Regional Tournament

Winchester 11�s Set to Host Cal Ripken Regional Tournament

By Jean Yih Kingston

Special to the Star

There�s nothing better than baseball on a New England summer night - diving plays, enthusiastic crowds, lawn chairs, hotdogs, popcorn, fireflies, slushies, sunflower seeds, bubble gum, the sunset at dusk and good friends together on a field. Baseball memories from the dog days of summer often linger for a lifetime. Sachem Youth Baseball / Softball takes great pride in helping to create these wonderful baseball memories for our kids and others from around the country. In August of last year, Nutile Field in Winchester was transformed into a field of dreams as ten teams of 12 year-old boys from as far as California competed for the Cal Ripken World Series Trophy. We had pre-game competitions, a dinner banquet, an Opening Ceremony with musicians and a light show, parking shuttles from Mahoney?s to the fields, and a wide variety of food, snacks and drinks.

Please become a part of this great tournament by choosing to volunteer time. Login to mySYBS and choose the volunteer area and the times and activities that best suit you.

From August 6-12, 2010 our town will host the top eight 11 year-old teams in the New England (Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island) for the Cal Ripken New England Regional Tournament. Nutile Field will swell with the exuberance of over one hundred 11-year old baseball players vying for the coveted championship trophy. The preparations for this tournament are quite similar to those of last year�s World Series with a cadre of parent volunteers handling everything from safety, publicity, parking, fundraising, food, entertainment and more.

And the man behind the scenes who makes it all possible is Winchester�s own, Bob Nutile, President of Sachems Youth Baseball and Softball (SYBS), who has put Winchester baseball and softball on the map by bringing a series of big events here.

"We are truly honored to be selected to be the host site for this event," he says. "This is Winchester�s 4th Regional Tournament, as we�ve hosted before in �04, �05 and �07. I try and get at least one major event for each age group."

As hosts, Winchester�s own 11 year-old summer baseball team is preparing for the upcoming competition. Currently the team is playing surrounding towns in the Bay State League. Many members have been playing ball together for years and are friends on and off the field. Just last summer the team won the District Championship in a 10-inning nail-biter in Arlington (even getting out of a bases loaded, no-out jam). The ensuing ecstatic pig pile was a memory that will last.

Gregg Fuccillo, Dana Marrocco, Rich Toelke, Rusty Sullivan and newcomer Marco Marignoli make up the team�s superb and experienced coaching staff. They have worked closely together over the years, many having followed this group of boys since they were merely eight. Together, they have just the right combination of serious skill, technique building, and fun.

When some members of the team were asked what they love about baseball, Nick Cantalupa said, "The pride you get when you get a good hit," while Philip Marks added, "Being on the team with friends and making great plays." For Ramsey Sullivan and Richie Toelke, "It�s fun." While Zach Geddes summed it up with, "Playing ball with friends is fun, so that�s the best thing."