- All players must complete the Liability Waiver before participating this season
- Players not registered with completed waiver form will not be eligible to participate
- Update the games played under the game results to make sure eligibility for tournaments
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NEO Roy Hobbs Baseball
Here is an announcement from Lew Battaglia on behalf of the 65+ NEO Roy Hobbs Thursday Afternoon League:
We are revamping the Thursday 65's Roy Hobbs league to increase to 4 teams, 2 each of which will be managed by the Brewers and Mudhens organizations, respectively. Part of this process will include re-drafting all returning players to fix the current competitive imbalance between teams.
We are asking all returning and new players to attend one of two pre-draft workouts scheduled at Pinnacle Sports (313 Medina Rd. in Medina, 44256) from Noon to 2 PM on Thursday April 2nd. or Noon to 2 PM Thursday April 9th, the cost of which will be $10 at the door. The facility also requires those who have never practiced there before to sign an accident waiver which can be completed on arrival. Please respond by return message to indicate which of these sessions you plan to attend. Team managers will hold the draft once the 2nd session is completed.
The success of this expansion hinges on attracting new players. League Managers are exploring several recruiting options, but returning players can help by simply spreading the word. The league is convenient to play in, considering that it doesn't conflict with MSBL leagues on Mondays and Tuesdays and Wednesdays' GCAB league. This is truly another opportunity for the baseball junkies among us to get a few extra swings in while making new friends. To facilitate this growth, teams will this year also be able to add anyone who will be at least 63 at anytime during 2026, so please let your younger friends know who would qualify for this exemption.
You may direct those interested to the NEO ROY Hobbs Baseball Facebook page and/or league website at: https://www.leaguelineup.com/welcome.asp?url=neoroyhobbs for further information. Returning players can also contact their 2025 managers with any questions or concerns.
Thanks, and may opening day come faster than we can imagine!
Lew Battaglia, MudHens Red Mgr., Rick McGalliard, Brewers Mgr., John Berger, MudHens Blue Mgr., Ken Breyley, Brewers Mgr.,Rusty Chaboudy, Brewers, Don Booth, League VP
Kenmore Eastern Brewers John Sarver Inducted into OHSBCA Hall of Fame
Kenmore Eastern Brewers John Sarver was inducted into the Ohio High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame on Friday, Jan. 23, in Columbus.
Sarver, an Akron resident, graduated from Ellet High School in 1973 and had success as a baseball coach at Ellet, Archbishop Hoban, Buchtel and Kenmore between 1980-2023.
Sarver compiled a record of 627 wins and 392 losses in 43 seasons as a baseball coach. He led Ellet to a 379-247 record in 24 seasons. The Ellet baseball field, where he is the groundskeeper, is now named John Sarver Baseball Field.
Sarver got his start as a baseball head coach at Kenmore for one season in 1980. He then led Hoban for five seasons from 1981-1985, spent two seasons at Buchtel in 1986 and 1987 and returned to the Hoban dugout for 11 seasons as the Knights coach from 1988-1998.
Sarver's Hoban teams won four district championships (1981, 1983, 1985, 1993), one regional title (1993) and finished as Division II state runner-up in 1993.
Sarver moved to his alma mater, Ellet, in 1999 and retired from coaching after the 2023 season.
Sarver's Ellet baseball teams won 18 City Series regular season championships, 15 league postseason titles and two Division I sectional titles (2001, 2022).
2026 Team Registration
Attention Managers:
If you have an existing team returning for 2026 or want to register a new team in a league, please fill out the Team Registration Form.
All teams should be registered before players can be added to your roster. This keep the contacts current and also establishes how many teams in each division to expect for the upcoming season.
Calling All Baseball Enthusiasts
Join NEO Roy Hobbs Baseball
“You don’t stop playing because you get old, you get old because you stop playing”
Roy Hobbs Baseball started in the late 1980s in Akron with local enthusiasts forming pickup games, leading to the official Northeast Ohio Roy Hobbs league for over-30 players in 1989, spearheaded by founder Tom Giffen to bring organized adult amateur baseball to the region. From these humble beginnings on local fields, the league grew, adding age groups and eventually competing in national tournaments, cementing Akron as a key location for this brand of adult baseball.
We want to rekindle the original mission of growing participation with emphasis on 30 – 60 year olds. Currently there are no Akron-based 30 – 60 age divisions that once thrived from 1990s – 2010.
