By Dan Brosgol and Dave Venuti
On most weekday evenings this summer, the air is full of the sound of pinging bats and cheering fans, as the summer baseball and softball travel seasons are underway for Bedford kids ages 8-12. Baseball is fielding seven travel teams that are competing all over Eastern Massachusetts—five hardball teams for the boys and two softball teams for the girls.
The oldest travel baseball team in town for the younger kids this summer is the Baystate A team, also known as the “Dawgs,” which is playing in the Baystate Baseball Tournament of Champions. The team is made up of 11- and 12-year olds and is playing a grueling 18-game schedule over July and early August. After an up-and-down first round of games, the Dawgs have played better as of late and have ripped off three wins in the last four games of second round play, qualifying for the second round trophy weekend that takes place this Saturday and Sunday in Marblehead.
The team is comprised of five 12-year olds and six 11-year olds. The 12-year olds, led by the arm of left-handed pitcher Chris Venuti, include second-year shortstop Jared Whitby and pitchers Cam Fallon, Isaiah Hazelton and Gavin Doyle. The six 11-year olds, for whom this is their first year at the A level, are Matt Mulligan, Ara Changelian, Jimmy McGinn, Jackson Stuzynski, Declan Garrity and Jack Venuti. The Dawgs have competed against towns that are larger in size and teams with rosters of all 12-year olds, and have still managed to achieve success.
It will be a lovely drive up to the North Shore on Saturday afternoon as the Dawgs prepare to face either Natick or Lynnfield at 4:00 pm at Gatchell Field. Why not make a day of it and hit the beach in the morning, or just drive up to watch some quality baseball? The forecast looks great and the boys in blue will be looking to continue their winning ways.
Interested in getting the word out about your summer baseball, softball, or basketball team? Send The Citizen a message using the comment option for this story.
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