Arlington Baseball Team Headed to Cal Ripken World Series in Florida

Courtesy photo: Back row from left: Manager John Messuri, Coach Scott Jones, Spencer Friedman, James Santagati, Brendan Jones, Sam Theodore, Timothy Mazzei, Patrick Masci, Coach Rich Flynn. Front row from left: Timothy Shaw, Jacob Ahern, Caden FitzPatrick, Anthony Messuri, Brendan Flynn, David Gydus. Missing from photo: John Hourican, Jonathan Zak, Ryan Boyle.

Arlington’s National U12 All-Star Team will represent New England at the Cal Ripken World Series in Alachua, Florida, from Aug. 6-12.

The team (15-1) swept its District Tournament with a 4-0 record, won the Eastern Massachusetts State Championship with a 7-1 record and then rolled off four straight wins to capture the New England Regional Championship in Raynham and qualify for the World Series.

According to its coaches, the team’s success was the result of great teamwork, aggressive base running, outstanding pitching, which held opponents to two or fewer runs in eight of the games, solid defense, which played nearly errorless ball in the final 10 games, and a potent offense, which scored 10 or more runs in seven of the games.

“This is a fantastic group of players, parents and coaches,” Manager John Messuri said. “It’s always nice to have team success, which helps create a memorable experience.

“One of the things I am most proud of is that after winning the State Tournament in Tyngsboro and then the New England Regional Tournament, event organizers and opponents commented on our boys’ sportsmanship and respect for the game. It doesn’t get any better than that.”

The Regional Championship is Arlington’s first in six years.

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Fundraising efforts

The Arlington Youth Baseball and Softball Association is hoping to raise $60,000 to help offset travel and lodging for each family, according to AYBSA President Paul Carroll.

You can make tax-deductible donations online here, or send a check made payable to the “AYBSA” (mention the National U12 All-Stars in the memo line) to P.O. Box 246, Arlington, MA 02476. AYBSA’s tax-ID number is 26-2590814.

The team is also hosting a community event at Buck Field off Summer Street from 6-8 p.m. Monday, Aug. 4, with the team, kids’ activities, a 50/50 raffle and presentations. Food will be available.

The team

Players: Jacob Ahern, Ryan Boyle, Caden FitzPatrick, Brendan Flynn, Spencer Friedman, David Gydus, John Hourican, Brendan Jones, Patrick Masci, Timothy Mazzei, Anthony Messuri, James Santagati, Timothy Shaw, Sam Theodore and Jonathan Zak.

The team is managed by John Messuri, who is assisted by coaches Scott Jones, Rich Flynn, Michael Theodore, Michael Mazzei, John Masci and Joe FitzPatrick.