By Jack Nicas

The name Alibrandi has come to mean many things in Somerville over the years, but most often it’s attributed to long-lasting success. Alibrandi’s Barber Shop has stood on Holland Street for 70 years, with Tony Alibrandi manning the clippers for the past 50. The Alibrandis baseball team has won the last nine Yawkey Baseball League titles, and 10 of the last 11.

However, a lesser-known Alibrandis has been making a name for itself at Trum Field for the past three years. The first-place Alibrandis softball team in the Somerville Recreation Commission Men’s Softball League defeated On the Hill Tavern 17-8 Sunday night to clinch their third consecutive appearance in the finals. They swept the three-game series after routing the Tavern team 16-4 on Thursday. Alibrandis coach Eddie Vallery Sr. said, ‚ÄúWe got our hitting shoes on.‚Äù

Alibrandis found themselves down 4-1 by the second inning on Sunday, but charged back with four runs in the top of the third, capped off by Eddie Vallery Jr.’s two-run double. They squandered their lead again in the bottom of the inning, giving up three runs on errors to make it 7-5. But then Alibrandis blew it open in the fifth and never looked back. They scored 12 combined runs in the final three innings, highlighted by two RBI singles by second baseman Jarrett Baker and three by left fielder Tommy Kirraney. Catcher Shawn Thornton, St. Clement’s athletic director, proved outside-the-park home runs were impossible in the sixth after settling for a ground-rule double on a towering shot that landed in the netting deep in center field.

Following Alibrandis’ win, the Coyotes and Powder House Pub took the field to determine Alibrandis’ finals opponent. The Coyotes prevailed to move on to the championship series, which started on Monday.

Alibrandi’s captain and starting pitcher Joe Oliveto, a 43-year-old laborer, said the team’s strength resides in their hitting and late-inning defense, which would ‚Äúabsolutely‚Äù carry them to another league title. He said the league presents a unique opportunity to older men looking to stay active. ‚ÄúIt’s a good part of my life; I love it. It’s like oxygen to me.‚Äù

In the first game of the finals, Alibrandis fell to the Coyotes 8-7 Monday night. The Coyotes jumped out to a quick lead, scoring four in the top of the first. Thornton responded with a bases-empty triple in the bottom of the inning and was later brought in for Alibrandis’ first run.

Alibrandis faced a five-run deficit by the bottom of the fifth and charged back with four runs to make it 8-7. It proved to be one run short, as the Coyotes blanked Alibrandis in the final two innings.

League Supervisor Elaine Pieroni said the Coyotes benefited from the strong winds Monday night. ‚ÄúThe Coyotes are a singles and doubles team, and that’s how they were scoring their runs.‚Äù She said the wind knocked down Alibrandis’ customary long flies.

Game two of the three-game series is scheduled for 8:15 p.m. tonight at Trum Field. If Alibrandis manages to tie the series up, the deciding match will be played at 8:15 p.m. Thursday at Trum Field. If not, Alibrandi’s championship run will be put to an end and the team will begin looking forward to the Fall Frost-Bite League, starting in September.

Tony Alibrandi shuffled between diamonds, softball and baseball, at Trum Field Sunday night, trying to catch glimpses of each of his championship-aspiring teams. ‚ÄúI watch every game, that’s my life,‚Äù he said.

He was at Trum again Monday night as the Alibrandis softball team fell behind in the championship series. Fortunately, Alibrandi was absent from the devastating loss across the Charles River. The Alibrandis baseball team failed to reach the Yawkey Baseball League semifinals for the first time in 12 years, as they lost 3-2 to the East Boston Bluefish in West Roxbury, putting an end to their nine-straight league titles. Alibrandis softball now stands as the last chance to keep the dynasty running.