Al Thomas came into the 2023 season with only 1 thing in mind, to win a third straight YBL title. The Brighton Black Sox came into the season with the goal of not letting ATBC beat them 3 straight years in the finals.
The 2023 Regular Season showcased 5 teams; Al Thomas, Brighton Black Sox, Brighton Braves, East Boston Knights and the McKay Club Beacons. Everyone knew that the 2023 finals would be ATBC vs BBS for the 3rd year straight. ATBC finished the regular season 16-7-1 with a record of 2-4 vs BBS. Brighton Black Sox finished the year 19-5 and 1st place heading into the 2023 playoffs.
Long story short, Brighton Black Sox would eventually go up 3-0 on Al Thomas in the 2023 Finals. Game 1 BBS won 2-1, Game 2 BBS won 3-2, Game 3 BBS won 11-5. The first two games were pitching duels from both sides, ATBC recorded 5 hits between the 2 games. Paul Wydom threw 6 innings in game 1 letting up 6 hits, 2 runs, 1 earned, 1 walk and 7 strike outs. Devin Perlman threw 6 innings in game 2 allowing 5 hits, 3 runs (0 ER) and 4 walks. Perlman finished with 6 K's on the game. Game 3 was a hit parade for BBS recording 13 hits, Jake Beane and Cam Plank would both have 2 hits on the night.
Game 4 was pivotal for ATBC to keep their season alive. They would do just that. ATBC was down 3-1 going into the bottom of the 7th inning but Colin Hoey wasn't going to go down without a fight. With guys on 1st and 2nd, Hoey battled out a 15 pitch at bat, eventually doubling to the right center gap scoring both runners to tie the game. Shane Rhuda came up and put the game away with a walk off single to the right center gap. Al Thomas stayed alive and won 4-3 and forced a critical game 5 at Brandeis University. Game 5 was yet again a pitchers duel with Paul Wydom on the bump for ATBC. Wydom would throw 6 innings, letting up only 1 hit, 4 walks, and 1 run. He also had 5 K's. The 1 run for BBS was all they needed to win the game and the 2023 YBL Finals.
For Al Thomas, it was a year full of ups and downs and tons of moving pieces, ATBC tried to make it work all year long. In the end, the ATBC family and brotherhood grew stronger this year. From early spring training in March until the last game in August, everyone that wore the green and yellow contributed to this team in some way possible.
Al Thomas has hopes of reclaiming the championship throne in 2024...
The 2023 Yawkey Basebal Leauge Awards will be taking place potentially on Saturday 9/23 at the Milton Legion Post. Stay tuned for more information.
