August 19th, 2026
CBL Season 2 Schedule Released PLUS All Star Game and Banquet Date
written by BBN Staff
The Chicago Bocce League has released the official Season 2 match schedule. The season will kick off on Wednesday, September 23rd with a rematch of last season’s championship match between the Highwood Stallions and the Bucktown Billy Goats. Preceding Opening Day, the Battle of the Benches game, All Star Game, and 2026 CBL Banquet will be held on Saturday, September 19th at the Chicago Bocce Club (CBC).
Scheduling Change
The major scheduling change from last season is that matches will be played on Wednesdays and Thursdays this season. The CBL will be playing one best-of-three match per night on these nights, which will start at 7pm CT. Live attendance is very much encouraged and more information on attending matches live at the CBC will be released in the coming weeks. By virtue of only one match being played per night, two teams per week will have a bye. This means that the season will be extended to 10 weeks. Each team will play in 7 of the 10 weeks, with 3 bye-weeks each in the regular season. Doubleheaders will be played Thursday 10/29 and Thursday 12/3.
Playoff Format Change
This season will also see a major change in playoff format. Only 5 of the 6 teams will be advancing to the new double-gauntlet playoff format, with the division winners also gaining a significant advantage.
The first round of the playoffs will see the overall 4 seed vs the overall 5 seed in a best-of-three series on Sunday 12/6. The winner of that will advance to play the overall 3 seed in a best-of-three series on Wednesday 12/9. Then, on Sunday 12/13, the two division winners will face off in a high stakes best-of-three series with the winner punching their ticket directly to the championship series. The loser of this series between the division winners will NOT be eliminated and will have a second shot at reaching the championship series! They will drop back down into the bracket and on Wednesday 12/16 they will face the winner of the series between the overall 3 seed and the 4 or 5 seed. The winner of that will then advance to the best-of-five championship series on Saturday 12/19.
The attached graphic should make this format a lot easier to understand. This novel format will give a significant playoff advantage to the regular season division winners, elevating the importance of the divisional race and will make the entire regular season meaningful because the bottom team overall will not qualify for the playoffs. The Ohio Bocce League will also be adopting a similar format for their playoffs.
All Star Game / Battle of the Benches / Banquet
The Season 1 All Star Game, Battle of the Benches, and CBL Banquet will be held at the CBC and broadcasted live on BBN on Saturday 9/19. This event will be open at least to all Season 1 and Season 2 CBL players, franchise owners, volunteers, and sponsors. Information on the RSVP process and guest attendance will be shared in the coming weeks. Further details on times and what to expect will also be shared when it becomes finalized with the CBC.
First, the Battle of the Benches Game will feature CBL’s newest rostered players, as well as some prospective free agents. The singular game will be played to 16 points in the new Four-Player-Walk format and it will feature 6 players representing each division. First on the divisional rosters will be any players who are new to their team’s active roster for the upcoming season – think call-ups, free agent signings, all of the posts that you’ve seen about roster moves in the previous weeks. Then, to fill out the remaining spots on the rosters, the Season 1 division winners will be drafting from the Free Agent Pool! This means that some of you unsigned Free Agents will have a shot at showcasing your talent on the feature court in front of the CBC audience, the BBN audience, the franchise owners, and all of your peers.
Next, after a short break, will be the Season 1 All Star Game. The Season 1 All Stars were selected via a voting process that involved fan votes, media votes, and player votes. The rosters for each division are available on CBL social media, as well as the homepage of the CBL site at boccebroadcast.network/cbl. The All Star Game will be a single game played to 16 in the new Four-Player-Walk format.
Finally, the evening will culminate in a banquet in the beautiful lounge at the CBC. This will be a chance for us to celebrate a successful first season, cheers to an even better second season, and thank the players, volunteer staff, franchise owners, and sponsors that make this all possible. As stated previously in this article, the event will be open at least to all Season 1 and Season 2 CBL players, franchise owners, volunteers, and sponsors. Information on the RSVP process and guest attendance will be shared in the coming weeks. Further details on times and what to expect will also be shared when it becomes finalized with the CBC.
There you go! Mark your calendars, set your reminders, and plan on tuning in on BBN or attending live at CBC on Wednesdays and Thursdays this September thru December!
August 11th, 2026
PARK RIDGE PENGUINS SELECT THE CONTRACT OF “SPICY” RAUL DE LEON
written by BBN Staff
In only the second free agent signing of Chicago Bocce League history, the North Division's Park Ridge Penguins have selected the contract of “Spicy” Raul De Leon. De Leon joins the team as an elite shooter, poised to contribute immediately to a Penguins lineup that finished with a league-worst 61.4% shooting average for Season 1.
