Page 14 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, August 18, 2023 Malden Recreation Mac Singleton Summer Basketball League Champs! About 200 players participated in league this season at Coytemore Lea Park By Steve Freker T here is no question that basketball remains one of the most popular sports among Malden’s youth. This summer the annual Mac Singleton Summer Basketball League continued to be a big hit, as about 200 kids in three age divisions competed for championships on the court at Coytemore Lea Park on Mountain Avenue. The league is run by the Malden Recreation Department, one of many programs organized and supervised by Malden Rec Coordinator Joe Levine and his staff, which includes Laura Perez, Mike Boyd, and high school-aged assistants. The Mac Singleton League included Divisions with players in grades 4-56, 7-8 and 9-12. Once again, the league was run in collaboration with the Malden Police Department, with MPD patrol officers, sergeants and school resource officers all lending a hand with coaching or supporting the players each week. The matching of the police officers and the youth players is one facet that pays big dividends, according to the Malden Rec coordinator. “It builds relationships between our youth and a key public safety agency in our city. The kids and the police officers get to know each other … and it is beneficial to everyone involved,” Levine said. The six-week season was capped by “Championship Wednesday” on July 5, and three division champs were crowned. Each player on each team received a hoodie for winning the playoffs, and everyone in the park was treated to a pizza party, compliments of the Mac Singleton League and Pisa Pizza (133 Pearl St., Malden) and owner Joe Crowley. Malden Rec Coordinator Levine said he and the league were grateful to Malden Police Chief Glenn Cronin and Sgts. Phil Halloran, Trent Headley, Rob O’Brien and a slew of others in the Malden PD for their time and passion on behalf of the Malden players. In a special presentation, longtime Malden Police Officer Phil Halloran, who coaches every year in the summer and winter leagues and was recently elevated to SerCOACH CHUCK AND TEAM: Malden Police “Coach Chuck’s” Green Team won the youngest division championship, and he celebrated the win with his guys after the finals. geant, was named “Coach of the Year.” *** PLAYOFF CHAMPIONSHIP SCORES In the Grades 4-5-6 Division, the final score was Green Team 26, Yellow 20 in the playoff final. For Grades 9-12, Yellow Team prevailed over Green Team, 5549, in a game that went right down to the wire. In the evening’s finale, for Grades 7-8 Division, Grey topped Blue, 43-41, in double overtime. GREEN TEAM CHAMPS: The Green Team topped the Yellow Team in the Grades 4-5-6 Division in the Malden Recreation Mac Singleton Basketball League and were awarded championship hoodies. (Advocate Photos) YELLOW CHAMPS IN HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION: The Yellow Team topped the Green team, 55-49, in a close finish to win the High School Division. Malden Mayor Gary Christenson (center) was on hand to congratulate these winners and all the champs that night. Malden High School Fall Preseason kicks off today with Football, Coed Golf All other Golden Tornado Fall Sports begin preseason work on Monday, August 21 By Steve Freker T he long wait is over! It’s time to pass, run, tackle and kick again. Don’t forget drive, putt and trudge across any of number of local fairways. Fall Sports are here for the local high schools, and Malden Public Schools Physical Education Department Director Charlie Conefrey says it is an exciting time of year for all. “Fall season is always one of the most exciting seasons and brings the most anticipation since it comes right along with the start of a new school year,” Conefrey said. The start of the individual sports programs is a bit staggered. Football and Coed Golf get under way today, with preseason workouts at Macdonald Stadium at 4:30 p.m. and Golf at 10:00 a.m. at Richardson’s Driving Range (106 Main St., Middleton). The last time the Malden High football team played, it was a resounding win on Thanksgiving Eve at historic Fenway Park over Medford. Following are the starting dates, times and places for all of the other Malden High sports teams: Monday, August 21: Boys Soccer Tryouts – Pine Malden High Athletics Banks Park, 10:00 a.m.-noon (all grades, 9-12) Coed Field Hockey Tryouts – Pine Banks Park, 2:45-4:45 p.m. (all grades, 9-12) Girls Volleyball Tryouts – Malden High Gym, 10:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (grades 10, 11, 12); 12:302:30 p.m. (Grade 9) *** Tuesday, August 22: Cross Country (Boys and Girls) – Pine Banks Park, 3:30-4:30 p.m. (all grades, 9-12) *** Wednesday, August 23: Girls Soccer Tryouts – 1:304:00 p.m. (all grades, 9-12)
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