City Receives Grant, Improvements Coming to Alex T. Duffy Fairgrounds Ballpark

Some $145,000 in improvements are on deck next spring at the ballpark at the Alex T. Duffy Fairgrounds in Watertwon (NY), including a new sound system and bleachers and a series of improvements in the facility’s locker rooms. The roof above the locker rooms also will be repaired.  Read more here.

Baseball Returns to Watertown, Ballpark Getting Upgrades

Beginning in June of 2018, S&V Baseball Management will bring baseball back to Watertown (NY), with the new Watertown Rapids (Summer Collegiate, Perfect Game League) playing home games at the Alex T. Duffy Fairgrounds stadium.  Read more here.  In related news, the ballpark is on deck for $125,000 in improvements, thanks to a state grant.  Read more here.

PGCBL Shapes Bright Future with Organizational and Structural Changes, Will Add Watertown

PRESS RELEASE – The Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League (PGCBL) announced today that it has completed its corporate transition to a limited liability company to provide the league with strong organizational governance for the future.

Perfect Game League Returns to Watertown

PRESS RELEASE – The Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League is proud to announce that summer collegiate baseball will be returning to the Alex T. Duffy Fairgrounds in Watertown, New York. At the league’s Board of Directors meeting on Saturday, Oct. 29, the owners formally awarded a franchise to Michael Schell and Paul Velte.

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.

Start-Up Empire League Trying to Lock Down Watertown

The Watertown (NY) city parks and recreation superintendent has recommended that the city reach a deal with the new Empire League to revive the Watertown Bucks for the 2016 season, but city council members said Monday night they should wait and look into the new league’s stability.  Read more here and  here.  Thanks to John Cerone for the heads up.

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.

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

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.

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.

Rams Evicted From Watertown Ballpark

We’re not sure what has truly gone down in Watertown (NY), but the city has notified the summer collegiate Watertown Rams (Perfect Game League) that the team can no longer play at city-owned Alex T. Duffy Fairgrounds, claiming players trashed the facility’s locker room and the team failed to pay its water bill.  Read more here.

Watertown Rams Extend Lease

The summer collegiate Watertown Rams (Perfect Game League) have locked in a three-year deal to continue using Alex Duffy Fairgrounds.  Read more here.  This is good news, as there has been a little instability in the market over the last couple of years.  Read more here and here.