In a career of wins, Joe Vanelli remembers one loss well. It was the summer of 2011, and he was playing on a good Braintree American All-Star team that battled Andover National to the wire in the Little League state championship game before falling, 7-6. North Andover went on to the New England … [Read more...]
Coventry, R.I., rides semifinal rally into LLWS
They were down to their last three outs. A great summer looked to be over for the Little League All-Stars from Coventry, R.I., who had fallen behind Goffstown, N.H., 5-0, heading to the bottom of the sixth inning in their regional semifinal game in Bristol, Conn., last month. Coach Lou Simon … [Read more...]
Natural grass vs. artificial turf
Sport lends itself to debate more than baseball. Let pitchers hit? Move the runners over or play for a big inning? Give the batter a green light with a 3-0 count? Natural grass vs. artificial turf. As prep schools in the region continue to invest large amounts of money to replace or upgrade athletic … [Read more...]
Wellesley, Mass.
It’s been quite a decade on the diamonds in town — and beyond. One year after making an improbable run to its first Massachusetts Division 1 championship game, the baseball team at Wellesley High School has continued winning this spring. It owned a 10-4 record (5-2 Bay State Conference) in … [Read more...]
Max Cotier feels right at home at Canterbury
For many ballplayers, the transition to prep school presents adjustments that go well beyond the diamond. Getting to classes on time. Finding the right place to study and the best times to use the athletic facilities. Canterbury School shortstop Max Cotier had no such problems. He’s been living on … [Read more...]
Phillips Andover’s biggest fan
Through the kitchen window of his family’s campus house, Kevin Graber can look out over the diamond at Phillips Academy Andover, a visual reward given dozens of times daily for a man whose last four decades have been consumed — agreeably — by baseball. Behind the kitchen is a small dining room … [Read more...]
