baseball | ALXnow

Published November 10, 2026 at 2:45PM

Assistant General Manager LJ Hoes works with young athletes (courtesy of D-BAT ALX West End)

About six years ago, John Magri and Adam Froemming met while coaching their boys in Alexandria Little League. Now they’ve teamed up for a new pitch to the community: a place to practice indoors year round.

The veteran-owned D-BAT ALX West End opened Nov. 2 at 6200 D Little River Turnpike just outside city limits in Lincolnia. The 15,000-square-foot facility includes 10 batting cages, three machines throwing baseballs and softballs at varying speeds, five cages for hitting and infield lessons, two dedicated pitching lanes and a Rawlings and Easton pro shop.

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ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published June 27, 2025 at 2:30PM

National Science Foundation at 2415 Eisenhower Avenue in Alexandria's Carlyle neighborhood (via NSF)

It’s been another fast week in Alexandria! Here’s our recap of the most-read stories over the last several days.

Our Tuesday (June 24) story on the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development taking over the National Science Foundation’s headquarters (2415 Eisenhower Avenue) garnered more than 125,000 views, making it the most-read story of the year. While bringing in more than 2,700 HUD workers, the move will also displace about 1,800 NSF employees over the next two years.

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Exhibition baseball team ‘Savannah Bananas’ taking over Dunkin’ in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published June 25, 2025 at 12:00PM

The Savannah Bananas (via Facebook)

The Savannah Bananas, an exhibition baseball team from Georgia, is taking over the Dunkin’ at 3325 Richmond Highway for two hours on Saturday (June 28).

Dunkin’ is the “official coffee and breakfast partner” of the Savannah Bananas, and from 9 to 11 a.m., players will go behind the counter to take orders, treat guests, and give away free merchandise.

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The seventh annual Del Ray Vs. Old Town business softball game is on June 2

By James Cullum

Published May 27, 2025 at 12:15PM

The 7th Annual Del Ray vs. Old Town Softball Battle is on Monday, June 2, at Simpson Field (Via Visit Del Ray/Facebook)

Which business community is better, Old Town or Del Ray? In terms of softball, the arguments will be settled on Monday, June 2, with the seventh annual Del Ray vs. Old Town Softball Game.

Mayor Alyia Gaskins will throw the first pitch at Eugene Simpson Park (426 E. Monroe Avenue) at 6 p.m. The five-inning game will include food trucks and ice cream, and the event is a fundraiser for the Alexandria Little League Scholarship Fund. Del Ray is in the overall series lead with a 4-2 record.

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Indoor baseball and softball training gym opens in Alexandria’s West End

By James Cullum

Published December 3, 2024 at 1:15PM | Updated December 3, 2024 at 2:47PM

The Dugout at 315 Hooffs Run Drive (Courtesy photo)

There’s a new indoor gym in Alexandria’s West End dedicated to improving baseball and softball swings.

The Dugout, a 10,000-square-foot facility, recently opened for individual and group training at 315 Hooffs Run Road. It’s owned by Layla Burczak, Lacey Forster, Ben Kelley, Amanda Kelley, Ben Matthews and Katy Matthews — all principals in Alexandria Travel Sports LLC.

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Alexandria Little League All-Star Intermediates win state championship

By James Cullum

Published July 12, 2024 at 9:45AM

Alexandria Intermediate All-Stars won the State Baseball Championship at the city's Eugene Simpson Park on July 10, 2024 (via Alexandria Little League)

The Alexandria Little League All-Star Intermediates are state champs.

Alexandria’s top 13-and-under players won the Virginia State Championship on July 10, defeating the Broadway Community Little League 10-0 at Eugene Simpson Park.

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Alexandria hosting and participating in intermediate baseball state championship

By James Cullum

Published June 26, 2024 at 4:08PM | Updated June 26, 2024 at 9:54PM

Alexandria Little League's Intermediate All Stars are heading to the state tournament, which will be held in the city from July 5 to 10 (via Facebook)

Alexandria Little League’s All-Star Intermediate baseball players are heading to the Intermediate Baseball State Tournament, and they won’t have to travel far.

Eight teams of 13-and-under players from across Virginia will participate in the tournament, which will be held at Alexandria’s Eugene Simpson Stadium Park.

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Old Town vs. Del Ray business softball battle is Thursday

By James Cullum

Published May 22, 2024 at 10:45AM | Updated May 22, 2024 at 1:13PM

The 7th Annual Del Ray vs. Old Town Softball Battle is on Monday, June 2, at Simpson Field (Via Visit Del Ray/Facebook)

Can Del Ray businesses defend their title against Old Town in the annual softball battle on Thursday?

Mayor Justin Wilson will throw the first pitch at Eugene Simpson Park (426 E. Monroe Avenue) at 6 p.m. The five-inning game will include food trucks and ice cream. The businesses even got permission from the city to serve draft beer from Port City Brewing Company.

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Nonprofit donating $50K scoreboard to Alexandria baseball diamond for players with special needs

By James Cullum

Published March 29, 2024 at 9:45AM

The proposed scoreboard at the Kelley Cares Miracle Field outside the Nannie J. Lee Memorial Recreation Center at 1108 Jefferson Street (via City of Alexandria)

A local nonprofit is donating a $50,000 scoreboard at the Kelley Cares Miracle Field outside the Nannie J. Lee Memorial Recreation Center in Old Town.

The scoreboard is a gift to the city from the Miracle League of Alexandria and it will be presented to City Council for approval on April 2. Additionally, the $3,000 installation for the scoreboard’s support beams is being donated by the Simpson Development Company.

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Don Dinan, cofounder of the Alexandria Aces, dies

By James Cullum

Published February 2, 2024 at 3:15PM

Don Dinan (center) with Pat Malone (on left) and Bryan Malone on opening day at Nats Park in 2018 (courtesy photo)

Don Dinan, the cofounder of the Alexandria Aces summer collegiate baseball team, died after a period of declining health on Monday. He was 74.

A D.C. resident, Donald Robert Dinan spent decades as an international trade and intellectual property attorney. He was born in Nashua, New Hampshire, and was raised in Ellicott City, Maryland, and met his future wife Amy at Mt. St. Joseph High School in Baltimore. Dinan earned degrees from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1971, Georgetown University Law Center in 1974, and the London School of Economics in 1975. In addition to being a practicing attorney, for 30 years he taught a course in international trade law at Georgetown University.

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Del Ray residents decry tree removal at Eugene Simpson Stadium Park

By James Cullum

Published June 22, 2023 at 3:30PM

Del Ray residents form a chain around a tree in Eugene Simpson Stadium Park in Del Ray, June 22, 2023 (staff photo by James Cullum)

A number of Del Ray residents locked arms around an oak tree slated for removal at Eugene Simpson Stadium Park in Del Ray on Wednesday, only days after City Council approved a plan to renovate the park.

Gisele McAuliffe, a 30-year Del Ray resident, says that the city’s approved plan to renovate the park will come at too great a cost — the removal of 40 trees. The age of the trees is in dispute, as the city says the oldest trees on the property were planted in the 1940s, while McAuliffe and her friends measured the trees and claim they are upward of 100 years old.