JUNE 28TH TOURNAMENT RECAP: THE DAY NEDSO CAME TO LIFE

Oxford, MA — June 28, 2025

The sky was gray. The air hung heavy. But something louder than thunder stirred in the dirt at Ruel Field.

NEDSO wasn’t born with a trophy. It was born with a pulse.

Deaf players. CODAs. First-timers. Veterans. From three squads — Red, Green, and Blue — they showed up not for money, banners, or promises. Just gloves, grit, and a belief that softball could mean something deeper.

And by sundown, it did.

“FUN = SUCCESS” — THE SPARK WE NEEDED

For Scott Simpson Jr., the message was clear:

“We’re all competitors… but I’ve realized it’s more important to make sure everyone is simply having fun. Fun = success.”

That spirit — fun, freedom, family — echoed across every game.

Daniel LeTendre called it “a culture of unity and pride.”

Ryan Hutchins said it gave him “purpose.”

Joey Walsh, playing in the Deaf community for the first time, called it “one of the greatest days of my life.”

This wasn’t just softball. It was something spiritual.

THE POWER OF BEING SEEN

Rett Jala called his first Deaf softball experience empowering.

Joey Mattiace, labeled a breakout player, kept it real:

“The community itself had a big impact on me. It’s inspiring.”

From rookie Bryce Callahan learning the ropes to CJ Furzland leading with quiet grit, the field felt like a circle — no egos, just unity.

Even Colin Hill, who joked he was “just here so I don’t get fined,” later admitted:

“I came to build it and take the crown.”

WORCESTER SETS A NEW BAR

Worcester showed up with chemistry and hunger.

Adam Skwersky brought the laughs. Joey Mattiace brought quiet intensity.

And CJ Furzland? He raised the standard without saying a word.

Daniel put it best:

“This group is more balanced, more disciplined, and more locked in than ever.”

This wasn’t just a team — it was a movement.

FROM VETERANS TO VOICES

Joey Savarese, a cornerstone of Western Mass, said:

“Being back means I get to test myself, raise the bar, and make sure the standard stays high — not just for me, but for everyone on that field.”

He wasn’t alone. Players like Bennett Nocera, Jam O’Hea, and Greg Farber stepped into bigger roles without seeking the spotlight.

And from Maine, Scott Simpson Jr. reminded us:

“There’s a strong Deaf community up here. They just might need a reason to try softball.”

That reason now has a name: NEDSO.

WHY THIS MATTERS

Joseph Tarallo, in his trademark style, said it best:

“It’s just better than nothing… more hits for me. I was gonna retire after Hartford Blazers folded, but now? Hell no. I’m still here.”

That spirit — that refusal to give up — is the fire behind this league.

We’re not copying NSAD.

We’re not reviving NEAAD.

We’re building something different.

A league where Deaf, CODA, and hearing allies compete without politics.

Where the field becomes a place of pride, not pressure.

Where the scoreboard matters — but the story matters more.

THE LEGACY STARTS HERE

“NEDSO doesn’t need to be the biggest league in the country,” said Commissioner Chris.

“It just needs to be the one that actually gives a damn.”

If you were in Oxford on June 28…

If you played, cheered, umpired, or just showed up…

You’re not just part of a tournament.

You’re part of a rebirth.

A CLOSING WORD FROM COMMISSIONER CHRIS

“We didn’t start this league to impress anyone. We started it to free something. NEDSO is for the ones who were told they weren’t good enough. For the ones who never got picked. For the ones who still show up, still sign, still swing. The story of New England Deaf Softball isn’t about how big we get. It’s about how deeply we matter. And trust me — we’re just getting warmed up.” — Christopher Marchese, NEDSO Commissioner