City Teams Get a Turn at Bat in Grafton

Unfortunately, it seems as if nothing is sacred these days.

Worcester's Tom Ash Little League season was recently put in jeopardy after gunfire erupted near a field on Grafton Street.

A number of people have taken steps since the terrible incident to ensure that the young ballplayers have an opportunity to enjoy what is an "important sport to many," according to Grafton Little League President Bill Keeler. 

Clearly, the issue touched people, based on their immediate response and determination to resolve the issue.

The Worcester League went from originally canceling the season to talking to the police chief and mayor, who showed up with a crowd of concerned citizens on Memorial Day, said Jason Crue, vice president of Tom Ash Little League.

Grafton Little League umpire Mike Goulet was instrumental in setting up the agreement between Grafton and Worcester's Little Leagues.

Goulet owns a local graphics company, and in years past he had coincidentally sponsored one of the teams that was recently affected by this violence. 

When he heard the news he immediately talked with an official from Grafton Little League to see if the fields would be available for the Worcester teams.

The president of Tom Ash Little League, John Poske, said he was "overwhelmed and excited'' to hear the offer.

The gesture "helps everyone start getting back to normal,'' he said. "If the kids can get a ride out of the city, it's a good thing for them."

Ultimately, Grafton offered Tom Ash the fields and league officials happily accepted. On Sunday, June 5, the four eams in the Tom Ash League had a double-header, beginning just after noon at Miner Field.

The 10 to 12-year-olds were thrilled to be back playing ball and the people responsible for the "sharing of the fields" were "happy to take the opportunity to give back," Keeler said.

"The kids from Worcester are no different" than those in Grafton, he said, in that they love the game and want to play.

They should not have to "fear putting the uniform on,'' he said.

The day's beautiful weather meshed perfectly with the friendly atmosphere that was provided to the young players. Adults from both communities were proud to offer the players a chance to get back on the baseball diamond, and the players were ecstatic to get back to having fun.

And so they did what kids all across America did today: Played ball on a sunny day, with no worries beyond the final score.