Double Play: Two Sets of Twins Dot Youth Team

Like any area youth baseball team, the majority of players on Ledyard's 9-and-under Cal Ripken All-Star squad are fans of the Red Sox or Yankees.

Upon closer inspection, however, maybe they should be fans of the Twins. And the affection has nothing to do with batting champion catcher Joe Mauer.

Ledyard, which begins U9 Ripken State Tournament play 10 a.m. today at host Bethel, features two sets of twins among its roster of 12: Brendan Thornton and Matt Thornton, and John Gebhard and Rich Gebhard.

The Thorntons and Gebhards were major contributors in Ledyard's 4-0 run in the District 6 tournament earlier this month. John Gebhard is the starting catcher and brother Rich an infielder and outfielder. Matt Thornton is a first baseman-pitcher and brother Brendan is an outfielder.

Since the 9-year-old level is the introduction to all-star tournaments, no team brought any experience or track record into post-season play. Needless to say, Ledyard's excellent debut has shown it is more than the team with "two sets of twins," although that in itself is a unique distinction.

"We're very fortunate to have two sets of identical twins," Ledyard coach Wayne Grim Jr. said. "Two families and four players."

The Thorntons, from Gales Ferry, and the Gebhards, from Ledyard, did not know each other until the players started T-ball three years ago. They soon realized they shared a bond other than being twins.

"The Gebhard boys were born June 15 and our sons were born a week later," said mother Dannette Thornton. "We also discovered each set of twins has an older sister in the same grade, four years older than the boys. The coincidences were an instant topic of conversation."

Ledyard featured a team effort in its District domination, including a four-pitcher one-hitter in the opener as Cade Walters, Riley Gagnon, Matt Thornton and Jake Sylvia shared the honors. Walters hurled a no-hitter in the final, a 10-0 win over Hebron.

Walters and Brayden Grim had three hits each in the opening 14-7 win over Preston. John Gebhard added two hits. Walters hit an inside-the-park homer and Grim collected two hits in a 4-1 win over Marlborough. Brendan Thornton and Nick Bailey had two hits each in a 12-4 win over Marlborough, a game in which the Thorntons and Gebhards combined to reach base eight times.

In the 10-0 final win over Hebron, Andrew Boudah, Grim and Brendan Thornton had two hits each and Matt Thornton had one.

Tim Thornton, Grim's assistant coach, was a former Ledyard athlete and his sons, two of the bigger kids on Ledyard, are following in his mold. Interestingly enough, though, the identical twins are not mirror images as players. Matt is left-handed and Brendan right-handed.

"I guess it's what they call the twin factor when one takes after the father and one after the mother," Dannette said. "My husband is a lefty and I'm right-handed."

If Ledyard wins its opener, it plays Sunday at 10 a.m. in the winner's bracket of the double-elimination event. If it loses, it plays Sunday at 4:30 p.m..

The six-team tourney continues until the championship on Wednesday.