Red Sox over A's in title battle of Dixfield teams

A solid feeder system keys title run

by Bob McPhee

DIXFIELD -- A solid feeder system can not be taken for granted because it's important for young student-athletes to have an opportunity to be tested and the area little league baseball programs definitely provide a niche.

Any foundation begins with learning the basics and in athletics devouring the fundamentals early on in life will always be a positive in the development of any endeavor. The recently completed 2012 season allowed each participant to experience the eraction involved in team sports.

In the nine of the last 10 years of the little league championship, there have been two Dirigo based teams (includes Peru) in the finals. Dixfield Red Sox has won six, with Dixfield Nationals, Dixfield A's and Peru each winning once. Last season, two Rumford teams were in the finals. This year's Red Sox team, coached by Dana Whittemore, Derek Bryant and Matt Foreman, went undefeated through the regular season and won the championship in two games. As the number one seed in the playoffs, the Red Sox defeated number eight seed DARE 20-2 in a 10-run shortened game. In a semifinal game, they defeated Mexico team (#4 seed) by 5-1.

The pitching was solid, with ace Mason Coriveau winning the Mexico game and Chase Thebarge winning the game against DARE. In the best-of three finals, the Red Sox swept the Athletics by winning two games. A late rally propelled the Red Sox to the crown and the game was filled with excellent defense. Both teams executed double plays.

The Athletics had a great play on a ball hit to right fielder Cole Gordon, who played the ball on one hop, hit his cutoff man Noah Brown, who threw to catcher Nate Child, who tagged out a runner trying to score at home. Kyle Swett caught a line drive at short then tagged second to double up the runner. "We hit the ball well (finals), but unfortunately right at their defense," said A's coach Scott Holmes, who thanked the parents for all their help and support. "This has been a great year for the A’s. Lots of new faces on the team and a lot of improvement from the beginning of the year."

The A's have four players moving on to Babe Ruth; Cam Kidder, Tyler Morse, Swett and Brown. The Red Sox players moving on are Bryce Whittemore (catcher), Coriveau (starter), Ethan Bryant (2B), Dalton Berry (1B), Griffen Berry (CF), Trevor Wilson (LF), Ethyn Buotte (3B).

Red Sox returing are Dallas Berry (OF), Chase Thebarge (#2 starter), Mateo LaPointe (OF), Bryce Wilson (3B), Avery Bradeen (OF), Jeremy St Germaine (OF. A's returning are Child (Catcher), Cole Brown (2B), Jarrett "Big Mac" MacIssac (3B), Dylan Wright (OF), Matt Gagnon (INF), Cam Kidder (OF), Sam Holmes (INF), Chase Clark (Starting pitcher), Cole Gordon (OF) and Zack Bretton (OF). The A's coaches included Greg Clark, Ethen Child, Greg Morse and Isiah Brown. The team cupcake supplier was Jen Holmes.