On August 29th, Veto League Baseball wrapped up its 29th season with the annual Veto League Showcase and All-Star Classic. The yearly night game took place at Douglas Park in Rock Island. 

The captains for the largest attended game of the season have a combined 46 years of Veto League Baseball experience! Josh Paul (Goonies) started playing in 2003 while Ryan Barton (Gremlins) debuted in 2005. Barton is the league's all-time homerun hitter (127) while Paul has the most games played (1,036). 

Twenty-two of the league's most dedicated players were rewarded with special invitations to play during a perfect evening under the lights. After an early two-run lead for the Gremlins, the Goonies plated 13 of the next 14 runs to take a large lead which they wouldn't relinquish. The final - Goonies 22, Gremlins 9. The Goonies were lead by Night Game Most Valuable Player Luke Melton's 4-for-5 with a double, three runs and three RBI. Rookie Eric Miller slashed two doubles and added two runs and three RBI for the Goonies.

In addition to rewarding players with a game under the lights, the event also serves a purpose as a non-perishable food drive for the River Bend Foodbank. Fans were encouraged to empty their pantry, which awarded them two raffle tickets for a chance to win one of 20 raffle baskets. The league received 335 pounds of non-perishables, increasing the 18-year total to 10,793 pounds.

Awards were also voted on by players. They include:
Regular Season Most Valuable Player: Noah Harrison
Post Season Most Valuable Player: Noah Harrison
Outfield Gold Glove: Matt Hintermeister
Infield Gold Glove: Andrew Schubert
Sportsmanship: Johnny Readus
Rookie of the Year: Davin Thiem
Most Improved: Bailey Rericha

In addition to the 2026 Most Improved Award and the 2023 Member of the Year, Bailey Rericha also added the 2026 Member of the Year to his trophy cabinet. Rookie Antwan Wright was awarded the 2026 President's Award after being a consistent presence on the diamond after finding the league a month into the season.

The 2026 VLB season was a major success. Despite ending a month sooner than 2025 - and earlier than most previous seasons - the league had 50 debuts. This is the most since 2022. There were 109 players who participated in at least one game this year - also the most since 2022. This year was known as the year of the "loaded bat". There were a total of 406 extra base hits in the 65 games (6.25/game). This included 43 homeruns hit, the most since 2018. 

In what seemed like a lightning strike, the Veto League regular season is already completed. Playoffs began on August 3rd at Ridgewood Field.

Rookie Captain Noah Harrison's "Ghost Runners" (11-5) ran away with the league title, finishing two games ahead of the Schuby Doos and Katanas, who each finished 9-7. The Heavy Hitters clinched the final playoff spot at 8-8. Eliminated from playoff contention were the Bombers (7-9) and Daddy Hacks (4-12)

The Ghost Runners face the Heavy Hitters while the Schuby Doos and Katanas square off in the opening round best-of-five series.

On Monday night, playoffs commenced with the Ghost Runners and Heavy Hitters playing the double header. Both teams would split in very close contests. The opening game went into three extra inning frames, as the Runners finally scored in the bottom of the 8th to win 7-6. The Runners were lead by veteran Ryan Barton's double and three runs scored while the Hitters were kept alive by a solid performance by rookie Eric Miller's homerun and three RBI.

The second game was called after five innings due to diminishing sunlight. Despite rookie Davin Thiem's homerun, the Hitters were able to capitalize on big innings and took the contest 11-8. The Hitters were lead by Kyle Kent's three runs scored and Eric Miller's four RBI. 

Miller was the outstanding player of the evening, with a very early postseason statistics lead with seven RBI. 

Games continue on Saturday with weeknight games scheduled on Mondays and Thursdays until the season finale on Saturday, August 29th. 

Veto League Baseball kicked off its 29th season with no shortage of excitement last weekend.

Saturday was the official "opening day" with 24 players joining the excitement for the start of the season. Both double-header games features uncharacteristic good defense and low scoring, with a total of 17 runs scored over the 14 total innings.

The opener was Andrew Schubert's Schuby-Doos against Bailey Rericha, who took a season off of captaining but is bringing back the Daddy Hacks for 2026. After a year hiatus, Mitch Lannan made his return to the diamond and lead the Schuby-Doos with three hits from the leadoff position. However, the Daddy Hacks narrowly edged the "Doos" by a final 5-4 with a balanced offensive attack where nine of the 11 batters had at least one hit. 

