Beverly’s ‘best weekend of the year’
“For 25 years now, it’s worked, and worked again, the simplest of ideas that has become the most important community event for Beverly, Mass, a North Shore city of just over 42,000 people. The moms from each school in town play each other in a weekend-long softball tournament that has never stopped growing. This year’s competition had 370 players on 23 teams, including a few alumni teams for moms whose kids have graduated but still want to play Momball.”
Boston Globe story written by Billy Baker, photographed by Andrew Burke-Stevenson.
The Beverly Middle School Balch team celebrates Amanda Neal’s (foreground) home run to tie the game during the 25th annual Momball, a softball tournament made up entirely of Beverly moms, on Sunday, September 21, 2025.
A player hits a pitch during the championship game between Beverly High School’s Orange and Black teams.
Angela Gulino (center right) and Jennifer Grant (center left), who both played for Beverly Middle School’s teams, put their hands up in the wave during a game.
A player is tagged out at second base during a game against the Orange and Black Beverly High School teams the 25th annual Momball.
A player grabs a helmet labeled with Momball stickers during the championship game between Beverly High School’s Orange and Black teams.
Nearly empty ketchup bottles sit at the concession stand.
Kids play catch near an ongoing softball game during the tournament.
After hitting a home run, Amanda Neal of the Beverly Middle School Balch team high-fives her daughter Arianna Neal.
Barbra Salerno hugs another player after the championship game between Beverly High School’s Orange and Black teams. Orange won the game out of the loser’s bracket just past 8 p.m., and the two teams were supposed to play another to determine the winner. However, both teams decided to not play the next one, instead sharing the glory across the combined school.
An empty chair stands past the outfield after the championship game concluded at the 25th annual Momball.