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Billerica Memorial High School Baseball

Billerica Memorial High School Baseball


Billerica Memorial High School Baseball is the baseball program of Billerica Memorial High School and, before it, of Howe High School. The high school had a baseball team by 1922, when it played its home games on the town playground in North Billerica, and its teams won the Lowell Suburban League in 1936, their league again in 1941, and the Merrimack Valley championship in 1949, 1968 and 1970. In 1983 the Indians won the Division I North sectional title and the Eastern Massachusetts championship, beating Brockton 2-1 in thirteen innings, with Tom Glavine, later a Hall of Fame pitcher, on the team. They won a second Division I North title in 2013.

Baseball at the high school grew up with the town's first ball fields. In 1918 the school report noted that "at the present time there is not a public base ball field in town," and in 1920 he recommended "at least sufficient appropriation to provide a base ball diamond this year" on the grounds behind Howe High School. Until then the school used the diamond of the Charles H. Kohlrausch, Jr. Playground, now Kohlrausch Park: in 1922 the park commissioners reported that "the Center High School Baseball Team staged practically all their home games on this diamond." In 1925 the landscape architect Warren H. Manning reported for the High School Playground Committee on the grading of "the baseball field and playground at the High School." The town report for 1926 says that "the boys, coached by Mr. Barrows, had a good baseball season," and in 1927 Robert A. Barrows coached the senior team while William Moore coached a junior team. By 1928 the senior high school had entered a league of six schools, playing each of them at home and away, and the junior high team won the championship of its own four-school league that year and again in 1929.

In 1936 "our baseball team won the championship in the Lowell Suburban League," the high school reported, and in 1941 "our baseball team won the championship of their league." Royal S. Adams, who came to Howe High in 1929 as a science teacher and director of athletics and later became principal, was the baseball coach in the yearbooks of 1939 and 1940, when the "Little Green" played in the suburban league and the school "experimented" with twilight games "in the hope of inducing more townspeople to come out to see their team in action." The war years were lean: in 1942 "baseball did not function due to transportation difficulties," and John F. Sullivan, a teacher at Howe in 1943 and 1944, coached a team that went 5-5 in 1944. The 1946 yearbook names Fred Neison as coach. In 1946 the principal reported that the appointment of Charles Lampson, the coach of football, as coach and director of athletics "has helped our athletic program," and Lampson coached the baseball team for most of the next fifteen years. His 1948 team went 13-4 and finished second in the Merrimack Valley League, losing the title to Johnson of North Andover, and his 1949 team won the Merrimack Valley championship with a 14-4 record, "one of the best records in Howe's baseball history," behind the pitching of George Gracie Jr., later a Billerica coach, school administrator and selectman. In 1950 the town warrant asked for $6,000 for "constructing a baseball diamond" and other work at the new Memorial Field, now Lampson Memorial Field. The 1951 team went 10-6, tied Punchard for second place in the Suburban League and was the only team to beat Chelmsford that season; the 1953 team went 11-5 and placed second; and the scores printed in the 1958 yearbook show 15 wins and 3 losses against Merrimack Valley schools.

Lampson was still the varsity coach in 1960. Jack O'Brien coached the varsity from 1961 to 1964, and in 1962 the junior varsity "copped the Lowell Suburban League title after a very successful undefeated season." By 1967 the school played in the Merrimack Valley Conference, where its team of that year tied Chelmsford for fifth place. Under coach Mike McLaughlin the 1968 team went 20-4, "the winningest schoolboy team in Massachusetts" according to the yearbook, which called it "the most successful season in the history of Billerica High School": the Indians "captured the Merrimack Valley Baseball championship for the first time in 20 years and entered the State playoffs for the first time in 10 years," and their captain became "the first Billerica ball player to make the Massachusetts all-scholastic baseball team." McLaughlin's 1970 team won the conference again "and then into the state tourney." The 1971 team lost a share of the title and a place in the state tournament in its last game, a 3-2, eleven-inning loss at home to Burlington, and the 1972 team, after a "very dismal season," was the first to beat champion Methuen, 5-0. Mr. Amato coached the team in 1974.

