For Rising 13u (and limited 14u) 2026 Candidates 

The New England Ruffnecks Program announces an OPEN HOUSE for rising 13u and 14u players.  As we field inquiries from rising 13 year olds (current 12’s), we plan to accommodate players and families with a NO-FEE workout.  This is a first time event.  It offers a way to get to know our program and for us to get to know candidates with sincere interest in becoming a Ruffnecks player in 2026.  This OPEN HOUSE is a full scale workout with our staff of coaches and members of our current 13u and 14u rosters.

No Charge – No Pressure – No Money Grab!

We are doing what we believe should be happening in youth sports.  The objective is to treat others as we would like to be treated, with transparency.  Not every player will become a Ruffneck, but we will have a good session.  Other objectives for holding a June 22 OPEN HOUSE follow:

• We understand there are many choices for 13u players. The landscape is confusing.  The OPEN HOUSE answers questions in person for families.
• NO FEE – Means no obligations, no money-grab, and no pressure to commit.
• Players and families should see what a typical Ruffnecks workout looks like. We will spend the day mixing rising candidates with current 13u and 14u players in skill work and drills we commonly use.
• There will be a parents Q&A going on while the workout takes place (parents can still watch the drills).  There will be ample opportunity to ask questions and get answers.
• Selection: We can provide some families with a sense of whether the Ruffnecks program is a fit for their child.  We will NOT ask for a deposit for 2026 before September and Fall Baseball.

Does this sound different?  To be sure!  We think it is fair.  And there is no cost or pressure. Just come and participate.  Players will learn something along the way.

Registration

We ask interested players and families to complete an OPEN HOUSE Registration Form and return it in PDF Format to neruffnecks@gmail.com or by mail.  Registration will close when full or not later than Friday, June 20.
Please download the form by clicking the link to the right:

Limited OPEN HOUSE Enrollment

We want to have an efficient session.  Our current 13’s and 14’s will participate in drills right along side all the rising 13’s (and several new 14u candidates).  Accordingly, the June 22 OPEN HOUSE is limited to 25 participants.  We may add an additional indoor hitting OPEN HOUSE at a later date at our private Facility in Needham.  Our Rain Contingency is to move the workout to the Facility, so cancelation is unlikely.  Let’s hope for sunny skies!

Location
The Roxbury Latin School
Varsity Baseball Field – Chauncy Diamond
101 St. Theresa Ave
West Roxbury, MA 02132
(Please use the Centre Street Entrance)

Time
9:00 to 11:00

What to Bring
Wear GRAY Baseball Pants
Bring a glove and a bat (whatever bat you use)
NO Metal Spikes: The Field is artificial turf.

About the Process of Choosing a 13u Program

The 13U Ruffnecks is the entry point in our program.  We do not run 12U or younger teams.  We promote “Baseball Begins at 90,” which means the 90 foot diamond.  We attract candidates through referrals, word of mouth, and our reputation for development.  Tryouts in June, July or August just do not make sense to us.  Accordingly, our “Fee-Free” OPEN HOUSE is a sincere effort to enable families to learn about us durring a time when anxieties are high about finding a program.  And yes, we can give some folks an idea of whether or not the Ruffnecks may be a fit.  Most importantly, we can learn about each other for the player’s and family’s benefit.

13U candidates are also encouraged to participate in Fall Baseball where we work with 40 to 50 players, teaching what we do, but it is not mndatory.  The Fall Program is staffed by the coaches in the Ruffnecks program and other professional associates.  We have as many as 15 coaches working our sessions every Sunday.  Those coaches contribute a range of knowledge and experience to the 13U Fall experience and instruction.  Ruffnecks Fall Baseball is a six week (Sundays Only) program.

Patience, confidence, and the desire to be a Ruffneck are important attributes in our selection process.  Ability is important, of course, but these are 13 year olds!!!  They all grow and develop along different timelines.  We did not take Ben Rice back in the days when we had traditional “tryouts.”  He is with the New York Yankees!  So much for tryouts!

The Slippery Slope

There are several pitfalls at the transitional stage of 13U baseball:

1. The “All-Star” mentality that is entrenched in the 12 year old year is problematic. It is vulnerable to promises of continued stardom and success, sold by some who aggressively recruit 13 year olds.  Boys and families are enticed by the prospect of winning at 13U with a “bunch of good players.” If chasing trophies at 13U is important, the Ruffnecks program may not be a fit.
2. A “Herd Mentality” takes clusters of boys to one team or another. This usually runs its course in a year or two.  Geography plays a role, but we try to draw from a wide range of communities.
3. The race to puberty is not a predictor of future success.  Size and strength provide an immediate advantage, but they are not predicting factors.
4. There is “market clutter.” There are too many choices at the 13U level.  Families often simply do not know what they are looking for or where to find it.

