2023 Halfmoon Mariners All-Star Baseball 12U

09/19/2023

Passing the torch! Good luck to the 2024 Cooperstown team. Should be a fun golf outing. Check it out!

08/11/2023

Interested in playing 8U competitive softball? Halfmoon Lightning is hosting 2 free clinics + info sessions for anyone interested in learning to play softball at a competitive level! Clinics will be run by HGS coaches and focus on softball basics, while also providing information on what the "travel" level of play looks like at this age!

Interested? Sign up here to attend: https://forms.gle/epv2w1hsYK9vkgUP8

Or email [email protected] for more info!

08/03/2023

08/01/2023

In true form, I screw up the last post. How I can not mention a big thank you to coach Dave Madigan. He guided this team along with mike through all the transition . Though he stepped away to be a dad this last year. He has made such a big impression on each of these kids. I don’t think anyone will forget those intense pre game batting sessions where Dave would not let you get out of the cages until he felt you were ready ( even if we would miss infield :) ).

Also a special thank you to Liam for sharing his dad for so many years. He is right there with the other coach’s sons. Proud of you.

08/01/2023

Last thing to add to the last post.

I think I can speak for the coaches when I say that we are always dads first. Probably the best thing (and most emotional part) of this journey has been that we got to spend time with our boys and see them grow from boys into young men. I could go on about how proud I am to have be able to experience this with them. But the real reason for this post is to thank Dillon, Luke and Mason for allowing us to coach. Being a coach’s son sucks and is difficult. Not knowing whether you are talking to dad or coach. Not knowing whether we are having a catch in the yard or is it a practice. It is truly a very difficult thing for 9-12 year old to understand why your dad is not 100% focused on you all the time.

These boys sacrificed to allow us to coach. They deserve a special thank you for doing that. We hope we did not screw you guys up too much in the process :)

So, thank you Dillon, Luke and Mason. Love you guys.

08/01/2023

As we wrap up the season, wanted to add some additional words that could not be said yesterday after our game (wanted to but couldn’t for obvious reasons).

This team has come along way in a few short years. We stepped up big time in competition this year so to finish 20-16 across all competitions is a great accomplishment. At the beginning of the year we set out with one goal - win a championship. The boys did that and more:
1. 2023 Greenwich Championship
2. 2023 Halfmoon Melee Championship
3. Around the Horn Plus Championship

You all should be proud of your accomplishments.

A very special thank you to Coach Mike Smith. He took over this time during uncertainty and adversity. He added stability and refocused this team down the right path towards a balance of competitiveness and development. No one can doubt his passion and dedication he put into this team and into each player. Thank you Mike and enjoy being able to sit and watch your sons play baseball.

Another special thank you to Brian Perrotta (not sure why it did not tag) aka the perfect combination of the beard and Roy Kent from Ted lasso. He has been with this team for over three years and always gives the boys the real scoop. His passion to doing the things the right way and holding players accountable clearly improved the teams overall performance and instilled important life lessons that the boys will use in the future. Ask the boys about the one on one talks with coach Brian, they worked and it always got the boys to want to be better.

Then there is me (coach Ben Boyle). Unfortunately I suck at social media and am the issue behind many of these team posts :). I joined the staff because Brian took vacation in July 2021 and somebody had to run the scoreboard. Great break for me. I have enjoyed coaching these kids and being able to see them develop.

Good luck to everyone as you take the next steps. Great season. Thank you all.

08/01/2023

Day 3/4 update. Day 3 started out with a memorable walk off, grand slam win for our boys. Truly a game that these kids will never forgot. Really cool. Lost a tough one in the evening but battled throughout. Finished in the 65 seed out of 96 going into playoffs.
Day 4 is playoff Monday. Started out with a solid win to advance. Unfortunately, we were not able to stay hot and lost in the second round.
All in all, we finished 2-3 and third place in our pool (which had 2 teams in the top 10 overall). Advanced in the seeded playoffs. Finishing in the middle of the pack in a really strong national field of teams. Won the around the horn skills challenge which is truly special as it is the only team based skills event and beating out 95 other teams to win 1 of only 5 championships at Cooperstown. The team exceeded the goals it set of itself at this tournament.

07/30/2023

Day 2 Update. Tough day. 2 loses against very good elite teams. Add a 6 hour rain delay and a little midnight baseball and we had a long day. Boys are resetting for day 3 and look forward to closing our pool play strong.

Games on Sunday are shifted to account for rainouts. We play at 1 pm and 730 pm.

07/29/2023

Day 1 Update.

Boys won the Around the Horn Plus beating the 96 team field.

Won our first game 12-6.

Good job to the team. Good luck on day 2.

07/26/2023

Good luck to the 12U Mariners as they head out to the Cooperstown Dreams Park National Tournament. The team will face pool play competition from PA, NC, AL, CA, and MA.

Pool Game times are:
Friday: 6 pm
Saturday: 11:30 am and 4:30 pm
Sunday: 11:30 am and 7 pm

If you have not experienced this event, it is a lot of fun. Be sure to register through the Cooperstown app.

Go Mariners!! Good luck!!

07/26/2023

It has been a great summer for both the Halfmoon Baseball League and Halfmoon Girls Softball Programs. To date, the travel teams combined for 14 Championships across the 8U, 9U, 10U, 12U, and 14U age divisions. More importantly, all teams represented Halfmoon extremely well on and off the field. We are very proud of both leagues and their accomplishments showing that Halfmoon is a great place to play baseball and softball. Keep up the good work -- the summer is not over yet. Good luck in the remaining tournaments.