Post 75 Junior Team wins the NE Region #1 Championship

With a 6-4 win over Braintree Post #86 on Sunday, the Post 75 Junior Team wins the NE Region #1 Championship.

photo shared from https://www.instagram.com/p/Db1LHHJy9o1/

Full bracket results of the NE Region #1 Tournament

https://www.newhampshireamericanlegionbaseball.com/baseball11a.html

Franklin Post 75 vs Braintree Post #86 today at 1:30 PM for the NE Region #1 Americam Legion Junior Championship

American Legion Baseball

Northeast Region 1-- Junior Regional Tournament 2026

Sat Aug 8. 10:00a.  Salam NH (7) Vs Enfield CT (8)

Sat Aug 8  12:30p.  Newport RI (1) Vs Merrimack NH (6)

Sat Aug 8.   3:30p.  Franklin MA (2) Vs Hilton NY (1) 

Sat Aug 8.   6:00p.  Hampden ME (2) Vs Braintree Ma (6)

NE Regional 3rd and 4th Place 

Sun Aug 9. 11:00a.   Hilton NY Vs Hampden ME

NE Regional Finals 

Sun Aug 9.   1:30p.   Franklin MA Vs Braintree MA 

via Tim McDonald  https://www.facebook.com/share/1Buc23kfVJ/

The tournament page can be found here - https://www.newhampshireamericanlegionbaseball.com/baseball11a.html

The Post 75 Senior Team closes out their season, the Post 75 Junior Team still playing

Post 75 Senior Team 

via MyFM103

"A remarkable season has come to a close for Franklin Post 75.

After taking a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning, Upper Deck Post 14 (Rhode Island) answered with two runs in the sixth before adding an insurance run in the seventh to secure a 3-1 victory in an elimination game at the American Legion Northeast Regional Tournament.

Franklin battled throughout the afternoon in a tightly contested pitchers' duel, but Rhode Island capitalized late and held off Post 75's final comeback attempt to advance in the tournament.

Final Score:

Upper Deck Post 14 (Rhode Island) – 3

Franklin Post 75 – 1

Despite today's result, Franklin closes out an outstanding summer that included an undefeated regular season, a Massachusetts American Legion State Championship, and a trip to the Northeast Regional Tournament to represent the Commonwealth on one of the region's biggest stages.

Congratulations to Franklin Post 75 on an incredible 2026 season, and thank you to everyone who followed along with our coverage throughout the summer."

Video of the SR Team baseball broadcast via My FM 103 - https://www.youtube.com/live/hJaiJVSE5U4

Post 75 Junior Team

via Tim McDonald  https://www.facebook.com/share/1Buc23kfVJ/

2026 American Legion Northeast Region 1 Junior Tournament.

Gill Stadium Manchester NH.

Franklin Junior Legion Team is MA State Champions.

I will update this page as fast as I can.

Fri Aug 7 10:00a Salam NH (1) Vs Franklin MA (9)

Fri Aug 7 12:30p. Newport RI (1) Vs Hampden ME (6)

Fri Aug 7 3:30p. Hilton NY (9) Vs Enfield CT (0)

Fri Aug 7. 6:00p. Braintree MA (12) Vs Merrimack NH 2

Sat Aug 8. 10:00a. Salam NH Vs Enfield CT

Sat Aug 8 12:30p. Newport RI Vs Merrimack NH

Sat Aug 8. 3:30p. Franklin MA Vs Hilton NY

Sat Aug 8. 6:00p. Hampden ME Vs Braintree MA

Sun Aug 9. 11:00a

Sun Aug 9. 1:30p

Note: If Franklin and Braintree both win on Saturday, that guarantees a MA team wins the NE Region 1 Junior Tournament.

The tournament page can be found here - https://www.newhampshireamericanlegionbaseball.com/baseball11a.html

American Legion NE Regional Tournament results for Senior Team & Softball Team

The Post 75 Senior Team did not have a good day, but they still play in the loser bracket on Friday, Aug 7

Updated bracket - https://americanlegion.sportngin.com/page/show/9342694-region-1-northeast

Friday's schedule

• Globe article on Post 75 Senior team

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/08/06/sports/franklin-american-legion-champions/

Catching up to share the 'last' result for the Post 75 Softball team from Tuesday, August 4

The bracket plays out for the Softball tournament here

https://www.hometeamsonline.com/teams/default.asp?u=MASSACHUSETTSAMERICA&s=softball&p=bracketmanager&tournamentID=2026MALEGIONSOFTBALLCHAMPIONSHIP

Braintree Post 86 joins Franklin Post 75 in the American Legion NE Regionals on Friday

• Wednesday 8/5 4pm Games

2-1 Lowell Post 87 (1) Vs 2-1 Plymouth Post 40 (2) 9 innings.

