The league is unique in that 13 players on its 26-man rosters must be from New England or play at a New England College.
“I think when we look back, knowing how late we got started,’’ said Hall, referring to the league’s mid-December birth, “we have to consider our first season a great success.’’
“We were able to pull it off in four different locations,’’ - New Hampshire Seacoast, Nashua, Martha’s Vineyard, and Torrington, Conn. - “and did not just a great job of putting players on the field, but in building promotions and putting fans in the seats. It’s very much like minor league baseball, in that you really need a full year under your belt to sell sponsorships and season tickets.
“Travel was difficult at times, especially to the Vineyard, but nobody complained. As we grow, the travel logistics will become easier.’’
The league also dealt with tragedy early on, when University of Massachusetts Lowell player Adam Keenan of the Seacoast Mavericks died June 6, the first day of practice, of a heart attack.
“That was tough, obviously not the way you want to start the season,’’ said Hall. Keenan “was a tremendous kid from a wonderful family. It was an awful tragedy. It was extremely tough for the Seacoast players and coaching staff who witnessed his death. It was also tough on the Nashua franchise, which had four players who were teammates of Adam’s at UMass-Lowell. It affected us all.’’
The league established the Adam Keenan Memorial Sportsmanship and Scholarship Award, and the first recipient was Seacoast infielder Tommy Chase of Notre Dame, a Boston College High grad from Cohasset.
“It was real honor to be named winner of this award,’’ said Chase. “I didn’t know Adam all that well, but for the short time that I did I could tell he was special. I wish I had had the opportunity to get to know him better.’’
