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10 WEEKLYNEWS.NET - 978-532-5880 JUNE 22, 2017 Boys of summer swinging into action By Anne Marie Tobin PEABODY — Could this be the year that a Peabody Little League team wins a District 16 championship? If experience and depth is the measuring stick, Peabody may be in line to run the traditional victory lap with a winners’ banner for the first time in 20 years. Peabody has never won a District 16 title and the last time the league captured a district championship was in 1997 when Peabody American won the District 15 title. On paper, at least, everything looks to be pointing Peabody’s way this year. Over the winter, the league received approval to merge its two district teams - formerly Peabody White and Peabody Blue - combining the best of the Blue and White into what what might turn out to be one “super” team. With eight players returning from those squads, Peabody may be second to none in terms of experience. “Combining the teams has been in the works for a while and finally was approved this year,” said manager Justin Powers. “Finally, after presenting Little League with raw numbers (of kids and ages playing), they agreed to go to one charter.” Last year’s teams were extremely young. Predictably, both made early exits from the tournament. White opened with an 8-6 win over East Lynn, but lost 10-4 to Pine Hill in the winners’ bracket quarterfinals. The team was eliminated with a 6-2 loss to Salem in round two of the elimination bracket. Blue was relegated to the losers’ bracket right off the bat, losing to Saugus American 14-5 in the opening round. Blue Save $$$$$$ Twilight Special Fridays after 1 PM Sat & Sun after 3:30 PM Pay for 9 and play 18 Only $25 www.middletongolf.com Rte. 114, Middleton, MA 01949 - (978) 774-4075 Certified “Beginner Friendly” by the NGCOA PHOTO | ANNE MARIE TOBIN Peabody Little Leaguers, front, from left, Joey Raymond, Roberts Galvis, Eli Batista, Cam Connolly, Ryan Brunet; rear, Danny Barrett, Ryan Rice, Justin Powers, Michael Ferguson, Matt Richards, Aiden Breen. Missing from photo are Carson Browne, Joey Raymond, Daniel Zizza. stayed alive with an 8-3 win over West Lynn American, only to be eliminated in the next round with a 9-6 loss to Lynnfield. “Combining the teams gives us depth which both teams have lacked in the past and last year the depth caught up to us,” said manager Justin Powers. “We have had kids playing up just because of the numbers. In fact we couldn’t even field a 10-year-old team because we had to pull up kids to fill the 11-year-old teams because 11-year-olds had to play on the 12-year-old team. It was a domino effect in the wrong way.” This year, however, is a different story with four players returning from the Blue team and another four returning from the White team, three new 12-yearolds and two 11-year-olds. Eli Batista, Carson Browne, Ryan Brunet and Ryan Rice are back from the Blue team, while Danny Barrett, Michael Ferguson, District 16 Little League Schedule (Games at 5:45 unless noted) Sunday, June 25 Game 1 Winthrop vs. Lynnfield (at Lynn Shore, 2) Game 2 East Lynn vs. Nahant (at Nahant, 5) Monday, June 26 Game 3 Salem vs. Wyoma (at Peabody West) Game 4 Swampscott vs. Lynn Shore (at Swampscott) Tuesday, June 27 Game 5 Peabody vs. Saugus National (at Saugus National) Game 6 Pine Hill vs. Peabody West (at Pine Hill) Wednesday, June 28 Game 7 Winner Game 1 vs. Saugus American (at Wyoma) Game 8 Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 3 (at E. Lynn) Thursday, June 29 Game 9 Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5 (at West Lynn) Game 10 Winner Game 6 vs. West Lynn (at Peabody Mac) AUTO | HOME | BUSINESS | LIFE • We make shopping for insurance EASY. • Ask for a quote! DISCOUNTS available. Visit us at three locations: Justin Powers and Joey Raymond returning from the White team. Browne, Powers, Ferguson and Barrett form the core of the pitching rotation, while the catching duties will be handled by 11-year-old Daniel Zizza and newcomers Matthew Richards and Aiden Breen. LYNNFIELD 550 Summer Street WAKEFIELD 374 Main Street MALDEN 1012 Eastern Avenue Call 781.322.2800 or email info@supinoinsurance.com www.supinoinsurance.com Ferguson, Powers and 11-year-old Cam Connolly are in the mix at first base, while Barrett will likely play second base. Batista and newcomer Roberts Galvis are in the mix at shortstop and will also see time in the outfield. Batista may also make a cameo appearance or two pitching. Rice, Brunet and Richards are slated to play third base, with Rice also seeing time in the outfield along with Browne, Raymond, Zizza, Breen and Connolly. Powers said the strength of the team is its depth and versatility, especially in pitching, along with speed in the field and on the basepaths. “This is a pretty versatile group. We are good in the infield, and pretty athletic at some spots and a lot of guys who can play multiple positions,” said Powers. “This team has some pretty good depth to it, to the point where unfortunately there were some kids who were excellent baseball players but didn’t even make the team. Those are the tough decisions, the ones you don’t like to make.” Keith Browne and Matt Barrett will serve as assistant coaches. Peabody opens against Saugus National at Saugus National on Tuesday, June 27 (5:45 p.m.). “All in all, I am excited to see how this team does as we have a good group who is eager to play,” said Powers, who also coached the team last year. “We hope to compete with everyone we play. If we play our game of pitching and defense along with timely hitting, I am confident we can compete in most games.” As far as the rest of the district stacks up, Powers said he is worried only about how his team plays, but “Peabody West is always good and Swampscott, too, as the defending champ.”
