The 2013 Yawkee League Champion Alibrandis is looking to repeat its success in the season to come. — Photo courtesy of Cameron Lynch.

By Ben Cassidy

In today’s Twitter-obsessed, live-in-the-moment sports culture, the word “dynasty” is frequently misused. Twenty-first century fans are quick to erroneously compare certain teams’ short-lived spurts of success to historic franchises’ years of sustained excellence, the essence of any true dynasty. Yet, some squads render these false equivocations futile by dominating the past and the present, all-encompassing strings of success everyone can agree epitomize a dynasty. The Somerville Alibrandis are one of these teams.

In their 25th season in the Yawkey Baseball League (YBL), the Alibrandis are aiming for their 15th league championship. It would be their fifth straight and 14th in the last 16 years, according to the team’s website. Assistant manager Cameron Lynch cites the team’s continuity and competitive drive as reasons for the franchise’s supremacy: “Guys stay on board [who] really love the game and want to win every night.”

Talent helps, too. Led by manager Bernie Driscoll, the Alibrandis routinely field teams comprised of former minor league players, college All-Americans, and Major League Baseball draftees. This collection of skill resulted in the Alibrandis’ “incredible” 2013 campaign during which the club lost just four games in 44 contests and won its 14th championship.

“It’s not easy to win 40 baseball games,” Lynch said. “We won the championship in 2012 and [after] that night, we all just looked at each other and said, ‘You know what, let’s win 30 baseball games.’ Our goal was to win 30 games during the [2013] regular season.”

The Alibrandis accomplished this goal, finishing at 30-3, by maintaining this singular focus throughout the season, Lynch said. “[For the players], it was like going to their second job,” Lynch said.

Even by the franchise’s lofty standards, the 2014 Alibrandis will have to go an unprecedented run to match last season’s regular season success. As of Sunday, the Alibrandis were in second place in the YBL’s Ted Williams Division and had already equaled last season’s loss total, starting the campaign at 5-3-1. Lynch isn’t concerned.

“Mother Nature hasn’t helped,” Lynch said, mentioning that several of the team’s games have been played in rain whereas last year’s group was buoyed by “playing consistently three nights a week [in good weather].”

The pitching staff has had control issues, walking 42 batters in the team’s first nine games, but Lynch believes two of the team’s wildest pitchers—relievers Dave Wasylak and Dan Mahoney—will find their form. “They’re trying to set these guys up like they’re playing pro guys,” Lynch said of Wasylak and Mahoney, who have pitched in the minor leagues for the Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees, respectively. “They’re going to get used to [YBL umpires], and they’ll be okay.”

Pitching wasn’t the issue against the Stoneham Sabers last Wednesday at Trum Field. The Sabers prevailed 4-1 behind a complete game from Corey McNamara, who was making his first career YBL start and stifled the Alibrandis’ offense. The Sabers used “small ball” in the first inning to grab a two-run lead they never relinquished.

“The other two losses, I don’t think we deserved to lose. This one we deserved to lose,” Lynch said.

Last Tuesday, the Alibrandis trounced the McKay Club Beacons 12-1 behind three-hit games from Kevin Salines and Sal Mendonca, the latter of whom drove in five runs. Mendonca entered the game with just one hit, the 300th in his career. After putting pressure on himself to get hit no. 300, Mendonca can return to being “the best ninth hitter in the league,” Lynch said. “Now that he got that 300th hit we’re not too worried.”

The Alibrandis host the Brighton Braves tonight and the Savin Hill Dodgers on Friday at Trum Field. They were to have played Monday against the West Roxbury Nationals at Ruane Field in Canton.