For years the Hudson Valley NABA and Hudson Valley MSBL have competed for teams, players, and fields.  Today I am pleased to announce we have come to an agreement with the HVMSBL which will benefit all adult players in both leagues and benefit baseball in the Hudson Valley for years to come.  After several private meetings and countless emails and conversations over the last month with HVMSBL League President Rick Stockfield, we have come to terms on an unprecedented and groundbreaking agreement which will allow both leagues to work together rather than continue its adversarial relationship.
 
This partnership will be the first of its kind nationally between any NABA and MSBL league with the HVNABA's focus on continuing to develop and strengthen our successful 17+ divisions while the HVMSBL’s focus will be on strengthening and expanding upon its successful 35+ and 45+ divisions. With this agreement the HVMSBL's 6 teams from their Sunday division and 4 Twilight division teams will be integrated into our HVNABA’s 17+ division's ( Premier, Intermediate, Recreational or Twilight).  The move provides amateur players with different competitive options with which to choose from based on their skill level and/or age while also providing efficiencies with regards to fields, baseballs, and marketing.  It’s anticipated that players of age are likely to play in multiple divisions and likely both leagues (as many do now) based upon what makes the most sense for them.
 
The HVNABA was born in 2007 with just 4 teams starting in the Sunday division. From 2008 until 2015 the league floated between 12 and 16 teams. In 2016 thanks to precise marketing and word of mouth the Recreation Division was created with 7 teams. The " Rec" division provides an opportunity for players whose love of the game perhaps exceeds their level of experience. It quickly grew to 16 teams in 2018 side by side with the Premier Division which also featured 16 competitive teams. Premier Division teams consist of some of the areas most competitive athletes and is typically for players who have some college and/or professional experience but anyone is welcome to try out. In total the HVNABA had 32 teams playing on Sunday's in 2018. In 2011 the HVNABA debuted a Twilight Division for a 1 year stint. It later returned in 2018 with 6 teams and will  be back next year with 10 - 12 teams expected.  In 2019, the league will debut another new Sunday division - Intermediate which will fall between Rec and Premier and will generally be for players with high school or some college experience. In 2019, the league expects more than 40 teams between it’s 3 Sunday divisions with another 10 to 12 competing in its Twilight division. 

The HVMSBL is entering it’s 30th year here in the Hudson Valley and was developed out of the old Rookie and Twilight Leagues eventually usurping the Newburgh Hardball League.  For many years the league was 25+ and 35+ and only in recent years was their younger division lowered to 21+ and eventually 18+ in part to bridge the gap between high school and college players and the 25+ division.  With solid marketing and community outreach, the HVMSBL was able to launch a 45+ division just 2 years ago and has grown that division to six teams with eight expected for 2019.  The 35+ division has always been the crown jewel of the Valley touting some exceptional ball players and baseball on some of the best fields in the area; the division is expected to grow from 11 to 12-14 teams for 2019.  The MABL’s 18+ division has evolved over the last several years featuring some amazing ball players and teams; the 14 teams that played 18+ in 2018, most if not all who will now compete in the 17+ NABA’s midweek and Sunday divisions.
 
Going forward, the Hudson Valley NABA will handle all 17+ divisions (Sunday and Twilight) in this area while the Hudson Valley MSBL will continue to be the home for all 35+ and 45+ players in the Hudson Valley. Both League Presidents are committed to working closely together to ensure both entities run smooth and that adult amateur baseball continues to thrive here in the Hudson Valley.
 
Perhaps one of the best parts of this agreement between the HVMSBL and HVNABA is the mutual agreement that both entities will be supporting The 3 Up 3 Down Organization.  Created in February 2017, 3 Up 3 Down (3U3D) was developed to support and promote youth baseball in the Hudson Valley while also supporting those with developmental disabilities.  To date, the Organization has already donated more than $30,000 back to youth leagues and several local charities that support those with developmental disabilities with a longer term goal of building a large facility with multiple multi-use baseball fields and an inclusion park.  Collectively as one large baseball community, we look to expand upon these numbers and are committed to giving back. The Organization’s next fundraiser will be a large scale poker tournament to be held on Saturday March 30, 2019 in Brewster, NY.  3U3D’s site is www.3u3d.org.
 
The Hudson Valley NABA (17+) web-site is www.hvnaba.com, and League President Angelo Fabrizio can be reached at hvnaba@aol.com while the Hudson Valley MSBL (35+ and 45+ baseball) web-site is www.hvmsbl.com and League President Rick Stockfield can be reached at hvmsbl@gmail.com.  Both leagues are currently starting to accept new player and team registrations.