Page 18 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, JunE 27, 2025 Malden, Everett & Revere players shine at MBCA State Select All-Star Games Malden’s McMahon is top junior pitcher; Tornado Gavin and Revere’s Bellia join him on Vegas Gold; Malden’s Layne Gold Glove winner for freshman All-Stars Everett’s Freni, Soper represent Crimson Tide in sophomore All-Star play; Guida helps lead Freshman Select All-Stars to 9-8 win for Steel Gray By Steve Freker T he Massachusetts Baseball Coaches Association (MBCA) hosted over 180 of the top underclassmen players in the state in the 2025 MBCA Junior, Sophomore and Freshman All-Star Games held at Malden’s Robert D. “Bob” Rotondi Field at Richard C. Howard Park. Two additional Senior Select AllStar Games for members of the Class of 2025 were held Monday (Central vs. West, McKeon Field, Millbury) and Tuesday (North vs. South, Monan Field, BC High). All told, some 282 players participated in six All-Star games across four days at three sites. Participating in the games are of no cost to the players and their families. All players participating in the All-Star games were either nominated by their high school coach — who must be a member of the MBCA — or were selected Most Valuable Player in their respective leagues. Coordinators of the games were Frank Carey (North Reading, Ret.) and John O’Brien (Lynnfield HS) for the North-South Seniors; Ron Silvestri (Millbury HS) and Keith Verra (Northbridge HS) for Central-West Seniors Game); Steve Freker (Malden HS) and John O’Brien (Lynnfield) for the MBCA Junior Select All-Stars, Sophomore Select All-Stars and Freshman Select All-Stars. Players from all around Massachusetts converged on the Greater Boston area to take part in the games, including Malden High juniors Ryan McMahon and Billy Gavin, both Everett’s Tyler Freni gets ready to take a hack in the Sophomore Select All-Star Game. (Advocate Photos) righthanded pitchers, who took part in the MBCA Best of the East Junior Select All-Star Game on Thursday, June 12. McMahon and Gavin were also both named to the 2025 Greater Boston League All-Star Team. In Thursday’s game, McMahon pitched a 1-2-3 inning for the Vegas Gold Team, needing just 11 pitches to complete the inning. He was named Most Valuable Pitcher for his team. Michael Demaino, St. Mary’s Lynn, was also named Most Valuable Player, as he hammered a first-inning grand slam homer to the deepest part of the park in left field. Everett resident and Malden Catholic junior David Ruane, a middle infielder for Malden Catholic High School, was named the Gold Glove Award winner as the top defensive player for Vegas Gold in the Junior All-Star Game. McMahon, Gavin and Ruane all play for the Malden Senior Babe Ruth Bambinos, as do Malden High Freshman Select All-Star selectees Nicholas D’Anna, Davante Layne and Devin Otero Milonopoulos. “It was great to see Ryan [McMahon] and Billy [Gavin] compete with the best players in the Class of 2026 juniors in the state,” Malden High 9th -year Head Coach Steve Freker said. “Ryan did a tremendous job on the mound and was recognized with a prestigious award.” McMahon was 5-4 on the mound this past season with 78 strikeouts in 53 innings pitched. Gavin had six wins (6-3) to go along with three saves and 65 strikeouts in 47 innings pitched for Malden. Revere High’s hard-throwing junior righthander Dom Bellia was selected to the Junior EVERETT COACH and GUIDA: Everett High School Head Coach Malik Love and varsity catcher MJ Guida at the MBCA Freshman Select All-Star Game. ALL-STARS | SEE PAGE 21 MBCA ALL-STARS EVERETT’S FRENI and SOPER: From left: Derek Soper, Everett Head Coach Malik Love and outfielder Tyler Freni participated in the 2025 Massachusetts Baseball Coaches Association (MBCA) Sophomore Select All-Star Game. Coach Love was on hand to watch as a spectator. (Advocate Photos)
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