The 1983 team beat Melrose 4-3 in the Division I North final and Brockton 2-1 in thirteen innings in the Eastern Massachusetts final; there was no state final that year. Tom Glavine, who played baseball at the high school for four years and was also captain of the hockey team, recalled "Bball STATE CHAMPS 83" in his senior yearbook. Some later accounts place the title in his senior year, but the coaches' association records and his own yearbook entry date it to 1983. Glavine graduated in 1984, and on June 4, 1984 the Atlanta Braves chose him in the second round of the major league draft; he won 305 games in the major leagues and was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2014. The drive from Boston Road to the high school is known as Tom Glavine Way. Glavine's biographer for the Society for American Baseball Research names the future Angels shortstop Gary DiSarcina, who was raised in Billerica, as a teammate; DiSarcina played for the California and Anaheim Angels from 1989 to 2000 and was an American League All-Star in 1995, and in 1992 Town Meeting sent a proclamation of appreciation to "Gary DiSarcina, Billerica native and starting short stop for the California Angels." Glavine's younger brother Mike, who played six games for the New York Mets in 2003, is pictured on the varsity teams of 1988 to 1991.

Jon Sidorovich coached the varsity from at least 1987 to 2007, with Mr. Byrne, Mr. Gately, Mr. Burns, Chris Doneski and Joe Higgins among his assistants. His 1987 team, with a printed record of 15-5, was ranked second in the Boston Globe Division One poll at 8-1 and lost to Cambridge Rindge and Latin 5-2 in the tournament. The 1988 team finished second in the conference, "one game out of first place with a loss to Andover in the last game of the season." The 1989 team went 14-4; the 1990 team recovered from a 3-7 start to finish 14-9 and reached the third round of the Division I tournament, beating Peabody and Newton South before losing to Arlington; and the 1992 team went 13-6, was second in the conference's large school division, and made "a tenth straight trip to the Division One State Tournament," where it beat South Boston 2-1 before losing to Arlington in the semifinals. The teams of 1993 (14-6), 1994 (13-7), 1995 (9-11, second in the small school division), 1996 (10-11), 1999 (14-6, second in the small school division, two games behind Tewksbury) and 2000 (15-5 in the regular season) all played in the state tournament. In 2003 the Indians went 11-8, won a fifteen-inning tournament game with Methuen, beat Lynn Classical and lost the sectional semifinal to Malden Catholic in ten innings. The 2004 team lost its first four games, then beat Gloucester, Reading, Newton North and St. John's Prep in the tournament before losing the Division I North final to Peabody, 6-3. In 2005 the team beat Tewksbury in "the first ever Spinners Tournament at LeLacheur Park in Lowell," and in 2006 it won the Canaligator tournament at the same stadium.

Joe Higgins was head coach from 2008, with Pelletier, John Higgins, Harvey Doneski and Celata among his assistants, and he heads the coaching lists of the yearbooks into 2017. In 2013 the Indians won the Division I North title for the second time, beating St. John's Prep 4-3 in the final, and lost the state semifinal to Bridgewater-Raynham, 5-2. In 2025, under coach Mike Waters, the team entered the Division 2 state tournament as the 17th seed, beat 16th-seeded Hingham 4-3 in eight innings, and lost 3-0 to top-seeded Plymouth North. The school's baseball, softball and soccer fields lie on the Billerica Memorial High School Athletic Fields west of the old railroad bed, among them Alumni Field.