2-1 Braintree Post 86 (7) Vs 3-0 Franklin Post 75 (6)

• 
  Wednesday 8/5 7pm Game

3-1 Braintree Post 86 (4) Vs 3-1 Plymouth Post 40 (3)

Braintree Post 86 advances to the NE Regionals with Franklin on Friday.

Many thanks for the updates via Tim McDonald Jr

Additional info on the American Legion baseball page - https://www.masslegionbb.org/home

Additional info on the NE Region games in New Hampshire

https://www.newhampshireamericanlegionbaseball.com/baseball11a.html

Post 75 captures the Junior Legion State baseball Championship

via Tim McDonald Jr (many thanks for this timely contribution!)

"Massachusetts is sending two teams to the NE Regionals (Junior Dept). With the Regionals starting in NH Friday, Franklin has been awarded the Jr Legion State Champion by going 3-0. 

To figure out who the second team is they will finish the MA State tournament tomorrow. 

If Franklin wins at 4 PM the winner of the other 4 PM game will advance with them to the Regionals. 

If Franklin loses the 4 PM game then both winners will play at 7 PM to see who will be the 2nd team to advance to NE Regionals.

Wednesday 8/5 4 PM

G1 2-1 Plymouth Post 40 Vs 2-1 Lowell Post 87

G2 2-1 Braintree Post 86 Vs 3-0 Franklin 75

Wednesday 8/5 7pm Finals

Winner of G1 vs Winner of G2."

Additional info on the American Legion baseball page - https://www.masslegionbb.org/home

Senior Legion Regionals also include Post 75 - Aug 6

"19U Senior Legion starts back up Thursday"

The tournament bracket for Region 1 https://americanlegion.sportngin.com/page/show/9342694-region-1-northeast

Shared from - https://www.instagram.com/p/Dbn7PjVSitV/

2026 Massachusetts American Legion Softball Playoffs and Championship - August 5

The 2026 Massachusetts American Legion Softball Playoffs and Championship are taking place Tuesday, August 4, and Wednesday, August 5, at Ruel Fields, 29 Locust Street, Oxford, Massachusetts.

Now in just its third season, the league has grown from four teams in 2024 to eight teams and more than 120 student-athletes representing communities across Central Massachusetts and MetroWest.

This year's championship week features much more than postseason softball.

Wednesday, August 5

6:00 PM

• Semifinal Games

7:45 PM

• Massachusetts American Legion Softball Championship Game

Immediately following the championship game:

• Championship Trophy Presentation
• Team and championship photos

The complete tournament bracket and standings are available here:

https://www.hometeamsonline.com/teams/default.asp?u=MASSACHUSETTSAMERICA&s=softball&p=bracketmanager&tournamentID=2026MALEGIONSOFTBALLCHAMPIONSHIP

This championship represents another milestone in the continued growth of Massachusetts American Legion Softball and showcases many of the region's top high school softball players competing for a state championship while celebrating leadership, sportsmanship, teamwork and community service.

Media are welcome to attend. Interviews with league officials, coaches and student-athletes can be arranged before or after games. High-resolution photos and additional background information are available upon request.

We hope you will join us in Oxford as we crown the 2026 Massachusetts American Legion Softball Champion.

Thank you for your consideration.

Massachusetts American Legion Softball Committee

American Legion Junior Dept Games rescheduled to Aug 4

Tuesday, August 4

Game 9     Greenfield Post 81          vs     Braintree Post 86          1PM
Game 10  Lowell Post 87                   vs     Beverly Post 331            4PM
Game 11  Plymouth Post 40            vs     Franklin Post 75              7PM

Additional info on the American Legion baseball page - https://www.masslegionbb.org/home

Shared from - https://www.instagram.com/p/DblDG06Sy1r/

Franklin Post 75 tops Beverly to advance in American Legion Junior Department Torunament

The results of Day 2 set up the playoff matchups for Day 3 for the American Legion Junior Baseball Tournament.

