Little League 9–10 baseball All-Stars hold off Bonny Eagle

Windham 9-10 All-Star Jackson Zinchuk gets a good swing at
the ball, driving it to the outfield during a Little League
baseball All-Star tournament game against Bonny Eagle at
Ciccerone Field at Lowell Farm on Tuesday, June 28.
PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA  

By Matt Pascarella 

The Windham Little League baseball 9–10-year-old All-Stars defeated the Bonny Eagle Scots 15-13 at Ciccerone Field at Lowell Farm in Windham during the All-Star tournament.

Windham took control of the game in the second inning when they knocked in five runs to lead Bonny Eagle 6-1. From that point on, these Windham All-Stars scored multiple runs to widen the gap between them and the Scots.

Bonny Eagle wasn’t far behind Windham and may have caught them had it not been for Windham’s top-notch defense and pitching.

“We executed everything that they went over in practice for the last two weeks,” said Windham 9-10-year-old Little League All-Stars baseball coach Stephen DePaolo II. “We made a lot of mistakes first game; we didn’t make those mistakes today. We hit well, we helped each other out, we were talking in the field. Awesome effort by them all.”

Bonny Eagle scored a run in the first inning.

Windham fourth-grader Steven Depaolo III singled and stole his way around the diamond to tie up the game in the first inning.

Fourth-grader Joseph Small later singled.

“It’s a first win ... I feel like we did a really good job,” said Small. “Pitching, fielding and hitting all went well.”

Small said they are going to try their best to win a lot more games.

In the bottom of the second inning, Windham fourth-grader Robbie Sanicola doubled. Third-grader Nolan Works singled; Sanicola scored.

Windham third-grader Maxwell Inzerillo singled and brought in Works. Depaolo III singled and Inzerillo scored. Depaolo III stole home.

Windham fourth-grader Nolan Harvie walked. So did third-grader Colton Kalakowsky. Harvie scored.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, Windham led 10-7. After a walk, Windham third-grader Cody Devoid singled. Inzerillo singled and third-grader Jackson Zinchuk scored.

Harvie doubled and Devoid scored. Kalakowsky doubled and Inzerillo scored. Harvie later crossed the plate. Windham led 14-7.

With time almost up for the Scots, Bonny Eagle put four funs on the scoreboard in the top of the fifth inning.

Windham scored one more run in the bottom of the fifth inning when Sanicola singled and Zinchuk brought him home.

In the top of the sixth inning, Windham defense held down Bonny Eagle. Windham’s Inzerillo was on the mound and got the first strikeout after a single from the Scots. Another single and Bonny Eagle scored.

A ground out and the Eagles were one out away from a win. Bonny Eagle singled, and a run scored.

A pop-up to center field and DePaolo III is there with an open glove to make the catch.

Depaolo III said he was a little nervous going into the game but once he got his first hit those nerves went away. <

Windham Little League season opener reflects community support for baseball

Dairy Queen fifth-grader Cody Ruth slides across home plate
during a Windham Little League Opening Day game against
CR Tandberg on Saturday, April 30 at Ciccerone Field at
Lowell Farm in Windham.
PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA 

By Matt Pascarella

It’s officially baseball season and Saturday, April 30 began with an incredible showing of support for Windham Little League with many community members and a variety of teams who came to Ciccerone Field at Lowell Farm in Windham to celebrate opening day.

First to play were Majors Division teams CR Tandberg and Dairy Queen. Both teams played well, but in the end, CR Tandberg won 15-9.

Opening Day 2022 was extra special. The 2021 Windham Little League softball state champs were honored as the entire team was called to the field and wished good luck to all players as they continue their softball careers.

A new parking lot and road for umpire parking was recently added to the area around Ciccerone Field. This road will be called “Ciccerone Way” after Bill Ciccerone who works tirelessly to make sure Windham Little League has a nice field to play on.

Ciccerone is in his 22^nd year of maintaining this field. He started when his grandson was playing and after his grandson left, Ciccerone stayed.

“My payment is seeing the kids enjoy themselves on this field, having their names announced – they love it” said Ciccerone.

Ciccerone was also presented with two bats, one signed by Windham Little League baseball and one Windham Little League softball.

“It’s one huge honor and I thank them,” he said.

In the first inning, fifth-grader Brady Legere stole his way around the diamond and put CR Tandberg on the map.

CR Tandberg’s sixth-grader Ryder Lopes singled in the second inning. After six-grader Rocco DiDonato got on base, Lopes stole home.

Lopes said they all worked really hard which contributed to the win.

CR Tandberg sixth-grader Zach Gaudet walked in the third inning. Fifth-grader Ryan Manning doubled on a fly ball to left field; Gaudet scored. After two walks, Manning scored on a wild pitch. Lopes walked and the bases are loaded.

DiDonato walked and CR Tandberg led 5-0. Third-grader Cody Devoid walked and CR Tandberg scored.

But this game was far from over.

In the third inning, Dairy Queen sixth-grader Collin Lombard walked. Fifth-grader Troy Cunningham singled. Sixth-grader Jordan Tom walked, and Dairy Queen brought in two runs.

Dairy Queen Sixth-grader Jacob Burke hit a fly ball to center field and Tom scored. Burke scored after sixth-grader Beckett Bragnon got on base. It’s now 6-4, CR Tandberg.

The fourth inning brought a couple walks for CR Tandberg and a hit by Manning to drive in a run. CR Tandberg sixth-grader Chase Gagnon singled and fifth-grader Sullivan Nappi scored. Before the end of the inning, Manning crossed home plate.

Dairy Queen was not finished. After three walks in the fourth inning, sixth-grader Nick Wilden scored on a wild pitch and third-grader Jackson Zinchuk scored on a passed ball. Cunningham singled and Lombard scored; 9-7 CR Tandberg.

The fifth inning brought several runners across the plate for CR Tandberg.

Dairy Queen kept going; Burke and Bragnon both singled. Jacob scored. Bragnon scored.

“I think it was just a team effort,” said CR Tandberg coach Mike Manning. “We had a solid pitching performance behind Gaudet today. And for the most part, the team just played together. The kids are having fun, that’s the biggest part.” <