MLB All Star Matt Joyce Becomes Owner in Empire League

PRESS RELEASE – MLB Star Matt Joyce who has been a mentor, and supporting ambassador of the Empire Professional Baseball League has decided to join ownership group. After seeing how special and rewarding it is to actually give back to the great game we love, Matt Joyce decided he wants in. Understanding that Rookie to A level independent professional baseball leagues do NOT make money, Mr Joyce simply wants to add to the great service that CEO Eddie Gonzalez provides.

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.

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-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.