Medford Babe Ruth All-Stars Win Championship

15-year-old Babe Ruth All-Stars Eastern Mass District 3 Champs

Bottom row, left to right: Connor Flynn (OF), Mark Fusco (C/OF), Nick Rocco (C/2B), John Lavoie (P/SS), Mike Koury (OF). Back row, left to right: Jim Hayes (Manager), Lou Rocco (coach), Jacob Scannell (OF), Jarrid Digangi (2B), Chris Hayes (P/1B,OF), Nick Tortora (3B), John Leblanc (P/1B/3B), Ryan Shea-Doyle (1B), Mike Pizzi (2B/3B/SS/OF), Jim Flynn (coach). Not Pictured: Jeremy Breen (OF). Courtesy photo.

The Medford Babe Ruth 15-year-old All-Stars swept their way through the District tournament to move onto the 2010 Babe Ruth State Tournament. The district tournament featured teams from Medford, Malden, Everett, Arlington and Newton in a double elimination format.

In its first game, Medford traveled to Newton for a night game and came away with an 8 to 3 win. Medford led the whole game, jumping on the Newton squad for three runs in the top of the first. John Leblanc pitched the distance, allowing only two runs on four hits, with six strikeouts. Offensively, he had a double, a triple, three RBI’s and two runs scored. Mike Pizzi helped Leblanc’s cause with two hits, an RBI and three runs scored. Ryan Shea-Doyle contribute a triple and single.

Medford’s defensive execution was excellent throughout and featured a highlight play in the last inning. With two outs and a runner on first, Newton’s Weigner laced one to deep right-center. But centerfielder Mike Koury fired the ball back to cutoff man Nick Rocco, who lasered his relay throw to Pizzi, tagging out Weigner two steps before he reached the bag to end the game.

For the second game, Medford traveled to Malden and prevailed under the lights with a 6 to 3 victory. Medford again led the whole game as John Lavoie went the distance, allowing just 3 runs and five hits while racking up ten strikeouts and issuing no walks. Medford again jumped out early with four runs in the first with a key hit from Rocco with two outs and bases loaded. Rocco also had a run scored and hit in the fourth for two more runs along with Lavoie’s two hits. Shea-Doyle and Pizzi also contributed key hits for Medford.

Game three was a re-match against Malden, who had emerged from the loser’s bracket. The game was held at Hickey Park in Medford on July 12. Medford came away with a 10-3 win and took home the Eastern Mass District 3 title. Medford again led the whole game. Medford got a solid five inning pitching performance from Chris Hayes, who allowed just three runs on six hits with five strikeouts. Leblanc earned the save with two scoreless innings of relief work, limiting Malden to just two hits while striking out five. Both teams were held in check offensively until the third inning when Medford put up five runs led by the hitting of LeBlanc, Hayes, Mark Fusco and Mike Koury. Medford had another rally in the sixth with four more runs with a hit parade from Lavoie, Leblanc and Koury. Koury ended the night having a home run, a triple, a walk and three runs scored. Defensively Rocco threw out three runners attempting to steal.

Medford will travel to Plymouth to participate in the state tournament which begins on July 24.

– Written by Coach Lou Rocco