MSBL Welcomes the Shenandoah Valley Adult Baseball League!
By Steve LaMontia-Carlentini, MSBL Director of Communications
MSBL is happy to announce a new league located in the Shenandoah Valley, which is roughly from Harrisburg, Virginia, to Winchester. They are also able to attract players from West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania.
The new Shenandoah Valley Adult Baseball League is led by MSBL veteran Ted Tyler, a seasoned player in the long-standing DCMSBL.
“This year we are starting up with 25-over and a 35+-over divisions, consisting of four teams in each,” explained Tyler. “We hope to expand to a 45-over division in 2026. We are anxious to get started and were supposed to begin on June 15th, but our inaugural opening day was rained out!”
Ted is 53 years young, yet boasts a pretty impressive and lengthy MSBL resume.
“I started playing in the DCMSBL back in 1996 playing for the 18+ Horizon Bank Suns under the legendary Jim Beck. I ended up playing six or seven seasons on Jim’s team. In 2013, I played with the 18+ Fairfax Americans, then 40+ Phanatics, and this season with the 40+ Pirates.”
Ted’s wood-bat league in Virginia consists of a 14-game season, followed by playoffs. Where did the idea of a new league in this area come from?
“The Shenandoah Valley has a deep tradition of baseball. There are several competitive and popular leagues for high school and college players in the summer months, but there was a real need for adult baseball. After relocating, I was having to drive almost two hours to play in the 40+ DCMSBL. I knew not a single person in the Shenandoah Valley, but I knew the Shenandoah Valley baseball culture was developing quickly.
The idea is very sound, but what did you do to put the plan in motion?
“Amazingly, we assembled eight expansion teams out of 100% free agent sign-ups I received from social media advertising, backed up by hand-drawn yard signs so people would connect the two and know we were for real and not some online scam. My thinking was to recruit players in the online arena, more so than the usual print ads. It worked!”
Are you anticipating having your league represented at the MSBL World Series in Arizona or any other national tournaments? Have you personally been involved in those tournaments previously?
“Yes, we definitely plan on playing in national tournaments in the future. I have been to the Fall Classic three times with the 40+ Fairfax Americans, both in Clearwater and Palm Beach. Both areas were super-enjoyable and I still have buddies I see from those tourneys when I do get up to play in the DCMSBL with the Pirates.
My father, who is 91, lives in the DC area so I make the trip up and play with old friends, see old friends, and stop by and visit with my Dad.”
Nobody can start a league from scratch all alone. Who are some of the individuals who have helped you get to this point?
“All the managers have been crucial in assisting getting teams organized and ready for games. Brian Inchecks helps with fields, Chris Kallick and Keith Kishbaugh run tight ships and keep me on the ball, all the while giving me critical feedback as my ‘bench coaches.’
The players who stepped up to manage our expansion teams are essential. They did it out of love of the game, and a realization what joy this was bringing to others.
I especially want to recognize Gavin Nesselrodt and Jordan Elyard of the 25+ Rocktown Baseball Club, Carlos Milano and Juan Carlos Palacio of the 25+ Hornets, Marc Kokosky and his son Max of the 35+ Brewers, and Ron Emge, the first person at the first workout/meet & greet event, that I ever hosted. He is the manager of the 35+ Cardinals. Ron is as nice a person as I have ever met.”
Will you have officers helping you run the league day to day?
“Maybe in the future we will need some league officers. I have a feeling our strategy of starting small and growing will succeed, both with teams and organizationally.”
Any final thoughts?
“I knew firsthand what this could and would bring to the community. Meeting all of the great people has been the best part. I tell folks we are league of dads, teachers, bricklayers, scientists, plant workers, veterans, lawyers, farmers, etc. The motto of the league is ‘Get Dirty. Be Happy.’ That spirit definitely filled the park on our inaugural opening day for 25+ on Father’s Day Sunday.”
Note: The clouds finally stayed away and the SVABL was able to kick off on June 22nd! If you’d like to learn more about the league, here is their website: SVABL.INFO