Sunday, August 2

Game 5     Lowell Post 87 - 8            vs     W Springfield Post 207 - 4

Game 6     Fall River Post 464 - 1   vs      Greenfield Post 81 - 3            

Game 7     Plymouth Post 40 - 5     vs      Braintree Post 86 - 3                  

Game 8     Beverly Post 331 - 1        vs     Franklin Post 75 11                  

Saturday, August 1

Game 1          Lowell Post 87      - 3                   vs     Plymouth Post 40 - 4 

Game 2         W Springfield Post 207 - 6      vs     Braintree Post 86 - 7

Game 3         Fall River Post 464 - 6                vs     Beverly Post 331 - 9   

Game 4         Greenfield Post 81 - 5                vs     Franklin Post 75 - 12  

Additional info on the American Legion baseball page - https://www.masslegionbb.org/home

American Legion 2026 Junior Department Tournament Results from Saturday, Schedule for Sunday (video)

Results from Saturday, August 1

Game 1          Lowell Post 87      - 3                   vs     Plymouth Post 40 - 4 

Game 2         W Springfield Post 207 - 6      vs     Braintree Post 86 - 7

Game 3         Fall River Post 464 - 6                vs     Beverly Post 331 - 9   

Game 4         Greenfield Post 81 - 5                vs     Franklin Post 75 - 12    

American Legion 2026 Junior Department Tournament
Results from Saturday, Schedule for Sunday (video)

Schedule for Sunday, August 2

Game 5     Lowell Post 87             vs     W Springfield Post 207 10AM

Game 6     Fall River Post 464    vs     Greenfield Post 81             1PM

Game 7     Plymouth Post 40      vs     Braintree Post 86                4PM    

Game 8     Beverly Post 331        vs     Franklin Post 75                   7PM

Franklin TV video of the Franklin Post 75 game on Saturday

video link - https://www.youtube.com/live/bRp48Ug2K6g

Watch Sunday's Post 75 game -  Franklin Pride TV - YouTube  https://bit.ly/FTV-Schools

2026 MA Junior Legion State Championships - Opening Day Pairings - August 1

"Final preparations are being done for the 2026 MA Junior Legion State Championships that will be held Saturday thru Wednesday at Franklin H.S."

Opening Day Pairings for Jr Department Tournament Game 1 Lowell Post 87 vs Plymouth Post 40 10AM

Game 2 West Springfield vs Braintree Post 86 1PM

Game 3 Fall River Post 464 vs Beverly Post 331 4:30PM

Game 4 Greenfield Post 81 vs Franklin Post 75 7:30PM

Additional info can be found at - https://www.masslegionbb.org/home

Franklin Post 75 is 2026 Sr Department Tournament Champion

Thursday, July 30, 2026

Game 14   Milford Post 59 - 2        vs     Franklin Post 75 - 3, 8 innings

Tuesday, July 28, 2026

Game 12   Milford Post 59 - 11       vs     Hyde Park Post 78 - 3

Game 13   Sandwich Post 188 - 2   vs     Franklin Post 75 - 3           

Monday, July 27, 2026

Game 9     Milford Post 59 - 17   vs     Leominster Post 151 - 0

Game 10  Beverly Post 331 - 3    vs     Sandwich Post 188 - 4, 10 inn

Game 11  Hyde Park Post 78  2   vs     Franklin Post 75 - 4

Sunday, July 26, 2026

Game 5     Beverly Post 331 - 2                  vs     Greenfield Post 81 - 1

Game 6     Northampton Post 28 - 5        vs     Milford Post 59 - 24    

Game 7     Leominster Post 151 - 8           vs     Hyde Park Post 78 - 9 

Game 8     Sandwich Post 188  1                 vs     Franklin Post 75 - 13      

Saturday, July 25, 2026

Game 1     Leominster Post 151 - 4   vs     Beverly Post 331 - 3

Game 2     Greenfield Post 81 - 4        vs     Hyde Park Post 78 - 5       

Game 3     Sandwich Post 188  - 6      vs    Northampton Post 28 - 0  

Game 4     Franklin Post 75 - 2             vs   Milford Post 59 - 1      

Additional info can be found at - https://www.masslegionbb.org/home

American Legion Post 75 finals rained out, new date July 30

Rain, rain go away, 

Post 75 wants to play...

Shared from - https://www.instagram.com/p/DbYbr6xSL6q/

Franklin Legion Post 75 Senior League State Tourrney game today - July 27 at 7 PM

IT’S GAMEDAY! 

Join us back at Fino Field for Day 3 of the Massachusetts State Tournament! First Game is at 1pm where Milford Legion Baseball will play their third game of the tournament against Leominster.

