WINNING IT FOR ‘BOB’: Knights win Malden Babe Ruth Championship just weeks after iconic manager Bob Rotondi’s passing

Knights cap historic, undefeated (17-0) season with 7-1 victory over archrival Flames

By Steve Freker

The game – and the big victory – was just a few minutes old when longtime assistant coach Andy Scarano invoked his name. “I would love to see the expression on Bob’s face right now, I really would,” Scarano, who has been with the Knights for over 40 years, said as the players were still high-fiving and celebrating their championship. “Bob loved this team!”

Being one of the few people in the community of Malden who can easily be referenced by his first name only – à la Prince, Elvis and Beyoncé – Scarano was bringing the late Bob Rotondi right into the celebration party on Kezer Field at Pine Banks Park. The Knights, backed by some steady pitching from a tag-team pair of hard-throwing righthanders, Dylan Clough and Colin Belloise, and some clutch hitting by Max Fernandes (2-for-3, 3 RBIs), captured the 2024 Malden Babe Ruth League City Series Championship Wednesday with a 7-3 win over the Flames before a large crowd at Pine Banks Park.

Scarano noted that the opposing team was led by longtime manager Deano Summers: “The Flames played a great game and this was a rivalry Bob cherished, when he was able to play against his great friend Deano. Bob and Deano have been the main guys for Malden Babe Ruth for years and years. They have done so much for the families of Malden.”

Bob was at Opening Night in mid-May, when his Knights started the season with a win over these Flames but, sadly, passed away on June 2 after battling serious health issues for much of the past two years. He was 85. This was his 60th season as the field manager for his beloved Knights and he knew he had something special. Even Bob, though, could not have predicted that this 2024 team would run the table through the regular season and playoffs, a perfect 17-0 overall, capped by Wednesday’s title win.

“I don’t think it has been done before, going undefeated all the way in a season,” said another longtime Knights assistant coach, Paul Maccioli, who played for Bob’s team way back in the day, as did his two sons after him.

“These kids were on a mission this year and they came to win every night, they wanted to win for Bob,” Maccioli said.

After the game, another assistant coach, Marc Freni, who also played in the league – in the early 1990s – and whose son Tyler was part of this year’s championship run, relayed that the whole team and coaching staff had signed a ball that he and the team intended to place on Bob’s headstone at Forest Dale Cemetery after the game. “The players thought it was a great idea; they’re excited about that just like they are so happy they were able to win the championship for Bob,” Freni said.

Thirty-year-plus Babe Ruth Field Director and Flames manager Deano Summers, gracious in the loss, said it was a fitting tribute to Bob. “We miss him so much, but it is great that his final team are sending him out in style by honoring him with this championship.”

The Knights team included Collin Belloise, Emmanuel Caidor, Aidan Clarke, Chase Clough, Dylan Clough, Lucas Evans, Noah Faria, Max Fernandes, Tyler Freni, Billy Gavin, Eudy Paulino, John Van Campen, Samuel Wanyama and Luke Wood. Manager was the late Bob Rotondi and coaches are Andy Scarano, Paul Maccioli and Marc Freni.

After the game, following the perfunctory team photo commemorating the title win, the whole team and coaches, as well as Malden Mayor Gary Christenson, pointed to the sky, signaling their mission accomplished for Bob Rotondi, knowing he was looking down on another league championship win for the Knights.