Windham Under-12 baseball All-Stars fall short against Gorham

By Matt Pascarella

Coming off back-to-back wins against Yarmouth and Portland Little Leagues, Windham’s Under-12 All-Star team went head-to-head with Gorham’s Under-12 All-Stars in an elimination game during the two-game elimination District 6 Tournament at the Westbrook Little League Complex on Wednesday, July 1.

Windham seventh grader Elijah Sun receives congratulations
after making it to first base in a District 6 Under-12 All-Star 
baseball game against Gorham at Westbrook Little League
Complex on Wednesday, July 1.
PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA 

Both teams were scoreless for three complete innings, but Gorham scored two runs in the fourth inning and Windham answered in the fifth inning when they put one run on the scoreboard. Windham worked hard but couldn’t overcome the Rams and lost, 2-1.

“We were ready but didn’t get the outcome we wanted,” said Windham seventh grader Tanner Pulkkinen. “I’m proud of my team, we tried our very best to beat these guys; we knew they were good. Hitting and fielding went well. This season meant a lot, and it was really fun because we were a good team.”

The third inning showcased Windham’s defense as it shut down Gorham with one out and two runners on base. The ball was hit to Windham second baseman and sixth grader Roman Eaton, who got the runner out and then made the throw in time to first baseman Pulkkinen for a double play.

In the fourth inning, Windham seventh grader Charlie Moore walked. A sacrifice bunt from Pulkkinen moved Moore to second base. Windham fifth grader Benson Duffy singled and then made it to second base with Moore on third base. Unfortunately, the inning ended with Windham runners on base.

After Gorham put two runs on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth inning, Windham showed they were still in the game during the next inning.

Windham seventh grader Elijah Sun walked in the fifth inning. Seventh grader Charlie Sanicola singled. With a bunt, Pulkkinen got on base; and the bases were loaded. Seventh grader Jackson Desmond singled and Sun scored. With Windham runners on second base and third base though, a strikeout ended the inning.

“Don’t throw anything down the middle; throw a lot of curveballs,” said Sun in discussing how he approached the game. Sun pitched five innings with six strikeouts and just one walk. “Our defense was pretty good, pitching, hitting was good. A little more defense and offense and getting more hits might have flipped the score. This season meant a lot, it meant playing for my town, the practices, the games, the atmosphere all made it fun.”

Windham’s defense held off Gorham in the fifth inning but couldn’t tie the game in the top of the sixth inning.

“Baseball’s probably one of the greatest sports for anybody,” said Windham Little League All-Star Under-12 baseball coach David Moore. “It teaches you how to handle adversity; we preached the importance of adversity – get knocked down three times get up four; recognizing it, dealing with, overcoming it. They learned that hard work does pay off. We certainly didn’t get beat at the plate or in the field. One or two more balls fall in our direction and it’s a different game. Young men pitching through adversity, it was hot, Elijah went out there and kept us in the game. It was an honor, I’ve had a lot of these kids since they were 5 or 6 years old, it’s kind of full circle, these boys aren’t done yet. Windham baseball is on the map. Other towns know who we are.” <