It’s rare for one local team to qualify for a New England Tournament. It’s unheard of for two local teams to make it.
But that’s exactly what is taking place this weekend in Dedham, where the Greenfield and Frontier teams are each competing in the eight-team Cal Ripken 11U New England Regionals.
What makes the fact that locals make up 25 percent of the New England field is that the “West” District got two qualifiers, but the “West” essentially begins at I-495 and extends to the New York border. Greenfield cruised through the District qualifier and defeated Frontier in the finals, but both teams punched their ticket to New Englands.
“I don’t know if it’s ever happened where two local teams each qualified,” Greenfield coach Aaron Campbell said.
Greenfield did not lose during the District qualifier and Campbell said the team is excited for the opportunity to go after the New England title.
“It’s a great experience for all these kids and it’s something they will always remember,” he said.
Greenfield opens up this morning at 9:15 a.m. against Washington Park, R.I. Greenfield is also in the American Pool with Arlington and Dedham.
Frontier only lost to Greenfield during the District tournament. Coach Jonathan Edwards said that what makes his team unique is the fact that it is not carried by one or two elite players.
“We don’t really have any players who stand out above all else, but we also don’t have any holes,” he said. “We have 12 solid baseball players.”
Frontier is in the National Pool and opens play today at 12:15 against Dracut. Marshwood, Maine and Dover, N.H. are also in the pool.
One of the unique things about Frontier is the fact that it has a girl on the team in Margaret Edwards, who is the starting first baseman. As for the rest of the Frontier team, it consists of James Lavallee, Thomas Unkles, Harry Laflamme, CJ Hannum, Owen Babb, Michael Hoie, Brayden McDonough, Dylan Camp, Aidan Heffernan, Sam Whitney and Kaden James.
The Greenfield team is made up of Braeden Tsipenyuk, Gabe Tomasi, Hugh Cyhowski, Heath Gomez, Cameron Burnett, William Ainsworth, Brayden Thayer, Jacob Brook, Matthew Garvin, Ethan Quinn, Jackson Campbell, Deven Dubie and Silas Muzzy.
The top three teams in each four-team pool qualify for elimination play, which begins Monday. The top team in the pool gets a bye, while the No. 2 team from a pool plays the No. 3 team from the other pool on Monday. The winners of those two games advance to face the top two teams on Tuesday, and the two winners play in the championship game on Wednesday.