New Bedford Bay Sox

New Bedford Bay Sox Founded in 1997 New Bedford, MA

Team Logo Cap Insignia

League affiliations

NECBL East Division (2009-present)  Southern Division (2004-2008) Western Division (2002) National Division (2001)

Name

New Bedford Bay Sox (2009-present) Torrington Twisters (1997-2008)

Other nicknames

Team Colors

Navy, Red

Cities

New Bedford, MA (2009-present) Torrington, CT (1997-2008)

Ballpark

Paul Walsh Field (2009-present) Fuessenich Park (1997-2008)

Championships

League titles: 0 Post-Season Division titles: 4 (1997 • 1998 • 2003 • 2006)  Regular Season Division titles: 4 (2001 • 2002 • 2004 • 2007)

Front Office

Owner: Pat O'Connor (President) General Manager: Andrew Cormier Field Manager: Rick Miller Mascot: Slamu the whale

Media:

Website: nbbaysox.com

The New Bedford Bay Sox are a baseball team that plays in the New England Collegiate Baseball League, a collegiate summer baseball league located in the northeastern United States region of New England. The team is located in New Bedford, Massachusetts. New Bedford's Paul Walsh Field serves as the home field of the Bay Sox. Th NECBL's players use wooden bats, as opposed to aluminum, and are college baseball players recruited from the top intercollegiate baseball programs in the United States. The franchise has appeared in league finals four times in their history, all as the Torrington Twisters (1997, 1998, 2003, 2006), and have twice played host to the NECBL All-Star Game as the Twisters (1998, 2008). Pat and Beth O'Connor, owners of Litttle Fenway and Little Wrigley joined the ownership team of the New Bedford Bay Sox in October, 2011, and signed a 3-year lease to play at Paul Walsh Field. In November 2011, former MLB player Rick Miller was announced as the 2012 Bay Sox manager.

Relocation

Former Twisters Logo (1997-2007)

On December 17, 2008, franchise owners Robin Wadsworth and Rita Hubner, along with New Bedford mayor Scott Lang, announced the relocation of the Torrington Twisters from Torrington, Connecticut to New Bedford, Massachusetts. The team became the New Bedford Bay Sox. They also announced the agreement to a three-year lease deal for Paul Walsh Field in New Bedford. At the press conference, Wadsworth was quoted as saying, "New Bedford has a sense of pride, community and passion that clearly shines through; their enthusiasm is second to none. It quickly became a virtual no brainer, the minute we engaged with Mayor Lang, Matt Morrissey and other community leaders."

On December 26, 2010, changes were announced in the Bay Sox ownership. While owners Wadsworth and Hubner maintained their positions, Tewksbury, Massachusetts residents Jim and Effie Dragon joined as minority owners. The owners voiced their interest in keeping the team in New Bedford.

Franchise postseason appearances

Year	Division Semi-Finals		Division Finals*		NECBL Championship Series
1997			Danbury Westerners	W (2-0)	Middletown Giants	L (1-2)
1998			Rhode Island Gulls	W (2-0)	Middletown Giants	L (1-2)
2001			Keene Swamp Bats	L (1-2)
2002	Keene Swamp Bats	L (1-2)
2003	Middletown Giants	W (2-0)	Newport Gulls	W (2-0)	Keene Swamp Bats	L (0-2)
2004	Newport Gulls	L (1-2)
2006	North Adams SteepleCats	W (2-0)	Newport Gulls	W (2-0)	Vermont Mountaineers	L (0-2)
2007	Manchester Silkworms	W (2-0)	Newport Gulls	L (0-2)
2009	Newport Gulls	L (0-2)

• *The NECBL did not separate into divisions until 2001.

See also

• New England Collegiate Baseball League

External links

• Official site of the New Bedford Bay Sox
• Official site of the New England Collegiate Baseball League

References

• Twisters look for fresh start in '09 The Register Citizen
• Twisters dole out awards The Register Citizen
• South stars rise in NECBL showcase The Register Citizen