Speaking to BBN, Penguins’ Player-Manager Sean Krone said “Raul was our singular focus from the start because his specific skill set and attitude align perfectly with our championship goals.” When asked about his decision to register as a free agent after Season 1, De Leon told BBN “What made me want to join after the first season is seeing all my friends compete and just wanting to be out there to test my skills through friendly competition. I've watched every single game and–for lack of a better term–had really bad FOMO.”
De Leon–who plays out of the Log Cabin Bocce Club in Des Plaines, Illinois–enters the league as a locally well-known player and a player who has national tournament experience but has yet to make his big splash on the national scene. Speaking about his desire to make his mark in the sport, he said “My motivation for dedicating time to be a great bocce player is I’ve always been an athlete and love competing at the highest level I can and this is a game you can play for life.”
“Spicy Raul” joins a Penguins team well known for bringing the energy and the passion to the feature court at the Chicago Bocce Club. A lot of that noise and “psycho” energy–as it was put by their North Division rivals–has come from their friends and family in attendance courtside. From the looks of it, we can now expect the De Leons to be a part of that noise. “My son is 16 and starting to really get into (bocce) as well and it's something me and him can always have together,” De Leon wrote to BBN. “The best part is what the game of bocce does in terms of bringing people of all walks of life together. I've met so many awesome people I probably would've never crossed paths with if it wasn't for bocce. This game is way more than just rolling a ball. It's a lifestyle.”
With the addition of De Leon, here is the current Park Ridge Penguins roster:
Vanessa Garippo
Sean Krone
Dave Krone
Brigid Reidy
Chris Prokop
Mickey Niewierowski
Raul De Leon
August 10th, 2026
BEVERLY JACKS SELECT THE CONTRACT OF “BARSTOOL EDDIE” FARRER
written by BBN Staff
In breaking news out of the South Division of the Chicago Bocce League, the Beverly Jacks have selected the contract of Eddie Farrer, aka Barstool Eddie. Farrer, who owns a stake in the team, spent the first season of his career on the Jacks’ practice squad and will now be elevated to the active roster. Farrer has yet to see playing time in his young career.
“Eddie has been around the game of bocce his whole life. It is in his blood,” said Jacks’ co-owner Nick LoMaglio when speaking to BBN this past week. LoMaglio also added that “Eddie is a great teammate and highly respected as a competitor.”
Most CBL fans are most familiar with Farrer as the internet/podcasting/social media personality “Barstool Eddie,” as seen on the mega-popular Barstool Sports platform. Farrer was born and raised in Chicago and is an original member of Barstool Chicago, dating back to 2013. He currently hosts two podcasts on Barstool Sports, called “The Dog Walk” and “The Stretch.” He has also been co-host of “Red Line Radio” and “The Dave Portnoy Show with Eddie & Co.”
Farrer is a co-founder and co-owner of the Beverly Jacks franchise and looks to bring a unique perspective to the CBL, not only as a player but also as a professional sports personality with a lifelong love for bocce and access to one of the biggest sports platforms in the world. “Beyond his play, he represents the game of bocce at the highest level,” LoMaglio told BBN.
“We have always been excited to have Eddie involved in the CBL,” Commissioner Mike Scialdone wrote to BBN. “His dedication to the growth of the sport is undeniable and admirable. We are all looking forward to getting to know him more as a player and seeing what he is able to add to this loaded Jacks roster.”
BBN reached out to Farrer for comment but at the time of publishing had not yet received a response.
With the addition of Farrer, here is a look at the current Beverly Jacks roster:
Miles Russell
Lio Giannotti
Courtney Strickland
Alicia Harvey
Lilia Zaparaniuk
Aaron Brown
Eddie Farrer
August 6th, 2026
FULTON MARKET BUTCHERS SELECT THE CONTRACT OF ERIC “TWEED” LINDERMAN
written by BBN Staff
In one of the more highly contentious moves of the offseason, the Fulton Market Butchers have succeeded in signing the highly sought-after free agent, Eric “Tweed” Linderman. Linderman is the first ever free agent signing in the history of the Chicago Bocce League. It would seem that he is positioned to join the Butchers’ shooting squad, currently led by Vito Buonsante and Patric Gerstmayr.
In an unconfirmed story broken by the “@boccnonymous” Instagram page, it was reported that a bidding war of sorts had broken out between the Butchers and the Highwood Stallions, with both teams looking to sign Linderman for the upcoming season. Whether or not there was truth to the rumor, the roster move was submitted to Commissioner Scialdone minutes after the FA Pool became accessible to teams on August 3rd and with that, the Butchers had officially signed seemingly the hottest free agent on the market.