In the flip game, the Schuby-Doos were home against multi-time World Series Champion Mason Overmire's Heavy Hitters. Despite logging 12 hits, the Hitters were only able to plate three runs. The Schuby-Doos masterclass defense held strong throughout, only allowing runs in the sixth inning. The Schuby-Doos won 5-3. 

On Monday, another 21 players showed up on a soft field for a double header. The first game featured Kyle Kent's Katanas and Zach Sutton's Bombers making each of their season captain debuts. The Bombers held a 6-2 advantage through the first half of the contest, highlighted by their defense. In the third inning, the Bombers turned an ultra rare triple play, with a line drive caught by the center fielder, who was able to throw to the second baseman to catch the runner who had strayed off the base for a force out. The runner on third attempted to tag and was thrown out with a laser beam, resulting in a 8-4-2 triple play. However, Katanas were able to plate runs in the 4th, 5th and 6th innings to tie it at 6-6, going into a weeknight extra inning. The Bombers spoiled an opportunity and were held scoreless. Ryan Barton, who ranks #2 in career Veto League games played with 706 games, found himself up to bat with the bases loaded. Barton was able to launch a line drive walk-off game winner for the Katanas.

A high-scoring second game of the double header coupled with the extra inning of the first contest meant players were losing daylight quickly. The Katanas and Hitters faced off with in highest scoring game of the young season. The Katanas took the lead 11-8 as light was dwindling headed to the bottom of the 5th. The Hitters were able to tie the game up with two outs and a runner on third. However, that runner was stranded and the game was ruled a tie by League President Josh Paul due to darkness. The game will likely be continued on a later date. Making his rookie debut, Nik Davis lead all players with a four-hit performance in game two. Reigning league Most Valuable Player Noah Harrison had a homerun, double, two runs and two RBI for the Hitters. 

Game days and times in 2026 are Saturdays at 10:00 and Monday evenings at 5:00. All games are at Ridgewood Field, 9607 14th St W, Rock Island.

As the weather gets warmer, excitement grows larger for Veto League Baseball's 29th season. The annual Veto League Baseball winter meetings were held on March 21st, the first step in organizing the new year.

Eight Veto Leaguers and one prospective new player discussed the upcoming season. The attendees marked April 11th as Veto League's Opening Day, with a follow-up game to be played on Monday the 13th. All games will be played at Ridgewood Field, 9607 14th St W, Rock Island. Saturday morning game time will be 10:00 with Mondays played at 5:00.

League President Josh Paul went over financials. The league paid $239 for the 2025 All-Star Showcase, however, brought in $390 in player dues/donations and $584 in raffle ticket sales and fan donations. Much thanks to Katie Miller, wife of Vice President Alex Miller, for coordinating the raffle baskets last year. 

The league recently purchased 70 jerseys, which are sold at $20 per jersey. The cost includes last name and number heat-pressed on the back of the shirt. The league also purchased 24 Richardson flex-fit hats in sizes S-M and L-XL. The hats can be purchased for $30. The league had 24 total jerseys purchased in 2025. With the VLB factory switching from Crown Trophy to the Bettendorf Public Library, turn-around on the jersey sales to delivery should be cut down by three months. 

The league opted to pay the Rock Island Parks Department to rent Ridgewood Field on Mondays to secure a field. The league will also be looking to purchase baseballs as the supply is low. Waffle "throw down" bases will also need purchased. 

Paul mentioned the numbers dropping last season after school started and college football kicked off. VLB will set an earlier season end date, tentatively late August. 

Captains were announced: Mason Overmire (Heavy Hitters), Andrew Schubert (Schuby Doos), Zach Sutton (Bombers), Kyle Kent (Katanas) and making a return to captainship is Bailey Rericha's Daddy Hacks. 

The last portion discussed were potential rule changes. Discussed was the scoring plate location. Historically, the scoring plate has been "eyeballed" and thrown down on the baseline. Paul announced that the scoring plate distance would be officially set at 15 feet from home plate.

Alex Miller proposed a rule that in a game with "pitcher's hand" rules (no catcher) and less than two outs with bases loaded, the pitcher can not be involved in a double play. An example brought up was last season where a pitcher fielded a ground ball for an easy "pitcher's hand" out then threw to first base for a double play. In this instance, the runner on third attempting to score would be automatically out and the play would then be "dead ball". The rule passed by a vote of 5-to-2. 