We gladly answer inquiries and questions about our process.
2026 Ruffnecks candidates are encouraged to participate in Fall Baseball.
Contact us directly at (781) 400-1959 (leave message) or email neruffnecks@gmail.com. We respond.

Click for REGISTRATION FORM

“Play Ball!” Hails the Start to 2025

The long, cold, lonely winter has morphed into cold spring weather for the 13u and 14u Ruffnecks teams.  Nevertheless, both sqauds are off to a good start.  Great effort has been made to play our games, and the Ruffnecks have been dogged in their determination to do so.  This is not to say weather has not taken away field time.  It has.  But New England is our home, and we play in tough conditions.

13u Ruffnecks Earn #1 Seed in Perfect Game Event

The weekend of March 28-30 saw the 13u Ruffnecks get off to a strong start in the 13u Perfect Game Invitational at the NEBC in Northborough.  A solid performance in pool play earned the team the #1 seed in bracket play.  Although the squad lost in the semi-finals, the coaches and players felt good about the early season success.  The tournament provided a solid, competitive, format to learn to play together, teach, and to perform in game situations.  Mission accomplished, with much success.  The team batting average was an impressive .425 over the course of three games.  Jack Freyermuth, Colin Paddock, Sam Vogel, and Ryan Cullen led the way with their bats. Caden Healey, Henry McGeough, Gus Colangelo, Trent Siegal, and Cullen were stalwarts on the mound.  Leo de Llano, and Micah Goddess shared catching duties.  April’s schedule includes participation in the Ocean State Classic along with independent games and doubleheaders.  Ruffnecks 13u players have an opportunity to join the 14’s in several combined roster contests against prep school Frosh and JV opponents.

14’s Deal with Weather; Earn a Sunday Sweep and Slog Through PG Event

Weather has affected the 14u schedule more than the 13’s.  After getting “weathered out” against the Deerfield Academy JV’s, the 14’s settled for several games against local opponents.  This included a single game loss and a doubleheader sweep on consecutive Sundays, March 23 and March 30.  With high hopes and great anticipation, the 14’s entered the 14u Perfect Game Invitational at the NEBC April 4-6.  Alas, weather again proved the Ruffnecks most formidable foe.  The team slogged through two rain soaked games on Saturday, April 5th, earning two ties.  James Hamlin, Tyler Mock, Jacob Malin, and Johnny Dickie led the way in the hitting and RBI departments.  Buster Heller and Mock pitched well for the Ruffnecks under challenging conditions.  The 14’s look forward to gaining some much needed game experience against prep JV opponents in April and May.  They participate in the Ocean State Classic April 12-13.

We Have Winter!

The “Off Season” is a time to prepare.  Winter Workouts provide Ruffnecks with ample opportunities to work on the things that will advance their personal development.  Over the years, we have learned that “less can be more,” with proper intent and approach.  The quality of winter work is more important than compulsory practices that create tiresome obligations and conflicts.  We continue to tweak our approach.  Winter workouts are, after all, preparation for the rigors of spring and summer baseball.  New England weather presents its distinctive set of challenges.  Fortunately, between the Facility and our use of the Boston College “Bubble” we are able to provide a vibrant off season program

Scouts Continue to Visit and Instruct

The FACILITY hosted Pro Scout Hitting Clinics in December.  These informative, instructive, and active sessions have been a mainstay for the past three winters.  Matt Hyde (NY Yankees), Jim Bretz (Detroit Tigers), and Ron Vaughn (Oakland A’s), lend their time and expertise.  The high repetition sessions are exclusively for Ruffnecks and well attended.  In addition to the Pro Scout Hitting Clinics, the scouts attended the individual Team Hitting sessions in January for the 15u, 16u, and 17u position players.  Several college coaches also stopped by to watch.  The Rich Gedman Catchers Clinics spanned 6 sessions from late November to the first week of January.  Geddy is an amazing instructor who provides valuable drill work, insight, and knowledge to the skills for catchers.

It is a credit to our players that the Pro Scouts voluntarilty return to the Ruffnecks each year to instruct and actually “follow” some of our players they consider “prospects.”  And while that does not necessarily mean hitters will be drafted out of high school, the scouts are sincerely generous in their willingness to provide players with evaluations.