Linderman made his splash in the Tuesday night league at the Chicago Bocce Club, helping lead the Shocknessy Triple Trucks to a combined 23-5 regular season record over his two seasons with the team. When asked about the move, Linderman said “I’m beyond thrilled to be in the CBL! It’s great to have hard work recognized, but that’s just one part of the journey though. I’m looking forward to continued growth in the sport, stay tuned!”
Butchers’ Player-Manager Vito Buonsante added “We noticed his drive and potential to be a weapon in the CBL. We felt like his compatibility with our team was a great intangible to get along with raw talent and dedication. Feels great to be able to get this done and focus on season preparation."
Linderman added “The Butchers are a talented squad. I’m hoping to add some shooting depth off the bench and contribute in any way that helps the team win.”
With that signing, here is the current Fulton Market Butchers Roster:
Vito Buonsante
Lauren McDermott
Patric Gerstmayr
Rob Schroeder
George Dousmanis
Sean Tovson
Tweed Linderman
August 4th, 2026
ELMWOOD PARK EAGLES SELECT THE CONTRACT OF KENNY DACIOLAS
written by BBN Staff
The Defending North Division Champions have officially selected the contract of former practice squad player, Kenny “Rivers” Daciolas. Daciolas spent the majority of Season 1 on the Eagles’ practice squad, being called up for a short stint mid-season in which he recorded 4 good rolls on 10 attempts. He aims to make an impression, however, in his first season on the active roster.
When asked about the decision to call up Daciolas, Eagles’ Player-Owner Anthony Martocci said “Unfortunately Kenny missed most of the preparation time leading into Season 1 recovering from some health procedures. So putting him on our practice roster at that time made the most sense for the Eagles. But we have no doubt that Kenny will be one of the best pointers in the league. He’s been putting in the work and looking real good. Be ready to say his name.”
No stranger to these Eagles players, having played tournaments under the GEM Bocce team name, Daciolas added “My first thought when being called up was I’m very honored to play with the Elmwood Park Eagles and I’m very excited to prove that I belong in this league and that I can compete with the best and I’m here to bring the Eagles a championship. I played in a lot of tournaments and on a lot of teams with Anthony, Julian and Tocchi, these are some of the best guys that I know both on and off the courts and I can’t wait to contribute as best I can.”
With the addition of Daciolas, here is a look at the current Eagles roster:
Anthony La Barbera
Julian Batula
Anthony Martocci
Danko Dykyj
Robert Bertoncini
Franco DeLuca
Kenny Daciolas
July 28th, 2026
CHICAGO’S DEFENDING CHAMPS SELECT THE CONTRACT OF JESSIE MORRIS
written by BBN Staff
The Highwood Stallions have officially selected the contract of Jessie Morris. The elite pointer is coming off of an incredible performance at the 2026 USBF Nationals, where she earned herself a gold medal in women’s doubles. She joins a roster packed with talent and seems slated to have a shot at earning herself the role of starting lead pointer. She will see competition in the two starting pointing positions from the Stallions’ Tim Tolari, Steve Thornberry, and Kyle Kuebler but Morris is well known as one of the top pointers in Chicago and looks to continue to build on her already much-improved shooting skills, in her quest to contribute to a Season 2 title run for the defending champions.
When asked about the decision to promote Morris, who had spent the previous season on the Stallions’ practice squad, franchise co-owner Tim Tolari said “Jessie has earned this opportunity through years of hard work and outstanding performance. She brings an exceptional combination of precision rolling, accurate shooting, and the poise to perform in key situations—qualities that make her an outstanding addition to our roster. With the league expanding to seven players this season, we had the opportunity to add another outstanding player, and Jessie proved she was ready for that role. Her recent USBF Women’s PRV Doubles National Championship is just the latest achievement in an impressive career, and we’re excited to welcome her to the Highwood Stallions.”
Morris echoed that excitement when talking to BBN, saying “I couldn’t be more excited about joining the team as a rostered player. There’s a lot of added pressure joining a squad that’s already proved themselves to be the best of the best. It’s a huge vote of confidence that they see me as a player who can contribute to the goal of winning back to back championships. I’ve watched the way Tom, Todd, and Tim played over the last few years. I really admire the way they see the game and how they play. It’s an honor to be one of the Highwood Stallions.”
With Morris’ elite pointing leading to her being seen largely as a specialized player, the format change for Season 2 played a role in the Stallions’ decision to elevate her to the active roster. “In the switch to the 4-person walk format, you only get one ball to do your job each frame,” said Morris. “It adds another layer of precision and pressure to the game that I’m looking forward to. I think my ability to stay calm and put good points on the court under those constraints will be my biggest contribution as a rostered player.”
Come September, Morris will look to continue to climb the ranks of Chicago’s bocce elite. Before then, you can watch her play LIVE on BBN at the upcoming ABC Open, September 10-12 in Lake Orion, MI.
