Middleboro goes to World Series; Soupman sidelined: Top 5 Brockton-area stories last week

Kathy Bossa, The Enterprise
·5 min read

BROCKTON —  Peter Kelleher, known as The Soupman for his nationally recognized work feeding the homeless, has been accused of embezzling from the nonprofit he founded. Kelleher, 62, started what became Support the Soupman after his son, Travis, died of a drug overdose while homeless.

Middleboro Little League12U defeated Bangor (Maine) East, 10-1, on Thursday to capture the New England Regionals championship and a prestigious spot in the Little League World Series for the first time since 1994.

Cody Urban, the South Boston man who fatally stabbed Samuel Rutledge at the Stop 'N Gas station in 2020, was sentenced to state prison. Rutledge's mother says the sentence is too light. "I am not happy for what they gave him," Alisha Rutledge told The Enterprise. "I am really upset" he wasn't given the maximum sentence, she said.

In case you missed it, here are five stories from the past week throughout the Brockton area that resonated with our readers.

West Bridgewater's 'Soupman' sidelined, at risk of homelessness amid embezzlement probe

Peter Kelleher, known as The Soupman for his nationally recognized work feeding the homeless, has been accused of embezzling from the nonprofit he founded. The charity booted him as CEO and his landlords could evict him. "I didn't steal any [expletive] money," Kelleher said in an interview outside the mothballed warehouse full of clothes, backpacks and other items waiting to be distributed to those in need. "I deposited one check. I put the wrong check in the wrong account."

'I didn't steal any money': West Bridgewater's 'Soupman' sidelined, at risk of homelessness amid embezzlement probe

Peter Kelleher speaks: Removed as Support the Soupman CEO, Peter Kelleher speaks amid embezzlement investigation 

Peter Kelleher, the Massachusetts-based “Soupman,” with his dog Koji, outside the Support the Soupman warehouse at 1 Bert Drive in West Bridgewater, on Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022.
Peter Kelleher, the Massachusetts-based “Soupman,” with his dog Koji, outside the Support the Soupman warehouse at 1 Bert Drive in West Bridgewater, on Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022.

Middleboro to Williamsport for Little League World Series

When the summer first began, qualifying for the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania seemed like a longshot goal for the Middleboro Little League's U12 All-Stars. That's what the team's players used to be called in mid-July, anyway. Playing the best they ever have before, the collective group likely prefers 'Team New England' at this point. That title is a lot more fitting now, as Middleboro defeated Bangor (Maine) East, 10-1, on Thursday to capture the New England Regionals championship and a prestigious spot in the Little League World Series for the first time since 1994.

Williamsport, here they come: Middleboro advances to LLWS for the first time since 1994

Middleboro vs Maine game photos: Middleboro beats Bangor, Maine to advance to Little League World Series

One win away: One more win sends Middleboro to Williamsport for Little League World Series

Middleboro vs Concord photos: Middleboro versus Concord (New Hampshire) at Little League New England Regionals

Win or go home: LIVE UPDATES: Middleboro Little League vs. Concord in win-or-go-home game at Regionals

Winner's bracket: LIVE UPDATES: Middleboro Little League vs. Maine in winner's bracket at Regionals tourney

Middleboro vs Bangor game photos: Middleboro Little League Baseball vs. Bangor (Maine) at New England Regionals

State Champs: 'This was for the town': State champion Middleboro Little Leaguers earn spot at regionals 

Middleboro 12U Nationals players celebrate with the New England banner at the conclusion of their game versus Bangor East, Maine at Bartlett Giamatti Little League Leadership Training Center in Bristol, Connecticut for the New England Regional tournament on Thursday, August 11, 2022.
Middleboro 12U Nationals players celebrate with the New England banner at the conclusion of their game versus Bangor East, Maine at Bartlett Giamatti Little League Leadership Training Center in Bristol, Connecticut for the New England Regional tournament on Thursday, August 11, 2022.

'Second son I've lost to murder': Mother of Brockton stabbing victim decries sentence

Alisha Rutledge of Brockton has lost two children to violence. "This is the second son I've lost to murder, so I really hope your honor will give him the maximum sentence," Rutledge told Superior Court Justice Robert Gordon during a victim impact statement. Gordon sentenced Cody Urban — the South Boston man who fatally stabbed Samuel Rutledge, a Brockton father, after an incident at the Stop 'N Gas station in downtown on Warren Avenue on Aug. 23, 2020 — to spend the next 11 to 13 years in state prison at the Souza Baranowski Correctional Center. The maximum sentence would have been 20 years.

'Second son I've lost to murder': Mother of Brockton stabbing victim decries sentence

Guilty verdict:Boston man found guilty in fatal stabbing of Brockton dad 'loved by many'

Indicted for murder: South Boston man indicted for murder in fatal Brockton stabbing of father of two

Man accused of stabbing: Man accused of fatally stabbing father of two at Brockton gas station held without bail

Fatal stabbing: Brockton man, 31, stabbed to death outside downtown gas station 

Cody Urban, center, stands to hear his sentence in Brockton Superior Court on Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022 in the killing of Samuel Rutledge of Brockton. To the left is defense attorney John Brinkman and to the right is defense attorney Neil Madden.
Cody Urban, center, stands to hear his sentence in Brockton Superior Court on Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022 in the killing of Samuel Rutledge of Brockton. To the left is defense attorney John Brinkman and to the right is defense attorney Neil Madden.

Randolph man opens Brockton sneaker store from a hobby

One man’s sneaker collecting hobby turned into a full-time career he never thought would be possible. For the last two years, Bony Valsadiya immersed himself in the vibrant sneaker reselling and collecting culture. With the help of his business partner Chirag Patel, they officially opened The Connect, a sneaker and apparel store located at 186 Oak St. in Brockton. Valsadiya began heavily investing himself into his new hobby in 2019. While doing some soul searching in 2020, Valsadiya thought opening a sneaker business out of his thriving hobby could be a smart money move

From sneakerhead to biz owner:  Randolph man opens Brockton store from a hobby

Store photos: Step inside The Connect sneaker store in Brockton

Bony Valsadiya is the owner of The Connect sneaker store, 186 Oak St., Brockton, seen here on Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022.
Bony Valsadiya is the owner of The Connect sneaker store, 186 Oak St., Brockton, seen here on Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022.

Raynham Park preps for sports betting

Raynham Park coowner Chris Carney said state lawmakers’ approval of sports betting legislation on Aug. 1 “means new life” for the former dog track.  “It’s a rebirth to an old organization that we used to have in the area,” he said. Carney said a new retail and simulcasting center would be constructed at Raynham Park for people to cast bets. “We are building a 65,000-squarefoot building,” he said. “It will be the largest retail facility in Massachusetts and only one of five retail facilities that have sports betting in the state.”

'New life' to Raynham Park: MA lawmakers OK'd sports betting. Here's how it will bring 'new life' to Raynham Park. 

The interior of the new Raynham Park simulcasting center will include restaurants and bars.
The interior of the new Raynham Park simulcasting center will include restaurants and bars.

Staff writer Kathy Bossa can be reached by email at kbossa@enterprisenews.com. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Enterprise today.

This article originally appeared on The Enterprise: Brockton-area top 5 stories: Middleboro Little League, Soupman ousted