All-American Baseball Challenge

The All-American Baseball Challenge was a six-team recreational baseball league formed in July 2020 in the New York City metropolitan area.[1] Local ownership quickly organized this pop-up league in response to the cancellation of the 2020 Frontier League season, which was to feature three of the teams involved, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[2]

Games were played at Yogi Berra Stadium in Little Falls, New Jersey, Skylands Stadium in Augusta, New Jersey, and Palisades Credit Union Park in Pomona, New York. Each stadium featured two teams, which included the New Jersey Jackals and Sussex County Miners each playing in their home parks. The owners of the New York Boulders also fielded a team in their stadium, but the team kept the franchise’s former name of Rockland Boulders for the season.

Major leaguers Vin Mazzaro and Taylor Motter played in the league.

Teams
AABC TeamManagerHome Stadium
New Jersey JackalsJimmy EfreYogi Berra Stadium
Jersey Wise GuysScott IselhartYogi Berra Stadium
Rockland BouldersAlbert GonzalezPalisades Credit Union Park
New York BraveAndrew RomanellaPalisades Credit Union Park
Sussex County MinersSimon WaltersSkylands Stadium
Skylands CardinalsVladimir Fontalvo, Jr.Skylands Stadium

[3]

The league featured players from independent, affiliated minor league, and college baseball.[4]

Rules

Initially, a 32 game, 8-week regular season was reported,[5] but as games not played due to inclement weather were canceled, teams wound up playing fewer games. All games were scheduled for 7 innings and held on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Contests tied after 7 innings used a home run derby to decide the winning team. A player on each team took five batting practice swings and the player with more home runs won the game for his team.

GameChanger was the official scoring/statistical tracking platform for the league.[6]

Season results
Final Regular Season StandingsWinsLosses %gb
Sussex County Miners1660.727-
Rockland Boulders1490.6092 1/2
New Jersey Jackals12100.5454
New York Brave11130.4586
Jersey Wise Guys10130.4356 1/2
Skylands Cardinals6180.25011

Playoffs

Round 1 September 11, 2020

Skylands Stadium
(4) New York Brave 5
(1) Sussex County Miners 1

Palisades Credit Union Park
(3) New Jersey Jackals 11
(2) Rockland Boulders 2

Yogi Berra Stadium
(6) Skylands Cardinals 0
(5) Jersey Wise Guys 3

Round 2 September 12, 2020

Championship game
Yogi Berra Stadium
(4) New York Brave 2
(3) New Jersey Jackals 3

3rd place game
Skylands Stadium
(5) Jersey Wise Guys 1
(1) Sussex County Miners 5

5th place game
Palisades Credit Union Park
(6) Skylands Cardinals 7
(2) Rockland Boulders 6

References
  1. Tredinnick, Andrew (July 16, 2020). "Independent minor-league All-American Baseball Challenge heading to Skylands Stadium". Daily Record (Morristown). Gannett. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
  2. Rapay, Eugene. "All-American Baseball Challenge recreational league opener returns live sports to Rockland". The Journal News. Retrieved 2020-09-07.
  3. "Palisades Credit Union Park to host All-American Baseball Challenge Weekend schedule to begin July 23. – Frontier League". Retrieved 2020-08-05.
  4. "PressRelease". New York Boulders. NewYorkBoulders. July 14, 2020. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  5. "The All-American Baseball Challenge". New Jersey Monthly. Retrieved 2020-09-07.
  6. "Game Changer - All American Baseball Challenge- July 23, 2020 - September 12, 2020". GameChanger. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
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