July 21st, 2026
BUCKTOWN BILLY GOATS CALL UP DUSTIN HOLSINGER
written by BBN Staff
The Bucktown Billy Goats have officially selected the contract of Dustin Holsinger. The lefty hybrid player spent the first season of his career on the Billy Goats’ practice squad but this fall, he will begin the season on the active roster. When asked about the decision to call up Holsinger, Billy Goats owner Scott Altpeter said “Dustin has shown a dedication to improving his game that deserves to be rewarded with more opportunities. His history and relationships with several of the Billy Goats made it a natural move when rosters expanded to put him on the official squad.”
With the format change that was announced on July 10th, every team’s roster expanded by one spot. Subsequently, we will see a lot of roster moves being made in the coming weeks as we prepare for the roster finalization deadline on August 23rd and eventually Opening Day on September 23rd.
When asked about his call-up, Holsinger said “It means a whole lot to me, and, truthfully, I'm just excited to get to spend more time alongside a great group of people that I grew close with in the previous season. Whether or not there's a ball in my hand, I'm happy to do whatever the team needs and I think that feeling is shared amongst everyone on the roster.”
When speaking to BBN, the Billy Goats’ newest addition also said “Having watched every game from the bench last season, I'd say I was able to get a different perspective on things. High-pressure moments felt a lot less stressful knowing you won't be the one rolling/shooting. The pace of play is quick, and watching from the bench slowed the game down for me. That'll undoubtedly help me to be more ready and level-headed when I need to come in for high-leverage shots in the new format.”
BBN also spoke to both Altpeter and Holsinger about Holsinger’s offseason work and its effect on the decision. “His whole skillset has improved steadily with access to the (Chicago Bocce Club) courts and participation in the house leagues,” said Altpeter. “His shooting, in particular, is an area where we see potential for him to get on the court and make his presence felt next season.” Holsinger added “Since the Chicago Bocce Club opened, I've simply been determined to become a better bocce player. While I still have a ton of room to grow, being added to the Billy Goats' roster affirms that I've made some progress. I couldn't imagine a better team to be on, particularly with leadership and expertise of Alex and Andy, to help me maximize my potential.”
When asked about the roster move, Billy Goats’ Player-Manager Alex Gara said “What are you talking about? Is Dusty on my team?”
Yes. Yes he is, Alex. Now let’s see what he does with the opportunity.
July 11th, 2026
CBL FORMAT CHANGE, ROSTER EXPANSION, FA REGISTRATION
written by BBN Staff
It’s official! All 6 franchises have voted unanimously in favor of a format change for Season 2 of the Chicago Bocce League. Our triples no-walk format served its purpose of getting us off the ground and through Season 1. It made for some interesting storylines and some high stakes singles matchups but it is now a thing of the past.
For Season 2, we will be playing Four Man (and Woman) Walk! This is a format that is familiar to most. You’ve seen it played in the first two seasons of the Ohio Bocce League, as well as at high profile tournaments across the country, including the World Series of Bocce (broadcasted live next week on BBN) and the Cleveland Challenge Cup. It’s a simple format. Each player will throw one ball per frame and play from both sides of the court. After much consideration, this change was approved unanimously for several reasons. Four Man Walk optimizes player performance, team cohesion, exciting strategic substitutions, and elevated energy, among other elements.
Along with this format change, rosters will be expanding from 6 players to 7. Teams now have until the 17th of July to make roster changes, utilizing the current pool of free agents and practice squad players. Any player not selected to an active roster by the 17th will drop to the Free Agent Pool. At that point, Free Agent registration will open up to the general public and remain open until the 31st of July.
To register as a Free Agent, fill out the form on BocceBroadcast.Network/cbl. If you had already previously registered prior to Season 1, there is no need to re-register. If you would like your name to be removed from the Free Agent Pool, send us an email at chicagobocceleague@gmail.com.
During this registration period, teams will not be able to make any roster moves. On August 1st, the updated Free Agent pool will be posted publicly. On August 3rd, rosters will be unfrozen and teams will be able to make moves again. Rosters for Season 2 will be set on August 23rd and the Season will begin in late September. The Season schedule has not been made official yet, but that will be published by the end of July. Season 1 All Star Game, Battle of the Benches, and banquet will be held at CBC on a date TBA, shortly preceding Opening Day of Season 2.
July 10-17: Rosters expand to 7 players and teams can make moves.
July 17-31: Free Agent registration opens to the public. Rosters are frozen during this period.
August 1: Update Free Agent Pool is made public.
August 3: Rosters are unfrozen and teams can make roster moves, utilizing the updated FA Pool.
August 23: Season 2 rosters are set.