✔️ Stay tuned on social media for our daily schedule for pregame coverage and post game scores!!

✔️Follow tournament standings on Game Changer app. Final 8 Senior MA 

For our own Milford game coverage: 

🎤 MyFM 101.3

📺 MyFM 101.3 To watch live, MyFm YouTube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/@myfm1013

📺 Milford TV Comcast 6, Verizon 40 + HD2140

Stream: youtube.com/mymilfordtv

#fun #baseball 

Graphic credit to interns Bryson Parsons and Ashley Lester

Franklin Post 75 is hosting the American Legion State Junior Baseball tournament - Aug 1 to Aug 5, 2026

Franklin Post 75 is hosting the American Legion State Junior (under 17) Baseball tournament this year. 

The Playoffs will begin on August 1st and run thru August 5 at Franklin High School field. 

There will be 3 or 4 games per day, until a state champion is determined, who will then go on to play in regionals and national playoffs. 

This is the first time Franklin has hosted a state tournament.

Additional details can be found on the Legion Baseball page - https://www.masslegionbb.org/home

From One Team to Eight: Massachusetts American Legion Softball Makes History with First-Ever All-Star Game

What began as one woman’s dream has grown into an eight-team league serving 120 student-athletes across Central Massachusetts.

Now in its third season, the Massachusetts American Legion Softball League reached another milestone on July 13 when it hosted the first Massachusetts American Legion Softball All-Star Game at Slater Field in Webster.

The East vs. West showcase celebrated more than outstanding play on the field. It honored the leadership, sportsmanship, teamwork, dedication and positive attitudes of the young women who have helped shape a growing program and create new opportunities for female athletes across the Commonwealth.

The league began with the vision of Jodie Pajak, Chairman of the Massachusetts American Legion Softball Committee. Pajak spent years working to bring American Legion Softball to Massachusetts, believing young women deserved the same opportunity to compete and represent their communities that American Legion Baseball has provided for generations.

That vision took a major step forward in 2023 when Mark McCue approached Sue Sears, president of the Leicester Girls Softball League, about forming a team through Cherry Valley Post 443.

Cherry Valley became the first team to commit, although there were not yet any other teams available to play.

Sears selected Jessica Parker to coach the first Cherry Valley team. Together, Sears and Parker used their softball connections throughout Central Massachusetts to recruit players, coaches, volunteers and communities interested in helping build the new program.

Their efforts, combined with Pajak’s leadership and the work of the Massachusetts American Legion Softball Committee, helped turn the idea into a functioning league.

The league began play with four teams in 2024, expanded to six teams in 2025 and grew to eight teams and 120 athletes in 2026. Sears and Parker now serve as liaisons to the Massachusetts American Legion Softball Committee and continue to work tirelessly to promote the program and expand opportunities for young women.

In June 2026, Sears received the American Legion Department of Massachusetts Youth Programs Outstanding Service Award in recognition of her dedication, leadership and service to fastpitch softball and youth programs.

The league’s growth was on full display during the inaugural All-Star Game.

These players were selected by their coaches because they embody the values the league is built on: sportsmanship, leadership, teamwork, dedication, respect, integrity, and pride in representing both their team and the American Legion. They compete with heart, support their teammates, and represent their posts and communities with character both on and off the field. For one evening, regular-season opponents became teammates as the East and West squads came together to celebrate the league’s progress and its first class of All-Stars.

