Waltham Youth Baseball celebrates successful season at Parks-Recreation Board meeting

Waltham Youth Baseball Director Jeff Paladino presented at the Parks-Recreation Board meeting on Wednesday to review the program’s successful season. One of the proudest points for Paladino was the affordability of the program. 

“We are the cheapest youth sport in Waltham. You can’t find anything cheaper in any other town around here,” Paladino said. 

Waltham Youth Baseball costs $75 for the tee-ball program and $125 for its programs for ages 6 to 15. There were 500 players in the spring baseball season and 175 players in the summer and fall seasons. Looking ahead to the winter, Paladino expects to hold winter skills clinics starting in January, which will take place either at Waltham High School or at Extra Innings in Watertown.

There were two major on-field successes during the 2025 Waltham Youth Baseball season. The program had two all-girl teams in its Rookie Division program, which serves 6- and 7-year-olds. The teams appeared on Fox News and won a game against an all-boy team. 

“I couldn’t get to those games fast enough,” said board member Tom Creonte. “They played real baseball!” 

Board member Jennie Scafidi also expressed excitement about the program, saying, “It’s a great way for girls to start off playing baseball and transfer into softball.”

To add to the excitement, Waltham’s under-10 baseball team won a district title at a regional game against Parkway Little League of Roxbury. It was the first time a Waltham Youth Baseball team won a title since the Warrendale Little League’s district title win in 1992. A banner commemorating the win will hang in the Snack Shack at Nipper Maher Park.

In other business, the Parks-Recreation Board:

• Discussed the presence of off-leash dogs at McCabe Baseball Fields near Fitzgerald School. Parents have been letting their dogs off leash in the fields during morning drop-off for students. The school resource officer will begin issuing warnings and eventually tickets for repeat offenders during that time period.
• Announced the purchase of a new passenger van for Chill Zone and vacation week program use. The old 2005 vehicle will be designated for ranger use only.
• Announced the purchase of new desktop computers for all Parks-Recreation employees.
• Opened reservations for the indoor pickleball space at 119 School St.
• Announced that the Prospect Hill Auto Road will close at the end of October.
• Approved the use of Veterans Field for the Baystate Bullets Lacrosse tournament on June 27-28, 2026.
• Approved the use of Veterans Field for the annual “A Special Day in Waltham” event on May 30, 2026.
• Approved the placement of a memorial for the Rev. Robert Hoaglander pastor of Lakeview Congregational Church, at Prospect Hill, where sunrise Easter services are held.
• Confirmed the demolition of Farrell Hall at 200 Trapelo Road as well as the intention to build an amphitheater and add additional parking at the property.