Old Orchard Beach Raging Tide

The Old Orchard Beach Raging Tide was a collegiate summer baseball team based in Old Orchard Beach, Maine. It was a member of the Futures Collegiate Baseball League (FCBL), a wood-bat league with a 56-game regular season comprising 10 teams from New Hampshire to western Connecticut. The team played its home games at The Ball Park.

Old Orchard Beach Raging Tide
Information
LeagueFCBL (East Division)
LocationOld Orchard Beach, ME (2011-2014)
Lowell, MA (2000-2010)
BallparkThe Ball Park (2011-2014)
Year founded2000
League championships0
Former name(s)Lowell All-Americans (2007-2010)
Mill City All-Americans (2000-2006)
Former league(s)
  • NECBL (2000-2011)
    • East Division (2009-2011)
    • Northern Division (2002, 2004-2008)
    • National Division (2001)
Former ballparksStoklosa Alumni Field (2000-2010)
ColorsNavy, Teal
   
MascotDune Doggy
OwnershipJohn and Pam Gallo (OOB Collegiate Baseball Club LLC.)
ManagementTaylor Fisher (GM)
ManagerChris Torres
Websiteoobragingtide.com

Until 2012, the team was in the New England Collegiate Baseball League. For the first ten years of the team's existence, its home was in Lowell, Massachusetts and it was known as the All-Americans.

The 2014 season was the final year in Old Orchard Beach. Owners John & Pam Gallo sold the Raging Tide franchise, which became the Bristol Blues.

History

All-Americans
Mill City All-Americans logo (2000-06)
Lowell All-Americans logo (2007-10)

In the 2000 season, the NECBL expanded by adding two teams: the Manchester Silkworms and the Mill City All-Americans. The name "All-Americans" came from the fact that Lowell was named an All-American City in 1999 and was named a finalist in 1997 and 1998.[1] From 2000 to 2006, the team was known as the Mill City All-Americans because Lowell's nickname is "The Mill City." However, many NECBL teams are located in the "mill cities" of New England; and beginning with the 2007 season, the team changed its name to the Lowell All-Americans for clarity.

The All-Americans reached the playoffs in the team's inaugural season but fell 2 games to 1 to the then-Rhode Island Gulls. The team only reached the playoffs 2 more times: in 2002 and 2007.

Move to Old Orchard Beach

During the 2010 NECBL regular season, the All-Americans played two home games in Nashua, New Hampshire and one at The Ball Park in Old Orchard Beach. Newspapers in both places interpreted the decision as a search for a new home. The Ball Park, which once played host to the Triple-A Maine Guides and Maine Phillies, had fallen into disrepair but had been rehabilitated by local volunteers. The visitors for this contest, on July 2, were the Mainers of nearby Sanford, Maine.

On Sept. 22, 2010, the Old Orchard Beach Town Council accepted a letter of intent from the All-Americans to place a franchise at The Ball Park, a move that the NECBL had approved.[2] The Town Council signed a final agreement on October 5.[3] On November 8, the team announced that its name would be the Raging Tide.[4]

The 2011 regular season featured six games against Sanford, three in each venue. The Raging Tide finished the inaugural season at The Ball Park with a record of 9-33, last in the Eastern Division.

Switch to FCBL

In 2012, the team jumped from the NECBL to the Futures Collegiate Baseball League, joined by fellow NECBL team, the North Shore Navigators, in a round of expansion that more than doubled the size of the FCBL.

Postseason appearances

NECBL
Year Division Semi-Finals* Division Finals* NECBL Championship Series
Mill City All-Americans
2000 Rhode Island Gulls L (1-2)
2002 Concord Quarry Dogs W (2-1) Keene Swamp Bats L (1-2)
Lowell All-Americans
2007 Holyoke Giants L (1-2)
Old Orchard Beach Raging Tide
  • *The NECBL did not separate into divisions until 2001.

FCBL
Year Play-In Round** Semi-Final Round* FCBL Championship
2013 Pittsfield Suns W (1-0) Martha's Vineyard Sharks L (0-2)
  • *The FCBL changed its postseason to a two-round format starting in the 2012 season
  • ** A one-game Play-In round was added in the 2013 season

References
  1. Past Winners Archived 2007-10-11 at the Wayback Machine at ncl.org
  2. Mike Lowe (Sep 22, 2010). "Old Orchard Beach Ballpark will get full-time occupant". Portland Press Herald.
  3. It's official: NECBL to place team at Old Orchard Beach Ballpark at ballparkdigest.com
  4. Raging Tide coming to The Ballpark near you Archived 2012-04-19 at the Wayback Machine at journaltribune.com
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