Today, NEO Roy Hobbs has a premier competitive age 18+ league with 16 teams competing May – July with a game during the week and DHs on Sat or Sun. Additionally, we have 5 teams aged 65+ competing on Thursdays or Saturdays.
We are proud of our 18+ league and 65+ divisions. We want to provide the opportunity for individuals to play baseball – competitive or casual - regardless of age. Hundreds of former high school through college baseball players are in Greater Akron that have not played the game for 20+ years or are new to the Akron area. Get back on the diamond! And bring a friend.
Starting in July 2026, we are hoping to start with pick-up games -- or workouts if not enough players -- on either Saturday or Sunday mornings at 10 AM depending on what the majority prefers.
Contact NEO Roy Hobbs board member Mike Hoffman by text or phone at 330.671.6453 or bazeball5@sbcglobal.net.
2025 NEORH 65+ Vintage Award Winners:
League MVP - Ron Western, Kenmore Eastern Brewers
Pitcher of the Year - Rusty Chaboudy, Kenmore Eastern Brewers
2025 NEORH 70+ Timeless Award Winners:
League MVP - Scott Ruhe, Kent Mudhens
Pitcher of the Year - Bob Anger, Kenmore Eastern Brewers
65+ NEORH Vintage Division Champions | Kenmore Eastern Brewers
Manager: Rick McGalliard
Congratulations to the 2025 NEORH Vintage Division Champions, Kenmore Eastern Brewers! The Brewers finished the season with a 12-1 overall record.
70+ NEORH Timeless Division Champions | Kent Mudhens
Manager: Don Booth
Congratulations to the 2025 NEORH 70+ Timeless Division Champions, Kent Mudhens! The Mudhens won the Best-of-Three Series.
2025 Greater Akron AA Baseball Award Winners:
Frank Garcia League MVP - Steven Lively, Ohio Gamecocks
Dave Young Pitcher of the Year - Jonathan Kountis, Portage South Black Squirrels
George Sisler Hitter of the Year - Steven Lively, Ohio Gamecocks
Don Lombardi Rookie of the Year - Evan Fairbanks, Ohio Gamecocks
Dave Layton Tournament MVPs - Kevin Haley, Portage South Black Squirrels (American Division) &
Anthony Galla, Akron Orioles (National Division)
18+ Greater Akron AA - American Division Champions | Portage South Black Squirrels
Manager: Marc Korogi/Ron Spears
Congratulations to the 2025 NEORH Greater Akron AA American Division Champions, Portage South Black Squirrels! Portage South finished the season with a 21-5 overall record.
18+ Greater Akron AA - National Division Champions | Akron Orioles
Manager: Drew Krowsoski
Congratulations to the 2025 NEORH Greater Akron AA National Division Champions, Akron Orioles!
NEO Roy Hobbs Baseball Mission Statement
NEO Roy Hobbs Baseball, Inc. is organized exclusively for non-profit purposes; specifically for the purpose of promoting and participating in the game of baseball, and to develop concepts of good sportsmanship and fair play and various other charitable, recreational and education purposes. NEO Roy Hobbs Baseball, Inc. supports children’s and disabled baseball in the Akron, Ohio area by members donating time to coach and assist in baseball related events.
Hudson Ballpark Facility Rules
Everyone
It has come to our attention on multiple occasions that the facility rules have not been followed for the use of Hudson High School Ballpark. In order to assure use of the field and a good relationship with all those involved with the use of the Ballpark at Hudson we need to follow the rules established for this facility. No exceptions!
Rock Team Sports/NEO Roy Hobbs Partnership
NEO Roy Hobbs Baseball is working on a partnership with Rock Team Sports.
Below is the link from Rock Team Sports to purchase New Balance baseball turf shoes and cleats.
Click Here to Purchase New Cleats and Turf Shoes
Fields Maintained by
Become a High School Official
Rocky Colavito Statue in Little Italy's Tony Brush Park
An announcement for those of us who grew up in the late ‘50s when Rocky Colavito was King of the Indians to all the little boys and a bunch of us a older ones too! Several groups in the Little Italy neighborhood of Cleveland are spearheading a drive to erect a statue of him by the noted local sculptor David Deming. I was told but not confirmed that the plaster form has been made but casting the bronze cannot proceed until fund raising is more complete. They are almost half way toward covering the full $110,000 cost.
It you want to find out more or contribute as a team or individually, enter RockyColavitoStatue.com into your browser. Donations of any size are more than welcome and you can get your name on a paver at the site for $125 or $250.
