Friday, June 28, 2024

Casserly brother-sister athletes savor state championship weekend

By Matt Pascarella

Windham residents and Saint Dominic’s senior Tommy Casserly and North Yarmouth Academy (NYA) sophomore Cami Casserly each had a stellar weekend on Saturday, June 15. The siblings played respectively in Class D state baseball and softball championships at the University of Southern Maine in Gorham where both teams were victorious.

North Yarmouth Academy
sophomore and Windham
resident Cami Casserly, left,
and Saint Dominic's senior
Tommy Casserly gather after
the Class D South Regionals
on Tuesday, June 11 at Saint
Joseph's College. Both Cami's
softball team and Tommy's
baseball team would each win
their respective state
championships.
PHOTO BY
MELISSA CASSERLY  
Tommy Casserly won his third straight baseball state championship with Saint Dominic’s 9-1 victory in the title game over Millinocket’s Stearns High School. On the same day Cami Casserly helped NYA win its second straight championship with a 2-1 win over Penobscot Valley. Tommy Casserly doubled in the third inning and drove in two runs in the championship baseball game while Cami Casserly singled in the sixth inning and brought in the tiebreaking run in the softball championship game.

“This was my last season in high school sports, and I wanted it to be memorable,” said Tommy Casserly. “Not only did we win the third state championship, but I also managed to have the best few games of my life leading up to that game. I kept playing to the best of my ability and I’m proud of how I did. I’m glad that my high school career ended on a such a high.”

Both Tommy and Cami Casserly began playing sports when they were in elementary school in the Windham Little League.

Tommy Casserly says having fun was the most important part for him and he is glad to have had the opportunity to bat and play in the field with friends, and that’s why he loves the game. Cami Casserly watched her two older brothers who were her role models and they got her interested in playing softball. She says that some of her best friendships have come from softball.

“It was a great feeling,” said Cami Casserly about winning the state championship. “I am really proud of my team, a lot of us are hockey players, not softball players, so to show that NYA softball can win two state championships is a great feeling to bring to our school.”

Saint Dominic’s baseball team ended the season 18-2.

“The thing we don’t have that most teams we face do is a weakness,” said Tommy Casserly. “Everyone on our team can hit the ball and everyone can field, it never matters who’s up to bat because we know that if we’re playing our game then we will get on base and we will score. I think we’re good at handling the pressure of a state championship and we knew that if we played our best, we’d win the game.”

NYA’s softball team finished with a record of 19-1.

“I think we have strong leaders in are senior captains,” said Cami Casserly. “They are great at keeping our team focused and on task. Honestly, with our great pitcher Lily, and our solid batting lineup all around, we are pretty good competitors in the high school league, especially in Class D.”

According to Tommy Casserly, knowing his sister won her second state championship was awesome, and when he learned how well she played in the title game, it made it much better for him. He’s proud of the way she played and knows she’s an amazing athlete who can only improve as time goes on.

Next year, Tommy Casserly will attend Nichols College in Massachusetts where he plans to major in communications and play club hockey.

Cami Casserly got the chance to watch her brother play in the state championship game.

“I got to watch most of his game before I had to warmup,” said Cami Casserly. “Some of my teammates and I snuck away during some downtime and got to watch the final out when he became a state champion for the third time. I was very proud of him and was happy because I knew how important this game was for him as a senior. I think it shows we both are good athletes and hard workers. And we have been lucky to be on talented teams with great coaches.”

Cami Casserly says she’s excited to be able to play two more years of high school softball.

“I am very grateful they each had such talented and positive teams to play on,” said Tommy and Cami’s mother, Melissa Casserly. “Both Tommy and Cami are great teammates, and great athletes. They love sports for the thrill of competing, but also the friendships they have made. Cami is competitive and able to remain calm when the game is on the line. Tommy is competitive and can remain calm under pressure. He is a good leader, encouraging his team to keep fighting.” <

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