Billerica Memorial High School and Howe High School varsity baseball by season, from town reports, Howe and Warrior yearbooks, coaches' association records and news reports. Records are as printed; blank cells are not known, and seasons with no surviving information are omitted.
SeasonHead coachLeagueRecord (W-L)League finishTournament resultNotes
1922Home games on the Kohlrausch Playground diamond
1926Robert A. Barrows"A good baseball season"
1927Robert A. BarrowsJunior team coached by William Moore
1928League of six schoolsJunior high team won its league
1929Junior high team won its league again
1936Lowell Suburban LeagueChampion
1939Royal S. AdamsSuburban League
1940Royal S. AdamsSuburban LeagueTwilight games tried
1941Champion
1942No team: "transportation difficulties"
1944John F. Sullivan5-5Season "though short, was active"
1948Charles LampsonMerrimack Valley League13-42ndLost the title to Johnson of North Andover
1949Charles LampsonMerrimack Valley League14-4Champion
1951Charles LampsonSuburban League10-6Tied 2nd with PunchardOnly team to beat Chelmsford
195311-52nd
19546-8
195715-3Scores printed in the 1958 yearbook
1960Charles Lampson
1961Jack O'Brien
1962Jack O'BrienLowell Suburban LeagueJunior varsity undefeated league champion
1963Jack O'BrienSuburban League
1964Jack O'Brien
1967Merrimack Valley ConferenceTied 5th with Chelmsford
1968Mike McLaughlinMerrimack Valley Conference20-4ChampionState playoffs"Winningest schoolboy team in Massachusetts"
1969Mike McLaughlinMerrimack Valley Conference
1970Mike McLaughlinMerrimack Valley ConferenceChampionState tournament
1971Merrimack Valley ConferenceDid not qualifyLost a share of the title 3-2 in 11 innings to Burlington
1972Merrimack Valley ConferenceBeat champion Methuen 5-0
1974Mr. AmatoMerrimack Valley Conference
1983Merrimack Valley ConferenceDivision I North champion (beat Melrose 4-3); Eastern Massachusetts champion (beat Brockton 2-1, 13 innings)No state final that year; Tom Glavine on the team
1987Jon SidorovichMerrimack Valley Conference15-5 (as printed)Lost to Cambridge Rindge and Latin 5-2Ranked 2nd in the Boston Globe Division One poll
1988Jon SidorovichMerrimack Valley Conference2nd
1989Jon SidorovichMerrimack Valley Conference14-4
1990Jon SidorovichMerrimack Valley Conference14-9Division I third round: beat Peabody and Newton South, lost to Arlington
1991Jon SidorovichMerrimack Valley ConferenceState tournament
1992Jon SidorovichMerrimack Valley Conference13-62nd (large schools)Division I: beat South Boston 2-1, lost to Arlington in the semifinalsTenth straight Division I tournament
1993Jon SidorovichMerrimack Valley Conference14-6
1994Jon SidorovichMerrimack Valley Conference13-7
1995Jon SidorovichMerrimack Valley Conference9-112nd (small schools)Lost to Newton North 9-4
1996Jon SidorovichMerrimack Valley Conference10-11State tournamentUpset of Central Catholic
1997Jon SidorovichMerrimack Valley ConferenceLosing season; upset tournament-bound Waltham
1998Jon SidorovichMerrimack Valley Conference7-13Did not qualify
1999Jon SidorovichMerrimack Valley Conference14-62nd (small schools)State tournament
2000Jon SidorovichMerrimack Valley Conference15-5 (regular season)State tournament
2001Jon SidorovichMerrimack Valley Conference
2002Jon SidorovichMerrimack Valley ConferenceBeat Haverhill, lost at LexingtonWon its last five games to qualify
2003Jon SidorovichMerrimack Valley Conference11-8 (regular season)Division I North: beat Methuen (15 innings) and Lynn Classical, lost to Malden Catholic in 10 innings
2004Jon SidorovichMerrimack Valley Conference11-9 (regular season)Division I North final: lost to Peabody 6-3Tournament wins over Gloucester, Reading, Newton North and St. John's Prep
2005Jon SidorovichMerrimack Valley ConferenceBeat Tewksbury in the first Spinners Tournament at LeLacheur Park
2006Jon SidorovichMerrimack Valley Conference9-11Did not qualifyWon the Canaligator tournament
2007Jon SidorovichMerrimack Valley ConferenceDid not qualify
2008Joe HigginsMerrimack Valley Conference
2013Joe HigginsMerrimack Valley ConferenceDivision I North champion (beat St. John's Prep 4-3); state semifinal: lost to Bridgewater-Raynham 5-2
2014Joe HigginsMerrimack Valley Conference
2017Joe HigginsMerrimack Valley Conference
2025Mike WatersMerrimack Valley ConferenceDivision 2 (17th seed): beat Hingham 4-3 in 8 innings, lost to Plymouth North 3-0