JUNE 22, 2017 WEEKLYNEWS.NET - 978-532-5880 11 Peabody West looks for return to the top PHOTO | ANN MARIE TOBIN Members of the Peabody West Little League team are, front from left, Harry Lynch, Thomas Fabbo, Mike Porcella, Sammy Olivieri, Josh Scali, Marco Zirpolo; rear, Mikey Giessler, Giovanni Guglielmo, Tyler 7-3 Mario LPW.ai 1 6/16/2017 1:01:04 PM Fawcette, Jeffrey Roach, Christian Federico, Jayce Dooley. Missing from photo, Zach Fisher. By Anne Marie Tobin PEABODY — The last two years have not been kind to the Peabody Western Little League District 16 team. After winning the district title in 2014, West’s title defense was stopped dead in its tracks in 2015 when it was eliminated in just two games. In 2016, West was on track to get back on track, winning its first four games in dominant fashion. Needing to win just one of two games against Swampscott to advance to the Section 4 tournament, West came up empty, losing a heartbreaker in eight innings, 3-2, then falling 10-7 in a slugfest. This year, however, things may shaping up differently. “I think we can go a long way with three of our top pitchers who are what I would call are power pitchers, and we also have secondary pitchers who are very effective,” said manager Steve Porcella. “With that combination, the strength of this team is that we have depth in pitching with both power and deception, and that’s what you need.” There are 14 players on this year’s roster with five returners, five new 12-year-olds and four 11-year-olds who played on the 10-year old team last year. Leading the group of returning players are Zach Fisher and Mike Geissler, who along with rookies Giovanni Guglielmo and Marco Zirpola, are expected to be reliable regulars in the pitching rotation. “Marco and Giovanni helped us win the 11-year-old districts last year and I expect they will pick up where they left off this year,” said Porcella. Porcella said eleven year olds Nick Villano and Jayce Dooley, while new to the district team, pitched well this spring and may also see time on the mound this summer. Harry Lynch, Tyler Fawcett and Jeffrey Roach are also returning. Lynch likely will see most of the action at catcher, while Fawcett will see action at first and third base and Roach will play outfield. “Harry has set himself apart to be our primary catcher, but he is a multi-faceted player who can play many positions as well,” said Porcella. “Tyler is a power hitter and is just one of many 12-yearolds, Giovanni as well, who can Peabody hoop school registration open The Peabody Basketball School will run two weeks of clinics this summer. Each week-long program offers offensive and defensive instruction, five-on-five games and competitions. PBS teaches skills and drills that players can use on their own, while offering a fun and exciting experience. The fundamentals of the game are stressed, showing players how to improve their skill level. The School is run by Peabody SPORTS BRIEFS hit the ball out of the park, and Jeffrey is a solid outfielder who we want to continue to develop there where he was really done so well.” When he isn’t pitching, Guglielmo will play first base along with utility player Mike Porcella, Fawcett and Villano also in the mix, while Sammy Oliveri, Christian Federico and 11-year-old Thomas Fabbo are in the mix at second base. Fisher will start at shortstop when not on the mound, with Fabbo also in the mix. West is stacked at third base, with Fawcett, Geissler, and 11-year-old Josh Scali in the mix. In addition to Roach, Dooley and Federico are in the outfield mix. “We are still competing for positions, but we have had some great practices,” said Porcella. “Zach is hitting the ball and Thomas and Harry have been lighting up the scoreboard as well. The 11-year-old group has done well and may be role players, coming in off the bench at times when needed, but it’s still early and anyone of the players on this team is still competing for a position.” Porcella said the team had speed in the middle of the infield and the outfielders are quick. “We are slower at the corners with some of the bigger kids, but that’s where the utility kids, the role kids will give us some balance,” he said. West will open the tournament Tuesday, June 27 at Pine Hill (5:45 p.m.). Porcella said he expects Saugus American to be strong and also is curious about the “other” Little League in town. “It’s going to be interesting to see how they play out now that they are down to just the one team,” said Porcella. “I have to think that will be stronger and deeper in past years, so I expect they will be competitive as well. “In the end, all we want is have kids who want to play, kids who show up early to practice, kids who when it’s 90 degrees on July 15, still will be at the baseball field ready to play. We picked players we know want to play, who want to listen and respond to their coaches, and what we got was a group with a great attitude and a high baseball IQ.” Jeff Roach and Rob Fisher will serve as assistant coaches. High School boys varsity basketball coach Thad Broughton. Space is limited, so early registration is advised. The clinic is at Higgins Middle School July 10- July 14 and/or July 31- August 4 (sign up for one week of two). Boys entering third through ninth grades are eligible. Times are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday-Friday and the cost is $125 a week. To register, contact the Peabody Recreation Department (Ann Gray) online at www.peabodyrecreation.com, by phone at 978-536- 7130, or in person at 50 Farm Ave.
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