Before the meeting concluded, Veteran Johnny Readus gave his words of wisdom for everyone: When you don't drink, drug, club, dub, thug, you'd be amazed at what you can do." 

Veto League's 28th season had no shortage of close contests, however, the league may have saved the best for last.

On Saturday, September 27th, the "stars of the sandlot" played their 21st annual All-Star Showcase under the lights of Rock Island's newly remodeled Douglas Park. With approximately 100 fans in attendance, 23 of the league's most dedicated players took the field. 

The event also serves as a non-profit fundraiser for the River Bend Foodbank. All fans in attendance were asked to bring non-perishables to be donated to the RBFB in Davenport. The River Bend Foodbank serves all of the surrounding Quad City areas. The event's donations totaled 465 pounds, for a 17-year total of 10,793.

As for the game, two third year players made their night game captain debuts: Andrew Schubert captained the Schuby Doos and Bailey Rericha managed the Daddy Hacks. The Schuby Doos got out of the batter's box with a quick 6-1 lead after the first two innings. However, the Daddy Hacks were able to tie it at 8-8 after five innings, plating four runs in the bottom of the fifth. The game was back-and-forth the entire game. The Schuby Doos took 16-11 lead going into the final frame, however, shotty defense and well placed balls plated five for the Daddy Hacks to send the game to extra innings - possibly a first for a night game. The Schuby Doos ate their scooby snacks in extras, scoring six times and keeping the Daddy Hacks off the board, winning the contest 22-16.

The Schuby Doos were lead by night game MVP Alex Miller's game-high five hits and four runs. Captain Schubert added five RBI while long time veteran Ryan Barton scored three runs and drove in four runs. The Daddy Hacks were lead by Branden Bollman's three runs, three RBI and a triple. 

Aside from the baseball play, the league raffled off 16 baskets, which generated proceeds for the league to assist with field rental and equipment purchase for 2026.

Players who played 10+ games had an opportunity to vote on player awards. The following VLBers took home hardware:
Matt Hintermeister - Player of the Year
Ryan Barton - President's Award
Noah Harrison - Regular Season MVP
Andrew Schubert - Post Season MVP
Andrew Schubert - Infield Gold Glove
Matt Hintermeister - Outfield Gold Glove
Kyle Kent - Sportsmanship
Joe Rericha - Rookie of the Year
Zach Sutton - Most Improved

The season "officially ends" with 77 games played, 100 total players and 38 debuts. However, league officials have already determined additional baseball will be played late fall / early winter to close out the World Series (Heavy Hitters up 3-0 over the Schuby Doos). 

For the last six years, Veto League Baseball has played a game bigger than the baseball diamond. 

The league's annual "Memorial Game" is played to honor players on the all-time roster who have passed away over the league's 28-year existence. These players include, but aren't limited to: Jeff Kilgard, Josh Smith, Kaylen Eickstaedt, Colby Moore and Jon Gunter. This year unfortunately added another to the list, well-known player Brett Carlson. 

The VLB partners with local suicide awareness non-profit Foster's Voice and collects donations from players and fans. This year, the league was able to donate $425 for a six-year total of $2,925. Foster's Voice is run by Kevin and Jaime Atwood in memory of Kevin's son, Foster Atwood, who passed away in 2017. 

The game also is one of the largest attended of the season, as any player who has ever played an inning of Veto League is invited to participate. This year brought 31 players to the diamond as Josh Paul's Goonies visited Alex Miller's Cannons. The highest player-attended game in Veto League history was the 2021 Memorial Game (36 players). 

The game was out of hand fairly quickly, as the Goonies were outmuscled by the Cannons, finding themselves down 28-6 after just six innings. The Goonies would make a late push for a more respectable loss of 30-18. The game's Most Valuable Player was Mason Overmire who had a 3-homerun performance with seven RBI. Overmire had more RBI's than the entire Goonies team had plated runs through the first 2/3 of the game. On the Goonies side, veteran LaVanti Wright crushed two homeruns and high schooler Drake Oberhaus had his first career homerun, a grand slam in the 9th inning. Teenager Haydden Thornburg also had his first career homerun during the contest. 