13u & 14u Ruffnecks Commence Their Winter Journey

Of course our young players are not ignored.  For the 13’s and the 14’s Winter Work is a more frequent occurance on the schedule.  With weekly Team Hitting sessions at The Facility, the 13’s and 14’s prepare for the spring.  Many of the 13’s and 14’s can be found hitting on their own during the week along with a number of older players.  These players are learning that getting better is not a function of scheduling, lessons, or clinics, but rather a commitment to work on your own and enjoying the investment of effort and time.  It is growing up as a ballplayer.

February Brings Indoor Workouts at Boston College

Winter Workouts transition to high repetition positional work in sessions (Spring Training style) at Boston College.  These are early morning workouts that begin at 6:00am in “The Bubble” at Boston College.  Workouts include positional work for all players in the program.  Among the features is the opportunity for our youngest players to learn the drills and to take reps right along with the older players.  And again, pro scouts are in attendance both as instructors and evaluators.  Why?  Because they want to be here, working hands on with players who care to get better.  On Sunday, February 2nd, 80 players gathered in the early dawn of winter and participated in a brisk two hour workout.  Positional stations were manned by professional scouts along with Ruffnecks coaches.  Infielders did bucket work and low impact throwing.  First basemen conducted a range of footwork and receiving drills.  Outfielders practice drop steps, conducted angle work, and took fly balls. Rich Gedman prepped the catchers with blocking and receiving drills.  And of course, pitchers listened to Ace and conducted flat ground throwing.

Banquet: Thursday, December 19th – Packed House

The 15th Annual Ruffnecks Banquet was held Thursday, December 19th at the Needham VFW Hall with a happy, festive, packed house in attendance. The 2024 Yearbook was available and, as usual, it was the conversation starter at the dinner tables.  A sumptuous pasta dinner was catered with everyone getting plenty to eat.  The evening program featured two guest speakers.  Matt Hyde, long time Area Scout for the New York Yankees spoke.  He emphasize the theme of TEAM in the game of baseball and how the Ruffnecks stand out among club travel programs with their emphasis on team development and team play.  Rich Gedman, a 13 year MLB veteran, two-time All Star, and Red Sox Hall of Fame catcher, spoke as well.  He shared several thoughts on his career and how baseball has been a teaching tool for life. He also shared a taped tribute from former Red Sox great, Roger Clemens, on the retirment of Steve August as Director of the Ruffnecks.  The evening concluded with the Johnny Pesky Teammate Awards.  Nate Dubuc earned the 13u Award.  Max Fukudome was recognized for the 14u Teammate Award.  Angus McKenna garnered the 15u Pesky Award.  Barrett “Bear” Adam, was the 16u Teammate winner.  Five year veteran Tommy Hennessey, committed to play college ball at UMass Amherst, won the 17u Johnny Pesky Award.  It was another great banquet that entertained everyone with three videos capturing the action, a few laughs, and memories of the 2024 season.

Busy Facility During Holiday Break

The Facility is a busy place during the holiday break.  Numerous Ruffnecks alums who are curruently playing in college drop in to hit at the Facility.  It is a great opportunity for younger Ruffnecks to meet those who have gone before and to see how players grow and develop.  The Facility is also host to the Pro Scout Hitting Clinic and the Gedman Catcher’s Clinic.  Both offerings are intended for current Ruffnecks players.  These are focused clinics run by professional MLB scouts and instructors.  The Facility continues to be a unique training home for Ruffnecks to use.  It provides nearly unrestricted access for Ruffnecks players.

Third Decade of Ruffnecks Baseball

As 2024 draws to a close, it is worth a moment to look back on the first year of our third decade.  The players and coaches in the Ruffnecks program devote hours and hours to baseball.

The experience is difficult to explain to those outside our circle and culture.  But for those of us fortunate to be a part of this program, we are grateful for the moments we share and the memories we build.  We see our success in the smiles of new 13u players, not quite knowing what to expect, but forging new friendships that go beyond wins, losses, or moments of doubt.  Coaches demand the confidence of 14u players who must mentor the newest class as they were mentored.  Then there is the hot summer, looked forward to all winter long.  Once the heat arrives, the daily grind is a new experience for the 15u Ruffnecks who play “up” for two months of every-day baseball, measuring success in small moments, hard-earned wins, and tough losses.  For the 16’s there is a certain readiness for what lies ahead.  Players compete to win every day.  They are in search of success and expect much from themselves.  And for the 17u/Seniors we revel in the final stages of our Ruffnecks days, hoping to extend our playing careers at the next level while enjoying the experience, bonds, and joys of playing together for five years (or more!).

