2025 MSBL World Series Profile: Scott Erreca and Bill Howard, Berry’s Athletic Supply
Compiled by Steve LaMontia-Carlentini, MSBL Director of Communications
Any of you out there who know who Ron Cey or Chris Chambliss is, and have been playing MSBL baseball since the 90s, have certainly heard of the World Series powerhouse Berry’s Athletic Supply teams out of San Diego.
Unfortunately, I am of that age and have experienced firsthand being pummeled regularly by these deeply talented men of the diamond.
Berry’s has evolved into a thorn in the sides of the older divisions, specifically participating in this year’s 70-over National division in Arizona.
Scott Erreca and Bill Howard are the current architects of the team and were kind enough to tell us more about the history of Berry’s. We are happy that they decided to take part in our 2025 MSBL World Series Profile program. Enjoy!
What is the name of your team(s) this year?
Scott: BERRY’S 70’S CO-MANAGED BY SCOTT ERRECA AND BILL HOWARD
What division(s) will you be playing in?
Scott: 70 AND OVER NATIONAL DIVISION
Are you managing or playing in more than one week?
Scott: BERRY’S ONLY THIS WEEK, BUT SOME OF OUR PLAYERS ARE ALSO PLAYING 73 AND OVER AND ALSO IN THE FATHER /S0N DIVISION
How long have you been involved in the MSBL?
Scott: I HAVE BEEN WITH MSBL SINCE 1998 AND BILL HOWARD MY CO-MANAGER HAS BEEN WITH MSBL SINCE ITS INCEPTION
How did you become involved with MSBL?
Scott: I COACHED TRAVEL BALL TEAMS FOR MY SON AND DAUGHTER WITH TERRY HOLUM AND RICK HAZARD. THEY WERE PLAYING IN MSBL AT THE TIME AND ASKED ME TO COME PLAY. THAT WAS IN 1998; 2004 JOHN ENRIGHT RECRUITED ME TO CATCH FOR BERRY’S AND BEEN A PLAYER EVER SINCE. BILL HOWARD HAS A LONGER HISTORY.
Bill: After graduating from the University of San Diego in 1975 I was constantly looking for a place to continue to play adult baseball and had to settle for softball until a friend of mine, ex big leaguer Jerry Johnson, told me about this new league, the rest is history!
How many years have you attended the World Series? Fall Classic? Other MSBL Regional Tournaments?
Scott: BERRY’S HAS BEEN COMING TO PHOENIX SINCE 1994; WE HAVE BEEN PLAYING IN PALM SPRINGS SINCE ITS INCEPTION; BERRY’S ALSO PLAYED MANY YEARS IN THE LAS VEGAS TOURNAMENT, BUT THE PAST 8 YEARS WE HAVE STAYED HOME TO PREPARE FOR THE LOCAL MSBL MEMORIAL DAY TOURNAMENT.
Bill: I’ve been coming to the WS since the first one playing for the Red Sox then the Longshot Sox, then the Gems, and finally with Berry’s in 1994, this is my 31st year with the team.
Scott: In 2021, JOHN ENRIGHT RETIRED AND ASKED ME IF I WOULD TAKE OVER THE TEAM. I WAS IN A WEAKENED STATE AFTER FINISHING OFF A BOTTLE OF WINE AND SAID I WOULD, BUT I WOULD ONLY TAKE IT IF BILL HOWARD WOULD HELP, SO THAT WAS THE START OF OUR PARTNERSHIP IN BERRY’S AS MANAGERS
Have you won any events? If so, please list them and their dates.
Scott: BERRY’S HAS WON 15 RINGS OVER THE YEARS IN PHOENIX
1992,1997,1998,1999,2001,2002,2005,2006,2008,2009,2011,2012,2013,2014,2016.
THERE WERE A FEW YEARS WHEN BERRY’S TOOK 2 TEAMS TO THE SERIES WITH A 35 AND OVER AND A 45 AND OVER TEAMS.
BILL HOWARD HAS 12 RINGS FROM BERRY’S. WE HAVE WON IN PALM SPRINGS 5 TIMES
What do you do for a career?
Scott: MY FATHER AND I HAD A CONSTRUCTION COMPANY ERRECA’S INC. THAT PERFORMED SITE DEVELOPMENT FOR SUBDIVISIONS, BUILT HIGHWAYS AND BRIDGES FOR CALTRANS IN SAN DIEGO, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS FOR THE CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO. AT OUR PEAL WE EMPLOYED 250 PEOPLE; AFTER BEING IN BUSINESS SINCE 1995 WE RETIRED THE BUSINESS IN 2012, DEVELOPED OUR 30 ACRES OF INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY, WHICH HAD SERVED OUR CONSTRUCTION COMPANY.
