Top Orioles to be Wakefield’s best in Major Little League Baseball
Published in the July 15, 2015 edition
THE GIANTS captured the Town Series championship in the Majors division of Little League Baseball. Kneeling from left to right are Colin Olivieri, Cory Sample, Dan Mailhoit, Josh Collins, John Bennett and Joey O’Brien. The players standing from left to right are Joey Colliton, Brogan Chambers, Owen Michaud, Matt Juneau, John Summers and Josh Goc. The coaches from left to right are Rich Chambers, Brian Juneau, Chris Bennett and John Summers.
By JOSH COLLINS
(Josh Collins is a member of the championship Giants team and contributed this report)
WAKEFIELD — Twenty-four games, 144 innings, 232 runs and three months of baseball. That was what it took for Wakefield Little League’s Giants to win the Town Series in the Majors baseball division.
The Giants are a National league team with a coaching staff of head coach Brian Juneau, and assistant coaches John Summers Sr., Chris Bennett and Rich “Ritchie” Chambers.
The roster of this team included senior players John Summers, Matthew Juneau, Brogan Chambers, Josh Goc, Josh Collins and Cory Sample. As for players returning next year that includes John Bennett, Joey O’Brien, Owen Michaud, Joey “Wheels” Colliton, Dan Mailhoit and Colin Olivieri.
For the Giants, the season started playing American League teams such as the Blue Jays and Indians. The season started rough, losing to teams such as the Orioles and Blue Jays. It was at that point the coaches changed their points of view and told the team to work hard and play like we mean it. After that, the Giants beat many teams, one of which was a big 17-6 win against the Mets, ranked higher than them and undefeated at the time.
After playing the season to the best we could, the Giants finished 10-6, tied for third overall in the National League. The Giants then moved into the playoffs, with game 1 playing the Dodgers. In an important victory for the Giants, they threw the Dodgers into the loser’s bracket with a 15-4 victory. This victory put the team into round two, the winner’s bracket, playing the Mets.
Next they played the Mets, a team that the Giants both won and lost to during the regular season. In a tough game, with no one scoring until the fifth the Giants went into bottom of the sixth down 2-0. The Mets pitcher, low in remaining pitches was taken out and a new pitcher was the opportunity the Giants needed for a victory. After a great overall inning, the Giants won 4-2, going into third round undefeated.
Going into the third round was different. Playing a team that was nearly undefeated in the regular season and no losses in the playoffs, when teams played the Braves, it was usually a nail-biter.
The Giants, however, jumped on them early, jumping out to a 2-0 lead. In the next inning, they came out strong with the first of many dingers for Chambers. Later that game another home run was hit by Summers and Juneau. In possibly the most important game in making it to the finals, the Giants beat the Braves, 8-3.
Then the Giants played the Cardinals, who had one loss. The Giants lost game one in extra innings, which meant we they had to play the Cardinals again two days later. Going into that game whoever lost was out, and whoever won went to the finals. The Giants won 10-9 to advance to the finals.
Next were the finals, quite likely the best games of these players’ Little League careers. The Giants were matched up against the Orioles for the town championship. Game 1 was a tough loss, 5-4, as the Giants struggled to play their best and put effort into the game. In Game 2, the Giants got their game in check and played hard. They ended up winning 4-3.
Going into Saturday’s final game the Giants were ready to play ball. As coach Brian Juneau had said, “It was a race to 18 outs.” This game would decide who would win it all. This game started with the Giants taking a 6-0 lead in the first inning. This momentum continued throughout the game and in the sixth inning the score was 19-1. The Orioles were up last and if they did not come back, the game would be over. At this point the Giants finished off the game and won the series.
Overall, this was a memorable season for all of the players and coaches and this victory will last forever. All members of the Giants were able to contribute to this season at some point and while acting as a team, these players were able to pull off the big win.