References

  1. Billerica Town Report 1918, superintendent: "at the present time there is not a public base ball field in town"
  2. Billerica Town Report 1920, superintendent: recommends an appropriation for a base ball diamond behind Howe High School
  3. Billerica Town Report 1922, park commissioners: the Center High School Baseball Team plays its home games at the Kohlrausch Playground
  4. Billerica Town Report 1925: Warren H. Manning reports on grading the baseball field and playground at the High School
  5. Billerica Town Report 1926, high school: the boys, coached by Mr. Barrows, had a good baseball season
  6. Billerica Town Report 1927, high school: senior baseball team coached by Robert Barrows, junior team by William Moore
  7. Billerica Town Report 1928, high school: senior high in a league of six schools; junior high wins its league
  8. Billerica Town Report 1936, high school: the baseball team wins the Lowell Suburban League championship
  9. Billerica Town Report 1941, high school: the baseball team wins the championship of its league
  10. Billerica Town Report 1942, high school: baseball did not function due to transportation difficulties
  11. Billerica Town Report 1946, high school: Charles Lampson appointed coach and director of athletics
  12. Billerica Town Report 1950, warrant: $6,000 for constructing a baseball diamond at Memorial Field
  13. Billerica Town Report 1953, high school: the baseball team, 11 and 5, places second in the league
  14. Billerica Town Report 1954, high school: athletic record, baseball 6-8
  15. Billerica Town Report 1992, Town Meeting: proclamation to Gary DiSarcina, Billerica native and shortstop for the California Angels
  16. Howe High School yearbook 1937: the baseball team of 1936 wins the Suburban League championship
  17. Howe High School yearbook 1939, baseball: Coach Royal Adams; the "Little Green" of the suburban league
  18. Howe High School yearbook 1940, baseball: Coach Royal S. Adams; twilight games tried
  19. Howe High School yearbook 1945: Coach John Sullivan and a 5-5 baseball season
  20. Howe High School yearbook 1946, baseball: coach Fred Neison
  21. Howe High School yearbook 1949, baseball: Coach Lampson, 13-4, second in the Merrimack Valley League
  22. Howe High School yearbook 1950, baseball: Merrimack Valley champions, 14-4
  23. Howe High School yearbook 1952, baseball: 10-6, tied with Punchard for second in the Suburban League
  24. Howe High School yearbook 1958: baseball schedule and scores
  25. Warrior 1960, baseball: Coach Lampson and the varsity
  26. Warrior 1961, baseball: Coach O'Brien and the 1961 season
  27. Warrior 1962: the junior varsity baseball team wins the Lowell Suburban League title
  28. Warrior 1968, baseball: the 1967 team ties Chelmsford for fifth in the Merrimack Valley Conference
  29. Warrior 1968: Merrimack Valley champions, 20-4, under Coach Mike McLaughlin
  30. Warrior 1970: Coach McLaughlin leads the baseball team to the conference title and the state tourney
  31. Warrior 1972, baseball: the 1971 season and the 11-inning loss to Burlington
  32. Warrior 1973, baseball: the 1972 season and the 5-0 win over Methuen
  33. Warrior 1974, baseball: team photo with Coach Mr. Amato
  34. Warrior 1984, seniors: Thomas M. Glavine, Hockey 1, 2, 3, Capt. 4; Baseball 1, 2, 3, 4; "Bball STATE CHAMPS 83"
  35. Warrior 1987, baseball: ranked second in the Globe Division One poll; scores
  36. Warrior 1988, baseball: second in the Merrimack Valley Conference under Coach Sidorovich
  37. Warrior 1989, baseball: 14 wins and 4 losses
  38. Warrior 1990, baseball: 14-9 and the third round of the state tournament
  39. Warrior 1991, baseball: a state tournament team under Coach Jon Sidorovich
  40. Warrior 1992, baseball: 13-6, a tenth straight Division One tournament
  41. Warrior 1993, baseball: 14-6
  42. Warrior 1994, baseball: 13-7
  43. Warrior 1995, baseball: 9-11, second in the MVC Small School Division
  44. Warrior 1996, baseball: 10-11 and the state tournament
  45. Warrior 1997, baseball: a down year ended with an upset of Waltham
  46. Warrior 1998, baseball: 7-13
  47. Warrior 1999, baseball: 14-6, second in the MVC small school conference
  48. Warrior 2000, baseball: 15-5 in the regular season
  49. Warrior 2002, baseball: five straight wins to reach the playoffs
  50. Warrior 2003, baseball: 11-8 and the Division 1 North semifinal
  51. Warrior 2004, baseball: the run to the Division I North final
  52. Warrior 2005, baseball: the first Spinners Tournament at LeLacheur Park
  53. Warrior 2006, baseball: 9-11 and the Canaligator tournament
  54. Warrior 2008, baseball: Head Coach Joe Higgins and Coach Pelletier
  55. Warrior 2014, baseball: Head Coach Joe Higgins and his assistants
  56. Massachusetts Baseball Coaches Association: Division 1 North sectional finals (Billerica 1983, 2004, 2013)
  57. Massachusetts Baseball Coaches Association: Division 1 state semifinals (Billerica 2, Brockton 1, 13 innings, 1983)
  58. Massachusetts Baseball Coaches Association: Division 1 state finals (no state final in 1983)
  59. SABR Baseball Biography Project: Tom Glavine
  60. Wikipedia: Tom Glavine
  61. Wikipedia: Gary DiSarcina
  62. The Boston Globe, June 1, 2025: Billerica beats Hingham 4-3 in eight innings in the Division 2 tournament
  63. MIAA: 2025 Division 2 baseball state tournament bracket
  64. Wikipedia: Merrimack Valley Conference