Windham Little League baseball and softball off to great start in season openers

By Matt Pascarella

Windham Little League launched its 2023 season with opening day ceremonies for majors and minors divisions and ceremonies for coach pitch and T-ball divisions at Ciccerone Field at Lowell Farm in Windham on Saturday, April 29.

Windham Little League baseball fifth grader Kyle Kunath of
RaveX makes a throw to the infield at Ciccerone Field at
Lowell Farm in Windham on opening day in a game against
CR Tandberg on Saturday, April 29.
PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA  

Majors Division baseball teams CR Tandberg and RaveX were the first to play. Each team did well, but CR Tandberg posted a 15-1 win. In Majors Division softball, Windham Rental and Bill Diamond played a close game, but Bill Diamond edged ahead for a 10-9 victory.

Majors Baseball

CR Tandberg sixth grader Ryan Manning crushed a line drive in the first inning and reached second base. Sixth grader Sullivan Nappi singled and Manning scored.

Nappi’s pitching played a part in CR Tandberg’s win.

In the second inning, fourth grader Cody Devoid singled; sixth grader Brady Legere singled. Manning singled and Devoid and Legere scored. After a walk, sixth grader Joey Small reached first base; Manning scored. Fifth grader Wyatt Miller walked; Nappi scored and CR Tandberg led, 5-0.

RaveX fourth grader Wesson LeDuc knocked a solid ground ball to the shortstop and reached first base.

In the bottom of the third inning, RaveX sixth grader Cody Ruth singled. He stole his way around the bases and scored to prevent a shutout.

In the fifth inning, fifth grader Nolan Harvie doubled and brought home Nappi and Small. A series of hits brought in five runs for CR Tandberg.

RaveX’s fifth grader Troy Utterson singled. Ruth singled. Unfortunately, they were left on base.

“We had a good game with some positives and some things that we need to work on,” said RaveX coach Ralph Gallagher.

Gallagher said that with limited practices, they had a lot of younger guys make some good plays. He looks forward to the improvements to come and to watch the kids grow during the season.

CR Tandberg’s Nappi said it felt good to get the win. The win was a result of getting the bat on the ball, staying back on pitches, and having good heads-up baserunning. Everyone on their team contributed.

“I think a lot of things that the kids have been working on paid off today,” said CR Tandberg coach Mike Manning. “Getting down on ground balls, being aggressive at the plate, backing each other up and running the bases hard. The kids did what we practiced and all of it showed up today; I’m proud of them.”

Majors Softball

Bill Diamond Fifth grader Julia Call walked and later scored in the first inning when seventh grader Evelyn Robinson reached first base. Robinson stole home. Sixth grader Niyah Cummings walked and also stole home after fifth grader Acadia Vingers Sirous walked.

In the top of the second, Windham Rental fourth grader Ava Kostopoulos walked. Sixth grader Peyton McLean singled, fifth grader Avery Hawkins singled. After a ground out, Kostopoulos scored.

In the third inning, Windham Rental fourth grader Madison Kennedy was hit by a pitch, then sixth grader Audrey Libby walked. Sixth grader Courtney Cotter walked. Kennedy scored after sixth grader Layla Pinto was hit by a pitch. Libby scored on a wild pitch; Cotter scored on a passed ball. Seventh grader Eliana ‘Yani’ Kostopoulos singled and Pinto scored. Windham Rental led 5-3.

Bill Diamond fifth grader Madelyn Royer scored on a passed ball after she singled.

In the fifth inning, Windham Rental’s Libby walked and scored on a passed ball. The game was tied, 8-8.

Bill Diamond’s Royer was hit by a pitch and sixth grader Ella Muehle walked. Royer scored when sixth grader Gianna Lane reached first base. Bill Diamond led by one run.

In the sixth inning, McLean and Hawkins walked. Legere singled and McLean tied the game, 9-9.

Bill Diamond’s Robinson walked. She stole her way around the diamond and eventually scored the game-winning run.

Robinson said hitting the ball, sliding and base-stealing contributed to the win; she thought the team did really well in its first game.

Bill Diamond coach Mark York said this was their first game using strategic baserunning. York said the team’s baserunning and playing within their positions went well. They kept their heads up and were patient.

“We either win or we learn and either way we’re going to learn,” Windham Rental coach Gina Kostopoulos. “It’s a good inner-city challenge and I’m proud of them ... it was a good learning experience.”<

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.” <