The Cannons' star studded lineup also included a perfect 8-for-8 from the #10 and 11 hitters Luke Melton and Collin Roland, with four doubles between the two of them, seven runs and five RBI. 

For more information on Foster's Voice, please visit ​https://www.fostersvoice.org/.

Saukie Field. Where it all began in 1998. The place eye popping records were set never to be broken. Home to Josh Lawhorn's six homers in one game. The place where Bob Zerull blasted 30 homeruns. Where Ashley Engstrom set the record for RBI in a game (18). And the stage where 69 cumulative runs were scored between the Meteors and Heart Breakers.

Veto League Baseball tries to make a return to their "home" field once a season, after the Junior Rocks conclude their season but before the outfield fence is removed for football season. That day for 2025 came on the heels of the 4th of July. And there were no shortage of fireworks set off by VLB players on July 5th. Combined with the return to the Quad Cities of VLB Commissioner Matt Veto made for a wild Saturday.

The first game featured another great turnout (a theme to 2025) with 24 total players to include three debuts (1,003 in history) and six players who hadn't yet played in 2025. Matt Veto made his return to the diamond and brought along older brother Jim Veto along with a plethora of fans. Game one featured the Bombers and Dilly Diggs. The game was back-and-forth with 2024 MVP Noah Harrison leading the way, coming a double short of the cycle and driving in five of the Diggs' 11 RBIs.

The heel of the game wasn't on either team, but the Rock Island Parks & Rec, who failed to trim any of the trees overhanging the left field porch. In the fifth inning, veteran Nick Swanson lined a shot to left. The ball caromed off the left field fence, but there was a debate if the ball would have been a homerun had it not been for the greenery knocking it down. The left fielder, Nick's own son, Austen, said he wasn't sure if the ball was over the fence because, "The leaves were in my face." The ruling was a double for Swanson, who would get stranded on third base that inning. This run would be detrimental as the Dilly Diggs took the game 11-10 over the Bombers. The Dilly Diggs are now riding an 8-game winning streak. Josh Paul played groundskeeper for an inning, breaking off a number of these pesky branches in an attempt to keep this was happening again.

Game two was when the fireworks started blasting. And right off the get go, as the visiting Katanas (Kyle Kent) plated five in the top half, assisted by an Anthony Sandoval homerun off the left field foul pole. However, the home team Heavy Hitters (Mason Overmire) more than batted around in the order in the bottom half of the first to score 12 runs. The Hitters would actually bat around in the first three innings and had a 25-13 lead after just three frames. The Katanas fought back in the 4th, scoring nine runs and batting around in the order themselves. However, Noah Harrison was too much power for the Katanas as he had the first four homerun game in over 10 years. The Katanas had a walk-off homer winner by Mason Overmire to secure a mercy rule shortened 10-run forfeit victory 32-22 in five innings. 

Fireworks for the second game were provided by Noah Harrison's perfect 6-for-6 with 11 RBIs, still seven short of Ashley Engstrom's whopping 18 RBI record set in 2002 (including five homeruns). Harrison had six extra base hits with four homeruns and two doubles. Overmire and Andrew Schubert each had five runs scored. The losing team was lead by Sandoval's first two homeruns of the season and seven RBI. 

Eight total homeruns were crushed, including Branden Bollman's first. The game had a total of 20 extra base hits in the five innings. The 54 total runs is the most in recent memory. 

From debuts, to closes calls that has shifted games, Veto League Baseball's 28th season is off and running from second base to home plate.

​With VLB reaching its midway point, it has been one of the funnest and toughest seasons yet. Each of the six teams have played 14 regular season games. 

The Blackhawk Division matches up three team: Dilly Diggs (captained by Branden Bollman), Schuby-Doo’s (coached by Andrew Schubert) and the Bombers (managed by Zach Sutton). The Dilly Diggs hold a slim one game lead over the Schuby-Doos, while the Bombers are 3 games behind the Dilly Diggs. The Dilly Diggs were in last place after the 16th game of the season sitting at 1-5, and are on a hot eight game winning streak which elevated them to first place of the Blackhawk Division.

In opposing Saukie Division also offers three teams with all veteran leadership. Josh Paul's Goonies are barely grasping the division lead at 7-7, one game over each the Katanas (Kyle Kent) and Heavy Hitters (Mason Overmire).