This past year is like many others in our 22 year history.  But what endures are the memories.  We are a program in continual growth, with contributions from all who pass through our dugouts.  We travel together, eat together, live together, and spend more time together than with any other subset of teammates in our lives to date.  This is the essence of the Ruffnecks experience.  We welcome our next class of 13u Ruffnecks, selected from a competitive and earnest Fall Baseball program that begins the process all over again.  May 2024 be an inspiration for 2025, making memories once again in this most difficult, yet exhilarating, team sport… Baseball.

The three oldest Ruffnecks teams traveled to Ohio Tuesday, July 30 to compete in the annual Tournament of Champions in the Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky area.  The 15u and 16u Ruffnecks competed in the 16u Division of the TOC, while the 17u Ruffnecks played in the 17u/18u Division. The event ended August 4th and signaled the close of the 2024 Ruffnecks season.  It has been a hot summer, to be sure.  Each of the older Ruffnecks rosters played a demanding schedule that provided a ton of action in the New England region.  The schedule also took our teams to New Jersey, Georgia, Nashville, and then to Ohio.

15u Finish Strong in 16u Division of TOC

The 15u Ruffnecks got off to a good start in Ohio behind an outstanding pitching effort from Jackson Shusda.  After battling through three scoreless innings the Ruffnecks took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the 4th by virtue of some walks and timely hits.  The team went on to a opening game 6-0 victory.  Two tough losses in pool play followed. The first, was a 13-2 blowout at the hands of an excellent Pittsburgh Spike team.  The next was a competitive 7-5 loss to the St. Louis Gamers.  Nonetheless, the 15’s found themselves in a position to move up to one of the top playoff brackets with a win in their final pool play game.  They got that win with a tremendous 5-4 effort.  The victory put the 15’s in the Silver playoff bracket.  But more importantly, the win had a positive effect for the 16u Ruffnecks.  It catapulted the 16’s into the Championship Bracket, which they richly deserved

16u Ruffnecks Get to Championship Bracket

The 16’s had considerable success in 2024 behind the steady coaching of Coaches Brendan Casey and John Casey.  Ted Novio has also provided his expertise and experience to the 16u staff.  Mike Lyon joined after July 14th to provide a coaching staff that really worked hard for the players.  The efforts paid off in Ohio, July 30-August 4.  The 16’s fell flat in their Cincinnati opener, finding themselves on the short end of a 5-0 shutout.  The team’s resilience, competitiveness, and pluck showed over the next three games.  Wins of 6-2 and 13-3 put the 16u Ruffnecks among the top contenders after 3 pool play games, despite the first game loss.  In the 4th game the ‘Necks squandered a comfortable early lead, before Bear Adams clutch bases clearing triple in the top of the 7th.  The game ended in a 8-8 tie (though there was some controversy about the score).  Many thought that game was 9-8 Ruffnecks, but it was not to be.  As already mentioned, the 15’s launched the 16’s into the championship bracket where the 16u Ruffnecks played the #2 seed Ohio Warhawks.  The game was tensely played and went to extra innings, then to the tie breaker.  Sadly, the Ruffnecks season ended in a 6-5 tie breaker loss.  The team definitely had a good run.

17u Ruffnecks Fall Short – But Pitchers Shine

The 17u Ruffnecks got off to a good start behind the outstanding pitching performance from Lorcan Lee in a 2-0 shutout win.  Lee was dominant with a fastball in the high 80’s to 90 and his devastating curve.  Lee pitched 6 no-hit innings, striking out 7.  With a pitch count of 85, the coaches turned to lefthander Lincoln Loftus to close out the game.  The Senior Ruffnecks struggled in Game #2 losing by a score of 10-4.  In the next game, the 17u ‘Necks rebounded with a 1-0 win behind the superlative pitching performance by Jett Little.  The righthander threw a complete game, no-hitter in a 1-0 win.  Little was in complete control with his batterymate Owen Callahan.  He struck out 9.  The 17’s fell in their final pool play game even though pitcher Owen Ellsworth delivered a gritty, competitive, start.  The team went 2 and 2 in pool play and ended their season with a first round loss in bracket play.  The Seniors were led offensively by Bryce Larco, newcomer Boone Fahey, and Tommy Hennessey.  Defensively, Hennessey anchored a solid infield that featured Drew Reagan, Matt Silk, Yedan Diaz.  The outfield was patrolled by veteran Aiden Barclay, Larco, Will Forman, and Sean Watts.  Catching duties were split between Talen Rosborough and Callahan.  Jeremy Krendel lent his two-way abilities to 1B and pitching.  The pitching staff was manned by veterans Lorcan Lee, Matthew deBenedictis, Krendel, Ellsworth, and Lincoln Loftus along with 2026 pitchers Boone Fahey, Carter Hoganson, and Little.