Pilots win 2023 Malden Babe Ruth City Series Playoff Championship

Ryan McMahon hurls a 3-hit gem with 14 strikeouts; Ruane and Rivera-Fuentes lead the hit parade in Finals win

By Steve Freker

The first time was a charm for coach Nolan Bagley, who took over the reins of a veteran Pilots team and then rode the pitching of ace righthander Ryan McMahon and the hitting of David Ruane and Jaylen Rivera-Fuentes to the 2023 Malden Babe Ruth League City Series Playoff Championship. Bagley took over the reins as team manager and head coach for the Pilots in April this year and finished the season at the top this week as one of the Malden BRL’s longest-running teams won just its second title in history. Led by another brilliant pitching performance by McMahon and more clutch hitting from Ruane and Rivera-Fuentes, the Pilots rolled past regular season pennant winner Chiefs, 14-1, Wednesday in a winner-take-all Championship Final on Kezer Field at Pine Banks Park.

For the second time in the 2023 double-elimination series, McMahon simply dominated on the mound for the Pilots. On Wednesday, McMahon went the distance, allowing just three hits on the night and striking out 14. The only run of the night allowed was unearned.

Earlier in the playoff series, on July 24, McMahon was equally as solid, tossing a complete-game 2-hitter in a 12-1 win over the Flames. McMahon is a rising sophomore at Malden High School who was the second-leading hitter and an everyday starter for the Golden Tornado varsity baseball team this past spring.

The Pilots had knocked off the Chiefs, 12-1, on Monday at Kezer Field to force Wednesday’s winner-take-all final. Righty David Ruane, of Everett, is a rising sophomore at Malden Catholic.

In Wednesday’s game, the Pilots raced out to a commanding, 6-0 lead and never looked back. It was billed as a matchup between two of the league’s top pitchers: McMahon for the Pilots and Ryan Bowdridge, a hard-throwing righty for the Chiefs. But the defense for the Chiefs went south and the Pilots were able to strike with all six runs being unearned as they built the 6-0 lead after four innings.

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2023 Playoff Scores (all games at Kezer Field/Double Elimination Series

Game 1: July 19, Wednesday: Pilots 12, Flames 5.

Game 2: July 19, Wednesday: Chiefs defeat Knights (Forfeit).

Game 3: July 20, Thursday: Flames defeat Knights (Forfeit).

Knights eliminated

Game 4: July 20, Thursday: Chiefs 5, Pilots 2.

Game 5: July 24, Monday: Pilots 12, Flames 1.

Flames eliminated

Game 6: July 31, Monday: Pilots 13, Chiefs 1.

Game 7: Aug 2, Wednesday: Pilots 14, Chiefs 2.

Pilots win 2023 City Series Championship

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The runner up Chiefs were coached by manager Chris Kosuk and included David Azzolino, Ryan Bowdridge, Jordan Caplis, Marc Colleameano, Joshua Dionne, Yousef Ellussien, Robert Erkkila, Logan Garrity, Nico LoConte, Joshua Mini, Kendrick Noelsaint, Derek Soper and Gino Spadafora. Assistant coaches included Clifton Noelsaint and Bill LoConte.

The 2023 Malden Babe Ruth League Champions, the Pilots, include first-year manager Nolan Bagley and the team: Antonine Alce, Andrew Barrett, Matthew Candelario Da Costa, Coby Cook, Charlie Govostes, Michael Guida, Artemijs “A.J.” Jumutcs, Remy Laughton, Matthew Maltese, Ryan McMahon, Jaylen Rivera-Fuentes, David Ruane, Josiah Silva and Zachary Woods. Assistant coaches included Patrick Ruane and Timmy Cervera.

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CITY SERIES NOTES: This was the 63rd Malden Babe Ruth League City Series Playoff Championship since the league originated in 1959. There was no playoff series held that first season, in ’59, and there was also none held in the 2020 COVID-19 erased season… There are three teams tied for Most City Series Titles Won, all with eight: Flames, Knights and Stars: Knights (all won by Manager Bob Rotondi [1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1988, 2000, 2008, 2019]; Flames (all won by Manager Deano Summers [1996, 1997, 2002, 2007, 2009, 2013, 2021, 2022]; Stars (1973, 1975, 1981, 1982, 1989, 1991, 1994, 1999) … This was a milestone year for the most prominent figure in Malden Babe Ruth League history, Knights iconic manager Bob Rotondi. It was his – no typo – 60th year at the helm, having assumed command in 1964. This must be a record in at least New England history, if not national. Though Bob was unable to attend most games in person this year due to health challenges, he was there in spirit and kept informed by his top assistants, including Paul Maccioli… Malden High School will have quite a one-two punch on the pitching mound next season and for some after that with the title finals aces from this year’s finals on the mound next spring: Returning sophomore Ryan McMahon, had a fine season this past spring (3-3). He pitched for the Pilots Wednesday. Chiefs starter Ryan Bowdridge is an incoming freshman for Malden High. Bowdridge, already 6-2, will also be competing for quarterback on the Malden High varsity football team when preseason camp opens on August 17.

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