by Matt LeLacheur

If you, your parents or grandparents grew up here, you know what it means to be from Lowell.

We’re proud and tough. Nothing gets handed to us and we always get back up when we get knocked down.

If that description of what it means to be a Lowellian makes your heart fill with pride, roll your shoulders back and stand tall, then the 12U Lowell baseball team is your team.

No it’s Our Team!

Our boys took the field in Dover, NH Friday night needing only to vanquish our New England neighbors to the south from Brookfield, CT, to make history. No Lowell team has ever won a New England Regional title and made our city the envy of every baseball player from Bangor to Bridgeport and everywhere in between.

From the start, Lowell’s toughness was on display. After a misplay in the field led to a runner reaching 3rd in the top of the first, starter Zahir Rodriguez induced a routine fly ball to center fielder James Kane to end the threat

Things remained scoreless until the bottom of the second when the Mill City 9 struck first.

Sean Drinkwater lined a one out single to right. He then stole second and third, and scored the games first run on a ground out by Lucas Ros.

But as I said, nothing gets handed to us in Lowell and Brookfield didn’t get to this game without its own mix of talent and toughness.

The Bolts flipped the game on its head in the top of the third, scoring five runs on three hits to take the lead, 5-1. The biggest blow in the inning was a grand slam to left field. Zahir Rodriguez was about to settle down and complete the inning without allowing any further damage.

Now here is where we anyone with Lowell roots gets to puff out their chests and claim these amazing kids as one of us!

Showing true Lowell toughness, the boys immediately fought back and scored 3 runs in the bottom of the third. The inning started with James Kane drawing a walk, followed by a double to right center off the bat of Zahir Rodriguez making the score 5-2.  After Zahir stole third, Junior Ventura singled to right making the score 5-3. A few batter latter, Junior scored on a perfectly executed squeeze bunt by Tommy Florence bringing the score to 5-4.

Jacob Marion was brought on in the 4th and shut Brookfield down 1-2-3.

Lowell jumped back into the lead in the bottom of the inning. Lucas Ros lead off with a single, stole second and scored on a Cooper Parent double down the left field line.  Ryder Sweet followed with a double to right putting runners in 2nd and 3rd. James Kane then singled to center giving Lowell back the lead at 6-5.  A few batters later, Jacob Marion singled down the right field line, pushing the lead to 7-5.

Lowell padded the lead in the 5th after Lucas Ros walked and Ryder Swett singled to left, James Kane came through with a clutch single to right scoring both runners. Ryder Swett pulled off one of the most acrobatic slides into home to plate to score the 9th run. After Zahir Rodriguez was intentionally walked, Junior Ventura grounded a single to left scoring Lowell’s final run.

Any hopes of a Brookfield rally was thwarted when Ryder Swett and Sean Drinkwater turned a beautiful double play, followed by Jacob Marion nailing down the win with a strikeout.

Lowell amassed 13 hits in the game. Ryder Swett, the game MVP, led Lowell with three hits in four at bats from the leadoff position.

James Kane powered the team with three runs batted in. The center fielder went 2-for-2 on the day.

Junior Ventura and Cooper Parent each collected multiple hits as well. Lowell had a strong eye at the plate, tallying seven walks for the game. Jacob, James, and Zahir led the team with two bases on balls each.

James, Zahir, and Junior each stole multiple bases for as well.  The boys ran wild on the base paths, amassing nine stolen bases for the game.

The boys on the field were not the only ones to make Lowell proud.

Head Coach Bill Florence and his assistants Pat Swett, Tom Zahareas and Steve Kane deserve special recognition for the way they molded and shaped these boys into not only great players but amazing representatives of the City of Lowell.

Now the boys are on to Missouri for the Cal Ripken National Championship starting on Aug 5th. Keep your eyes peeled for upcoming ways to show your support for this truly special group of players, coaches and families.

GO LOWELL!