Dorchester Baseball’s 12-and-under All-Star boys’ team had a great summer-ending week in Cooperstown, NY, last month playing in a tournament while enjoying off-the-field time, thanks to the generous support of neighbors and businesses that put $26,000 in the pot to fund the trip.
‘We won three games and lost three games” during the tourney held in the shadow of Baseball’s Hall of Fame, said Brianne Gore, whose son plays on the team. She called the fact of the trip a big win for the neighborhood.
“It was an incredible experience from the second we arrived until the last minute we left,” said Gore. “The whole experience was a 20 out of 10; it was dynamite. It blew all of our expectations.”
The team was able to roll up to the village in pro-baseball style – a yellow Yankee bus donated by state Sen. Nick Collins. From trading pins to competing in the most spirited competition, the squad of 15 players brought Boston’s energy to the famed Hall complex.
“It was awesome,” Gore told the Reporter. “We never got blown out; it was all close scores, and the competition level was exactly where we are.”
She added: “More than one umpire told us that we were one of the most respectful teams they had. We showed a ton of teamwork to both our own players and the other players.”
The boys and families loved being a part of the “huge community of baseball players,” and are already looking forward to next year’s team returning.
“Next year we will come back even stronger,” said Gore. “We’re hoping that we can solidify a team this fall, and families can start preparing and raising money from the fall all the way to August.”
–CASSIDY MCNEELEY
