North Country League Becomes Empire League, Director of Business Administration Announced

The defunct, one-and-done North Country Baseball League, which emerged from Colin Cummins’ failed effort to launch the East Coast Baseball League, has become The Empire Professional Baseball League.  Eddie Gonzalez, Director of Baseball Operations, had this to say in an e-mail:

Watertown Bucks, NCBL Cease Operations

The Watertown Bucks will not be returning for a second season at the Alex T. Duffy Fairgrounds in Watertown (NY) next year.  Owner Bruce Zicari notified city officials on Monday of his decision to cease operations of both the team and the North Country Baseball League after playing their inaugural 2015 season.  Read more here.  Watch news report here.

NCBL Survives Season, Looks to Future

The first-year North County Baseball League wrapped up the season on Sunday, with the homeless Newburgh Newts capturing the NCBL title.  What’s next remains to be seen, but Cheeseburger Cheeseburger founder and league savior Bruce Zicari is cautiously optimistic about the circuit’s future.  Watch news report here.  Thanks to John Cerone for the link.

Start-Up NCBL Survives Season on Back of Cheeseburger Cheeseburger Founder

Rising from the ashes of the failed start-up East Coast Baseball League, the first-year North Country Baseball League managed to finish the 2015 regular season with playoffs starting Wednesday.  Watch news report here.  As we said, it would take subsidy from Cheeseburger Cheeseburger founder Bruce Zicari for the circuit to survive.  Read about the NCBL season saga here.  Thanks to John Cerone for the second link.

A Rocky Road for Start-Up Watertown Bucks

Three weeks into the season, Watertown Daily News sportswriter Chris Fitzgerald takes a look at the first-year Watertown Bucks and rookie General Manager Matt McClusky, as the franchise tries to survive the early collapse of the start-up East Coast Baseball League in the desperately formed, four-team (including one travel club) North Country Baseball League.  Read more here.

ECBL Folds, North Country Baseball League Formed

No surprise here, but the start-up East Coast Baseball League has crashed and burned before playing a single inning, thanks to overly confident, novice founder Colin Cummins.  In fact, he admitted to the Portland Press Herald, “It’s my fault.”  Yes it is, and he was warned, no matter the excuse about losing a “chief investor.”  Picking up the pieces, Watertown Bucks owner Bruce Zicari decided to

Bucks Part Ways with Fledgling ECBL

Watertown Bucks owner Bruce Zicari has confirmed that his team, scheduled to start play Sunday, has “definitely” parted ways with the start-up East Coast Baseball League.  He is now leading an effort to create a new independent league, which would be comprised of four teams.  Read more here.

Start of ECBL’s Inaugural Season Delayed?

We’ll have to wait and see, but several news stories are reporting challenges that are hampering the launch of the inaugural season for the start-up East Coast Baseball League.  Read more here, here, and here.  Thanks to John Cerone for the heads up.

The ‘Surge’ Coming to Old Orchard Beach

The town of Old Orchard Beach (ME), the Ballpark commission, and the start-up East Coast Baseball League have reached an agreement to bring a franchise to The Ballpark this summer.  Read more here.  The team will be known as the Surge.

Great day in Old Orchard Beach. Lisa MacNeill is the winner of the Name the Team Contest. Please welcome SURGE. pic.twitter.com/7AaL0K2lNF

Great day in Old Orchard Beach. Lisa MacNeill is the winner of the Name the Team Contest. Please welcome SURGE. pic.twitter.com/7AaL0K2lNF

— Niagara ProBaseball (@niagaraproball) February 22, 2015

Start-Up ECBL Closing In on OOB

The Old Orchard Beach (ME) council voted Tuesday night to approve a resolution to authorize Town Manager Larry Mead to enter into a contract agreement with Niagara Professional Baseball Group, the founding body of the start-up East Coast Baseball League, for the use of The Ballpark.  Read more here (subscription required).

Start-Up ECBL Names Watertown Team, Unveils Logo

The newest franchise in the start-up East Coast Baseball League will be known as the Watertown Bucks.  The team will play at Alex T. Duffy Fairgrounds in Watertown (NY).  Read more here.  Thanks to John Cerone for the heads up.

Start-Up ECBL Eyes OOB

The owner of a fledgling East Coat Baseball League based in Canada is interested in bringing a team to Old Orchard Beach (ME) to play next summer at The Ballpark, after the summer collegiate Old Orchard Beach Raging Tide (Futures Collegiate Baseball League) were sold and moved to Bristol (CT).  Read more here.  Thanks to John Cerone for the link.

Start-Up ECBL Unveils Team Logos

The start-up East Coast Baseball League has unveiled logos for the circuit’s first three announced franchises, including the Niagara Wild, Newburgh Newts, and Waterloo Whiskey Jacks.  Thanks to John Cerone for forwarding the logos.

Cheeseburger Restaurateur Interested in Watertown (UPDATED)

Bruce Zicari, founder and CEO of a chain of family restaurants, Cheeseburger Cheeseburger based in Naples (FL) and located in 16 states, has expressed interest in bringing a team to Watertown (NY) as a member of the start-up East Coast Baseball League.  A franchise from the ECBL, PGCBL or NYCBL could replace the departed Watertown Rams at Alex T. Duffy Fairgrounds.  Read more here.  UPDATE: Watertown picks ECBL.  Read more here.

Three Leagues Interested in Watertown Ballpark

Three baseball leagues have expressed interest in bringing a team to the city that would replace the summer collegiate Watertown Rams (Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League) at Alex T. Duffy Fairgrounds, including the Perfect Game, New York Collegiate Baseball League, and start-up East Coast Baseball League.  Last month, the city severed ties with the Rams over several issues.  Read more here.

Start-Up ECBL Announces Third Franchise

The start-up East Coast Baseball League has announced that Waterloo (ON) will join the Niagara Wild and Newburgh Newts as the third franchise in the developing circuit.  While the team has been announced, the press release leads us to believe that a lease to use Bechtel Park has not been finalized.  By the way, it’s almost a 7.5 hour drive between Waterloo and Newburgh (NY).  Thanks to John Cerone for the update.

It’s the ‘Niagara Wild’ and ‘Newburgh Newts’ for Start-Up ECBL

The start-up indy pro East Coast Baseball League has announced the franchise that will play at Welland Stadium in Welland (ON) will be known as the Niagara Wild.  The league also announced that the team that will play at Delano-Hitch Stadium in Newburgh (NY) will be known as the Newburgh Newts.

New East Coast Baseball League Announces First Two Franchises

PRESS RELEASE – The East Coast Baseball League (ECBL), a new professional independent league, is pleased to announce their first two franchises in Newburgh, New York and Welland, Ontario.

New Pro League on Deck?

We’re not sure how legitimate this is, but a new independent professional league called the East Coast Baseball League is being proposed.  As usual, we’ll take a wait-and-see approach, but it’s a red flag when information about the founder(s) is non-existent.  It’s also a red flag when a new league is seeking “Player Data” on the front page of their website.  That’s the last thing they should be worrying about at this juncture.  View website here.