2026 Massachusetts American Legion Softball All-Stars

Cherry Valley Post 443

Ava Lamothe — Class of 2026

Grace Dias — Class of 2027

Makayla Higgins — Class of 2028

Jaclyn Sullivan — Class of 2029

Webster-Dudley Post 184

Sienna Stawiecki — Class of 2026

Madelyn Carpenter — Class of 2027

Reece Dickie — Class of 2027

Cadence Duval — Class of 2027

Charlton Post 391

Addison Dono — Class of 2027

Caroline Lambert — Class of 2029

Darci Potenti — Class of 2029

Kinley Sauvageau — Class of 2029

Sturbridge Post 109

Brynn Boucher — Class of 2029

Natalie Carson — Class of 2029

Kaelyn Pellicane — Class of 2029

Molly Beane — Class of 2030

Northborough Post 234

Sari Grenier — Class of 2028

Olivia Balicki — Class of 2030

Stella Laurie — Class of 2030

Leah Young — Class of 2030

Franklin Post 75

Emersyn Smart — Class of 2028

Isabella Barbato — Class of 2029

Elizabeth Burkeholder — Class of 2029

Chloe Rowe — Class of 2029

Framingham Post 117

Evy Gemelli — Class of 2028

Gigi Salvati — Class of 2028

Addie Willdridge — Class of 2028

Sloane Gaudreau — Class of 2029

Worcester Vernon Hill Post 435

Kheira Ashey — Class of 2028

Addison Fiume — Class of 2028

Julia Urato — Class of 2028

Rayna Bennet — Class of 2029

The first Massachusetts American Legion Softball All-Star Game marked far more than the conclusion of another summer event. It celebrated a league that has grown from four teams to eight in only three seasons and recognized the athletes, coaches, volunteers, committee members and American Legion representatives whose commitment made that growth possible.

Most importantly, it celebrated 32 young women who earned the distinction of becoming the first Massachusetts American Legion Softball All-Stars.

As the league continues to grow, it is creating new opportunities, strengthening communities and establishing a tradition that can serve young women across Massachusetts for years to come.

Fallen Hero Recognition: Cpl Elijah H. Coldwell, U.S. Marine Corps - June 15, 2026 - 9 AM

There is a Fallen Hero Recognition event today (6/15/26) at 9 AM on the Town Common Veterans Walkway to honor Cpl Elijah H. Coldwell, U.S. Marine Corps. 

This program will include the placing of a Memorial Wreath for the day, the playing of Taps, a salute from those present, and a reading of whatever history  may be available for that veteran.  This is a way of keeping the memory of that veteran alive.

 

• Cpl Elijah H. Coldwell, U.S. Marine Corps

Unfortunately, we have not been able to locate any further information about Elijah Coldwell other than he was killed in action on this date in 1918.

The schedule of Fallen Heroes for the year on one page (PDF)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tlyiAK18owM81p8aJs1vhKc3p2bIK1cv/view?usp=drive_link

 

For the published series of Fallen Heroes you can visit this link
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/08/franklin-fallen-heroes-series.html

Photo album of the Fallen Hero pillars along the Veterans Walkway

https://photos.app.goo.gl/oRGdmq9krLNEBnjJ7 

participants in the ceremony on June 12, 2024

Chris Stickney talks about the Inaugural Eddie Grant Kickball Tournament June 14 (audio)

FM #1760 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1760 in the series. 

This episode shares my conversation with one of the founders of Franklin Fathers, Chris Stickney. We recorded in the Franklin TV & Radio studio on Friday, June 5, 2026. 

• Inaugural Eddie Grant Kickball Tournament, Sunday, June 14, 2026

• Double elimination, teams of 10

• Food trucks, refreshments, games for kids & families

• Fund raising for Franklin Fathers, the American Legion Post, and the Franklin Food Pantry

The conversation runs about 20 minutes, let’s listen in

Audio link - https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1760-inaugural-eddie-grant-kickball-06-05-26/

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Register for the Kickball tournament   https://forms.gle/LqbaRKZz3kHYKZ9D7! 

Franklin Fathers operates from a Facebook page (for now) 

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61580257836187 

Volunteer to help at the Kickball tournament

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/06/volunteers-needed-for-inaugural-eddie.html 

NOTE: travel to Beaver Pond Field via Grove St on Sunday, June 14 as Beaver St is closed at the MBTA railroad tracks.

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We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.  

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

• If you don't like something here, please let me know

• And if you have interest in reporting on meetings or events, please reach out. We’ll share and show you what and how we do what we do

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/ or www.franklin.news/

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

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You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

Fallen Hero Recognition Schedule for June 2026

Fallen Hero Recognition Schedule for June 2026

A series of Memorial events are scheduled for 9:00 AM on the Town Common Veterans Walkway to honor those Fallen Heroes on their "killed in action" date.   

This program will include the placing of a Memorial Wreath for the day, the playing of Taps, a salute from those present, and a reading of whatever history may be available for that fallen hero.  

This is a way of keeping the memory of that hero alive.

• June 1 – William G. Hosford – WWII
• June 5 – Frank Gryzboski – WWII
• June 12 – Lloyd M. Ellis – WWII
• June 13 – Elijah H. Coldwell – WWI
• June 14 – Timothy J. Hayes – WWII
• June 20 – Edward A. Kelly – WWII
• June 24 – Baldo S. Lazzerini – WWII

The schedule of Fallen Heroes for the year on one page (PDF)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tlyiAK18owM81p8aJs1vhKc3p2bIK1cv/view?usp=drive_link