After a summer of sweat, sun, and dirt-stained jerseys, the Dracut Districts 10U squad punched their ticket into the history books, clinching the Bay State Tournament of Champions 10U title for the first time in over three decades.

The road to the championship wasn’t smooth. The summer opened with a tough District Tournament that saw them fall just short of a regionals berth. But instead of folding, Dracut regrouped and set their sights on the Bay State Tournament—where 28 teams in the 10U division were all chasing the same banner.

They made noise early, taking home the gold in the first Trophy Weekend.  They qualified for the second Trophy Weekend, but suffered a tough loss to Reading Red.  Even with the loss, they were able to clinch their spot in the Tournament of Champions as the #5 seed.

Dracut lost their first round game to a strong Lawrence team they had previously split games with.  Dracut was able to fend off Chelmsford and Lowell in the loser’s bracket to force their way into the single-elimination semi-finals.

In the semi-finals, Dracut was once again paired up with Reading Red, the same team that ousted them from the second Trophy Weekend.  Dracut jumped out to a 7-0 lead, but the resilient Reading Red fought back and tied the game 9-9 heading into the last inning.  Dracut was able to push a run across in the top of the 6^th inning, and relied on their pitching to close the door, and punch their ticket to the championship game.

Waiting for Dracut were the defending champion team from South End, who knocked Dracut out of the Tournament of Champions the previous season.  South End got on the scoreboard first with a run in the bottom of the 3^rd inning.  Dracut responded with 3 runs in the top of the 4^th inning and would not relinquish the lead.  They added another run in the 5^th inning and held off a late surge by the South End team.

In a gritty 4–2 victory over powerhouse South End at Nutile Field in Winchester, Dracut didn’t just play to win—they out-grinded, out-hustled, and out-executed. Every pitch mattered. Every at-bat was a battle. And when the final out was recorded, the scoreboard didn’t just show a win—it marked the end of a campaign built on guts and grind.

The championship run was a true team effort where each and every player contributed in a key role during the 5-game stretch.  Leading the way for Dracut offensively were Keagan Casey, Patrick McCue, Keegan Halligan, Cam Arpin, and Lorenzo Vacirca.  Strong defensive plays were made all week, in key situations by Dom Saitta, Yaxhiel Feliciano, and Jake Gagnon.  The pitching staff kept some of the best offensive teams in the state at bay, led by Colin Lynch, Nolan Laurin, Brooks Fitzgerald, and Evan Mezzoni.  The theme of “12 Strong” was evident all summer long, and this team proved you can do amazing things when pulling for one another.

Dracut wrapped their summer slate with a 17-6-1 record. Those six losses? Call them lessons. Each one added fuel to the fire and sharpened their edge.

Up and down the lineup, bats came alive when it mattered most. Quality at-bats, timely hits, and smart base-running were the difference-makers. On defense, they were led by a strong pitching staff, with a stingy defense behind them.  All summer long, they flashed the leather – making tough plays look routine and turning surefire hits into outs.

In the stands, the Dracut faithful showed up in full force. Parents, siblings, grandparents—cheering loud and living the highs and lows with every swing. Kids chased foul balls, devoured concession stand candy, and danced to all of the walk-up songs playing at every field without fail.

The championship trophy is headed back to Dracut for the first time in 30+ years, but this season was more than hardware. It was a statement. Dracut baseball is back. And this 10U squad just laid the foundation for a program built on teamwork, hustle, and a whole lot of heart.

Thank you to Coaches John Casey, Brad Laurin and Andy Gagnon for putting this together – and congrats on your win! A shoutout to Kristen Laurin, too, for her help!