Babe Ruth Prep Champs

Winchester Dodgers Win Babe Ruth Prep Title

The Winchester Dodgers capped off a terrific season with a 10-game winning streak that culminated in a 14-3 victory over the Belmont Indians in the championship round of the Minuteman Babe Ruth Prep Division title last Saturday at Belmont High School. Dodgers’ coach Dan Carson said, "When we first got together on a cold, rainy April day we knew we had a good group, we just didnąt know weąd become a championship group!"

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The Dodgers entered the playoffs with a 9-3 record that was good enough for a¬ 3rd place place finish in the 10-team league. From there, the Dodgers swept all four playoff games to take the title.

In the opening round, the Dodgers defeated the Winchester Orioles 12-0. Derick DiVincenzo and Jack Grassey combined on the mound for the shutout and were aided by some great defensive plays from Ryan Murphy, Rob Johnston, and Conor Lucey. In addition, Scott Carson had a bases-clearing triple while Stephen Goodwin, Russell Carter, Quinn Gregory and Brian Reid each scored two runs to pace the offensive attack.

In the second round, the Dodgers defeated a formidable opponent, the #2 seeded Belmont Red Sox, by a score of 6-4. Combining for nine strikeouts, Dodgers’ pitchers Carson (4 innings), Murphy (2 innings) and DiVincenzo held off the tough Sox. DiVincenzo recorded final two game-saving outs with the bases loaded. The Dodgers’ hits were delivered by Will Lehrer (double, RBI), Johnston (2 hits, RBI), Carson (3 hits, RBI), Murphy (single, RBI), Lucey (single, RBI), and Alex LaViolette (single, RBI). Grassey and Gregory scored the tying and go-ahead runs in the 4th inning and stellar defense by shortstop Goodwin, centerfielder Carter and 1st baseman Brian Reid helped clinch the victory.

Next up, on a steamy 90 degree evening, the Dodgers batters thundered out a 14-10 victory over the Belmont Indians 14-10. DiVincenzo and Grassey each pitched three strong innings for the Dodgers, and Murphy held off the Indians’ seventh inning surge. The Dodgers reached base 12 times via walks and also received clutch hits from Gregory, Carson and Lehrer (each with singles), Lucey and Reid (doubles), and Laviolette, who hit a long triple to right centerfield in the seventh. On defense, Dodgers’ rightfielder Johnston made two critical catches and prevented the Indians from scoring when it mattered most.

Four days later the Dodgers once again faced the Belmont Indians, this time for the championship. On the mound for the Dodgers, Carson pitched seven flawless innings en route to a 14-3 win. The tall right hander did not walk a single batter and the Dodgers’ defense made no errors behind him. The Dodgers came out firing, scoring five runs in the first inning (Goodwin, Johnston, Murphy, DiVincenzo, and Grassey). Refusing to let up the intensity, Lucey and Gregory delivered big hits with bases loaded in the 4th to pad the lead. Also contributing to the 14-3 victory with great defensive plays were Reid, first baseman Lavoilette, catcher Lehrer and third baseman Brian Mullin.

Coach Carson remarked, "Each player brought a unique presence to the team, and it was fun watching them come together to become a true team and celebrate their shared victory as champions."