The Lowell 11U Cal Ripken Baseball team is on a roll — and showing no signs of slowing down.

In a summer filled with heart, hustle, and heroics, the Lowell 11U squad has captured the Eastern Massachusetts State Championship, capping off a thrilling run that began with an undefeated district tournament and ended with an extra-inning victory in the state final. Next stop: the Cal Ripken New England Regional Tournament in New Canaan, Connecticut.

The Lowell 11 Cal Ripken Crew have grown together over the past several seasons working hard in the off seasons and summers. They are no strangers to the bright lights with a previous State Title in 2023 and a Baystate Championship last summer. This year’s squad is made up of Ryan McDonough, Ryder Swett, Junior Ventura, Victor Bellerose, Kal Eang, Sean Drinkwater, Lucas Ros, Zahir Rodriguez, Jacob Marion, James Kane, Harry Zahareas, and Thomas Florence. 

Their postseason journey began with dominance in District play. The team went a perfect 3-0 in pool play, showcasing their depth and balance in every aspect of the game. The District Championship Game was a true test of grit and nerves, as Lowell edged out a tough Tewksbury squad in a tense 1-0 nail-biter. Behind masterful pitching of Sean Drinkwater (5.2 innings/0 runs/4ks), Ryder Swett (0 hits/save) and flawless defense, they earned the district crown and punched their ticket to the state tournament in Easton, MA.

The road in Easton wasn’t always smooth, but Lowell showed resilience. Pool play brought its challenges, with the team finishing 2-2. Still, thanks to their strong defense and attention to detail, Lowell secured a No. 2 seed heading into the semifinals — setting the stage for a showdown with defending state champions Dennis-Yarmouth.

In the semifinal, Lowell dug deep. The game was a hard-fought battle from start to finish, but timely hitting and a gritty mound performance led Lowell to a 6-4 win, knocking off the reigning champs and securing their spot in the title game. Sean Drinkwater led the way on the mound with Junior Ventura securing the win in relief. Strong defensive performances were put on by Jacob Marion and Lucas Ros. Offensively Ryder Swett scored two runs, Kal Eang scored a critical run in a pinch running effort, Zahir Rodriguez, James Kane, Luca Ros and Thomas Florence each had a hit and an RBI, and Harry Zahareas added a base hit in the effort. 

The State Championship Final against Franklin turned out to be an instant classic. With the stakes at their highest and the crowd on the edge of their seats, Lowell battled into extra innings by tying the game with two outs in the top of the 6th inning thanks to heads up baserunning by James Kane and Zahir Rodriguez. In the bottom of the frame, Franklin lined a base hit to right field and attempted to score the runner from second base. James “Clutch” Kane fired a strike to the plate gunning the runner down for the third out to secure extra frames. Then came the breakthrough. A massive rally in the top of the extra frame gave Lowell a commanding 10-3 lead. (Marion 1 hit/1 run, Swett 1 hit/2 runs/1 RBI, Rodriguez 3 hits/3 runs/3 RBI, Florence 1 hit/1run/1 RBI, Zahareas 2 hits/1 run/1 RBI, and Ros 2 hits/1 run) The defense slammed the door shut in the bottom half to seal the victory — and the state championship.

The Lowell 11U team just never quit. They were tested in every way, and each time they answered the call. They should be proud of how they represent their team and play for each other. From dominant district play to gritty state-level resilience, the Lowell 11U team has captured hearts as much as hardware. Every player has stepped up, whether through clutch hits, lockdown defense, or fiery leadership.

These boys believe in each other. That belief carried them through tough moments, and now they’ve earned the chance to represent Massachusetts at Regionals.

With momentum on their side and confidence at an all-time high, the Lowell 11U Cal Ripken team will now take on the best in New England at the Regional Tournament in New Canaan, CT next week.

Go Lowell! Keep rolling!

A heartfelt thank you to Coach Bill Florence for putting together this wonderful article and to Greg Marion for supplying such great photos. And an even bigger thank you to all the coaches, parents and families for your enthusiastic and loving support of our 11U players — and all of the Lowell district teams!