The dream of virtually any high school baseball player in Massachusetts is to get an opportunity to compete at the next level.
Dan Donato is hoping to make some of those dreams come true.
For the third straight year, Donato has spearheaded the New England Elite 100 Showcase, designed for high school baseball players looking to get noticed by college coaches at all levels. The two-day event will take place at Boston College on June 4-5.
“The numbers are coming in but we appear to be 15 ahead of last year’s pace,” said Donato, the head baseball coach at No. 1-ranked Dexter Southfield. “I think we’ve gotten to the point where this event is a must for any kids who want to play in college.”
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A two-sport standout at Catholic Memorial, Donato went on to play hockey and baseball at Boston University. Following college, Donato had a minor league career in both the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay (Devil) Rays organizations, getting as high as Triple-A.
In his travels as a player and later as a coach, Donato noticed a growing number of baseball camps and clinics popping up in the south. He often wondered why a similar format couldn’t work in the north, leading to the creation of the New England Elite 100 Showcase.
“You would go to places like Georgia and see these great showcases,” Donato said. “The reality of the situation is that 90 percent of the kids who play high school baseball around here are likely going to play college baseball somewhere in New England.”
The early success of the camp has allowed Donato to bring in some of the top local high school coaches to help run things. Among those on the staff include Rick Forestiere, who climbed on board from Day 1; Jonathan Pollard (Austin Prep); David Cunningham (Belmont Hill); David Cataruzolo (Roxbury Latin); and former major leaguer Matt Duffy, a group which has more than 100 years of coaching under their collective belts.
The first day serves as a showcase for kids to display their talents in a variety of drills. The next day will consist of a series of games in which every kid is guaranteed a minimum of three at-bats a game and every pitcher would get an opportunity to throw 20-30 pitches. Donato thinks this is more than sufficient for a player to showcase his skills in front of a bevy of coaches from the likes of Harvard, Dartmouth, Boston College, Northeastern, Bryant, as well as Saint Anselm and the NESCAC.
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“This is a great opportunity for kids who want to play college baseball to be able to have that chance to do it locally,” Donato said. “They’re going to get a chance to be seen by coaches from Division 1, 2 and 3. No matter what you are as an athlete, there is a home for anyone who wants to play college baseball.
“All I am trying to do here is help kids achieve their dreams of playing at the next level. It’s hard enough to play college baseball and it’s become even harder because of the transfer portals. I’ve coached for 25 years and I just want to do anything possible to help kids get to the next level whatever it happens to be for them.”
For further information, contact Tim Fledderjohn at fledd@premierfootballconsulting.com
“No Kings” rallies are scheduled in Boston and across Massachusetts on Saturday and are expected to draw large crowds, organizers said.
Organized by the ACLU of Massachusetts, Indivisible Mass Coalition, and Mass 50501, the event is a mass mobilization in protest of the Trump administration.
The No Kings theme was created by the 50501 Movement, a national movement made up of Americans who stand for democracy and against what they call the authoritarian actions of the Trump administration. The name 50501 stands for 50 states, 50 protests, one movement.
“The Trump administration is trying to shred the Constitution; the No Kings movement is an unequivocal statement that we, the people, will not let that happen. This will be the third global No Kings Day, and it’s not just about protesting what’s wrong—it’s about building something better. We intend to show our power, build our power, and power a democracy that advances freedom, equality, justice, and dignity for all,” organizers wrote.
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The rally, one of thousands scheduled across the country this weekend, is planned for the Boston Common from 2 to 4 p.m. More than 100,000 people are expected to attend Boston’s rally. Other events are scheduled in Pittsfield, Northampton, Lancaster, Worcester, Framingham, Methuen, Lexington, and towns in southeastern Massachusetts and the Cape. For a map of No Kings events near you, click here.
Speakers include elected officials Attorney General Andrea Campbell, Gov. Maura Healey, Sen. Ed Markey and Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, and civic leaders Hessann Farooqi Marcelo Gomes Da Silva, Darlene Lombos, president of the Greater Boston Labor Council, Carol Rose, executive director of ACLU of Massachusetts, Jessica Tang, president of the American Federation of Teachers of Massachusetts, and others. It will be moderated by Rahsaan Hall, president and CEO of Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts.
There will also be performances by the Dropkick Murphys, Boston Area Brigade of Activist Musicians, BVOCAL Chorus, and Jimmy Tingle.
A previous No Kings rally in October drew massive crowds estimated in the tens of thousands.
NBC10 Boston
NBC10 Boston
An aerial view of the crowd at Boston’s “No Kings” rally on the Common on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025.
ALLSTON, MASS. (WHDH) – Boston police are searching for a gunman who opened fire in Allston Thursday and left one person hurt.
Police responded to a radio call for a person shot in the area of Brighton Avenue at approximately 6:46 p.m. When officers arrived, they said they found a male “juvenile” suffering from a gunshot wound. The victim’s age has not been released.
Boston police said the shooter fled the scene and remains at large. No arrests have been made.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Boston police.
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