Playoffs are scheduled to start in early August. The top two in each division make playoffs. The division winners will move to the 2025 World Series!

Veto League is NOT a stranger to player debuts for the past 30 years, this year was no stranger to that. We’ve have had 27 first timers already and we are only half way through the season. "Rookie status" is any player with a dozen or fewer career games. Joe Rericha leads the Rookies this year with 32 games played, while Eddie Cain lead the Rookies in AVG at .563. Our 1000th player in league history came on June 28th when Schubert brought his old-time baseball friend, Ben LaVicka, out to try VLB out. This was the first time they teamed together since they beat Wisconsin Lutheran back in 2008.

The 28th season of Veto League is off to a HOT start. How will it finish, only time will tell. Let’s keep at it! Let’s finish strong!

-Pollman Bollman OUT!

What started in 1998 with teenagers looking for exercise, cardboard boxes for bases and batting practice has grown into the most organized sandlot style baseball league in the Midwest. On Saturday, June 28th, Veto League Baseball welcomed its 1,000th player.

Andrew Schubert and Ben LaVicka hadn't played baseball together since 2008, where they were teamed together on the Division III Wisconsin Lutheran College. Maybe it was coincidence, maybe it was strategy (the VLBer who introduced player #1,000 wins a free hat). But Schubert brought LaVicka out to try Veto League Baseball for the first time. His debut also marked the 1,000th player in league history. In addition to Schubert scoring himself a complimentary hat, LaVicka also has the opportunity to earn a free VLB jersey, if he shows up four more games. 

After the game, LaVicka was asked about the experience, "Seriously had so much fun! Will be back!" 

The 500th player was in 2013 when Scott Ellefritz brought Ryan Kerber to Douglas Park. 

Veto League Commissioner Matt Veto provided his thoughts, "This is so awesome. My biggest pride point in creating this league was always the fact that we brought people from every background together through baseball. I’d say 'I never dreamed of this,' but truthfully, I yearned for this league to be something big. But it IS true that I never imagined I’d leave the area only for such amazing people to not only continue the spirit of the league, but to make it their own. I’m so grateful to you all for keeping it alive."

If the "Winter Meetings" are any indication on the 2025 Veto League Baseball season, you better buckle up before it's going to be a big year.

A record turnout of 16 players filled Amber and Mason Overmire's basement to discuss the upcoming season. 

League president Josh Paul started the meeting off with a recap of the 2024 season. The league saw a record 85 games played with 101 total players. The players were one fewer than the year before and the record for more players in one season is 112 (2022). Last year only saw 39 rookies make their VLB debut, which is just 15th most in the league's then 27-year history.

In a night game recap, the league collected 450 pounds of non-perishable food which was donated to the River Bend Foodbank. The league brought in $205 from player dues and $280 in raffle sales/donations. Expenses were $90 for field rental, $119 in trophies and $160 for a bucket of 30 top tier baseballs. Feedback for the night game is a suggestion to allow players to submit their votes for player awards before the night game.

The start date for the league's 28th season was voted on as Saturday, April 19th at 10:30. Location will be Ridgewood Field at 9607 14th Street West, Rock Island. The league discussed adding a weekday game and Paul will check with Davenport and Rock Island parks departments for field availability. Those in attendance voted to reserve a field on a weekday if available for the first two months of the season.

Next on the agenda was announcing captains and selecting divisions. The Blackhawk Division will feature Brandon Bollman along with new captains Andrew Schubert (Schuby Doos) and Zach Sutton (team name TBD). The Saukie Division will feature tough veteran leadership in Mason Overmire (Heavy Hitters), Kyle Kent (Katanas) and Josh Paul (Goonies). 

The league currently has $510 in the account along with an inventory of approximately 45 jerseys. The price of jerseys has for years been an average cost of $17 per jersey (includes name and number steampressed to the back). The league has always lost money if a player purchased two jerseys. It was decided that jerseys will be raised to $20 per color. Players have the option of purchasing two at $30 through May 10th before the price incrase will take effect. The players also expressed interest in making a VLB hat order for 2025. 

Equipment was discussed, with players deciding to maintain the bulk of the money in the account for field rental while spending a few dollars on a new pack of waffle "throw down" bases. 

The meeting concluded after Johnny Readus ran the pool table and Edwin Moore smoked everyone at ping pong.