepleCats success in any capacity may contact the organization directly at 413-663-7333 or dan.bosley@verizon.net.

Although adult tickets are still only $5, consider the great savings by purchasing a season’s ticket and save 33% off the price of regular admission. An individual season ticket to 21 regular season home games is only $70. Family passes provide a 75% savings and provide admission for 2 adults and 3 children for only $100 for all home games. Season tickets are valid for post-season games and are available by contacting 413-663-7333 or in Adams at Val’s Variety, in North Adams at Creations and Man’s World Styling Salon, and Stamford, VT at Billmont’s Country Store.

For more information on the organization, the 2011 roster, and a complete season schedule, please visit the SteepleCats’ official website at www.steeplecats.com.