LYNN, Mass. -- The North Shore Navigators have been named the 2018 Futures Collegiate Baseball League (FCBL) Organization of the Year. This marks the second time in four years that the Navigators have been awarded this honor.

 

“The Navs have always been one of the best-run organizations in all of summer collegiate baseball because of owner Pat Salvi and General Manager Bill Terlecky, but the 2018 season proved how great the talent was throughout the organization,” said FCBL Commissioner Chris Hall. “Joe Gill and Ashley Laramie stepped up in such a way that the fans and the league took notice. We are very grateful that Joe and Ashley led the Navs through a tough time in such a professional manner and I would like to thank them for their time and effort.”

 

This year was a unique one for the Navigators as General Manager Bill Terlecky took medical leave and longtime Navigator employees Ashley Laramie and Joe Gill ran the team in the interim. Despite missing the playoffs, the Navigators had a tremendous season in terms of attendance and community involvement. Nearly 30,000 people visited Fraser Field on 24 home dates during the season, while the average attendance of 1,237 was a franchise record.

 

“This is a tremendous honor that the Navigators share with the Lynn community,” said Gill. “This season made me proud to be not only a Navigator, but to call Lynn my home. The support the entire community showed was truly appreciated and gave us more than enough motivation to make this season as successful as we could. I would also like to thank our graphic designer, Melissa Abraham, and Director of Media, Joshua Kummins, who are both unsung heroes of our success. They are just two of the many who played a vital role in our success this season.”

 

“Being named the FCBL Organization of the Year is extremely humbling,” said Laramie. “A lot of this credit should go to our fans and the Lynn community. This season was definitely a challenge, but the community, fans, and players were helpful every step up the way. This season was definitely a great learning experience, but we were happy to step up and help Bill out. We are looking forward to him returning to the club in the near future.”

 

“I am especially happy to see Ashley and Joe share in our Organization of the Year Award,” said Terlecky. “We were so lucky when I went down that they were able to step in and lead us to a very successful 2018. They are well deserving of the recognition and we are all proud of both.”

 

The Navigators have seen a steady growth in both attendance and business partnerships since Pat and Lindy Salvi bought the team in 2012. Attendance numbers have risen each year, including franchise records in overall (2017) and average attendance (2018). The Navigators have also partnered with various community organizations including Raw Arts, who painted the left field wall and clubhouse with various baseball images, and Lynn Tech, who brought their electrical shop down to Fraser to wire the new concession stand. Additionally, concession items such as pizza, burgers, and hot dogs are all bought right in Lynn.

 

“I would like to congratulate the North Shore Navigators for being honored as the 2018 Futures Collegiate Baseball League Organization of the Year,” said Mayor Thomas M. McGee. “It is great for young people and families to get a chance to see 28 competitive college-level baseball games played in our city every summer. We are grateful for the strong partnership with the Navigators and their significant contributions to our community.”

 

“We are very thankful to receive this honor,” said Navigators owner Pat Salvi. “When Bill went on leave, we were confident we had a great team in place that would build on the relationships and success that Bill had established. Ashley and Joe did a great job and we are proud of them. I would also like to thank the City of Lynn for their partnership and support this season. We are proud to be in Lynn and look forward to many more years of future success.”

 

“Congratulations to the entire Navigators organization for this well-deserved recognition," said Senator Brendan Crighton. “From the first day they arrived in Lynn, this organization has been committed to high-quality collegiate baseball and a great fan experience. But just as importantly, the Navs care deeply for our community and we look forward to continuing our partnership for many years to come.”

 

“Congratulations to Bill, Ashley, Joe, and the entire Navigators organization for being named the FCBL Organization of the Year,” said State Representative Dan Cahill. “I have seen their success first-hand as my kids love going down to Fraser Field to watch a game. The Navs are a staple in the Lynn community and I wish them continued success.”