I NOW MANAGE THE PROPERTY KNOWN AS “ ERRECA ASSOCIATES LLC” FOR THE FAMILY WITH LEASED TENANTS. IT’S A LEGACY PROPERTY THAT WILL SERVE OUR FAMILY VERY WELL.
Bill: 30 years in retail, 25 as a store manager for Safeway/Vons, last 15 years in education for Universal Technical Institute
Please list any family details, if you wish.
Scott: I HAVE A SON BRETT, DAGHTER IN LAW AUDRA WITH 4 GRANDKIDS-BEN, ADAM, JOJO, AND LUCY. THEY LIVE IN PARKER COLORADO. MY SON WAS A PITCHER AT UC DAVIS. WE COMPETED IN THE FATHER /SON IN THE PAST. LOCALLY IN SAN DIEGO, I HAVE A DAUGHTER KATIE, AND SON-IN-LAW RANDY, WITH 2 GRANDKIDS, WESTON AND SHEA. MY FAMILY IS SMALL POTATOES COMPARED TO BILL HOWARD, AS YOU WILL SEE.
Bill: 5 children, 12 grandchildren, from 4 months to 24 years old
What are the most significant moments for you as an adult baseball player?
Scott: ALL OF THE FRIENDSHIPS THAT I HAVE MADE OVER THE YEARS ARE PRICELESS. OUR BERRY’S FAMILY IS SPECIAL-MY WIFE, DIANNE, CALLS US THE ROYAL ORDER OF BUFFALOS AFTER THE FLINTSTONES!!!!!!!!!
Which local league do you play in at home?
Scott: LOCALLY WE PLAY IN THE NORTH COUNTY MSBL. THE COMMISIONER IS JASON WOMACK
Do you have a favorite MSBL World Series moment?
Scott: I HAVE MANY, BUT TWO THAT STICK OUT FOR ME;
WE ARE DOWN 2-1 BOTTOM OF THE NINTH INNING, MAN ON FIRST AND 2 OUTS. BILLY COCHIA, WHO HAS PASSED BUT IS INFAMOUS IN MSBL AS A HITTER, COMES TO THE PLATE; THEY WALK HIM TO GET TO TOMMY BENEDICKT.
TOMMY WORKS THE COUNT TO 3 AND 2. FOULS A COUPLE OF MORE PITCHES THEN HITS A DOUBLE IN THE GAAP AT RIGHT CENTER. BILLY COCHIA COULD RUN LIKE THE WIND AND SCORED. WE WON THE GAME AND A RING.
MY BEST non-World SERIES MEMORY WAS PLAYING IN PALM SPRINGS. OUR GAME WAS IN INDIO. WE GET TO THE FIELD AND IT’S 15 DEGREES. GRASS IS FROZEN AND THEY WON’T LET US ON TILL THE TEMP IS 32 DEGREES PLUS.
JIMMY ALLEN AND I STAYED HUDDLED IN 2 SLEEPING BAGS ZIPPED TOGETHER FOR AN HOUR AND A HALF-WAITING FOR GAME TIME. WITH NO WARM-UPS, JIMMY IS ON THE MOUND I’M BEHIND THE PLATE, JIMMY THROWS A MASTERFUL ONE-HITTER.
Bill: The most recent was pitching a complete game and winning the 2023 70+ Championship game 3-1 for the Minnesota Bandits against the LA Athletics. I played for the Bandits because Berry’s did not have enough players for the 70’s at that time.
How has playing in the MSBL/MABL affected your life?
Scott: I THINK FOR ME, IT OF COURSE HAS KEPT ME ACTIVE AND COMPETITIVE BUT MOST OF ALL IT HAS GIVEN ME LIFE LONG FRIENDSHIPS, A TREASURE TROVE OF MEMORIES OF JOY AND HEARTBREAK. THE FEELING OF BELONGING TO A TEAM THAT YOU LOVE NEVER GETS OLD.
Bill: It has given me the opportunity to continue to play the game I love, which I have been playing since I was 6.
What are your future World Series team plans?
Scott: WE’LL PLAY TILL EVERYONE AS A TEAM SAYS NO MORE. AS LONG AS I’M VERTICAL, TAKING NUTRITION AND CAN STILL PLAY I’LL BE OUT THERE. I’VE HAD BACK SURGERY AND MY KNEES ARE STARTING TO BARK FROM ALL THE CATCHING-BUT ONCE IT’S PLAY BALL THE DISCOMFORT SEEMS TO DISSAPPEAR!!! I KNOW BILL WILL STAY AT IT. HE NOW HAS BOTH KNEES AND BOTH HIPS REPLACED- HE’S BIONIC NOW!