Holden Takes Massachusetts Little League Title

There was no intimidating stare, no here-it-comes pose while he got the sign. The 10 pitches Tucker McDonald threw in the bottom of the sixth inning probably took as long as two from Red Sox closer Craig Kimbrel. But the result was similar, two strikeouts, including one that ended Holden's 13-9 win over Gloucester in the Massachusetts State Little League championship Sunday in North Reading.

"I can't say enough [about McDonald]," said coach Tom Conrad. "You bring a kid on the mound, I don't care what the situation is, in the sixth inning to close out a championship, he just looked at me and said 'I got it coach.' "

Holden is the first Central Mass team to win the state title since Southboro in 2010 and comes after Holden lost in the state finals in 2014 and 2015. The crowd was estimated at more than 1,100, thought to be the biggest ever to watch a single game at North Reading's Benevento Park since its opening in the 1950s. They weren't disappointed.

Holden showed early on the bats were ready for the moment.

"It was huge," said coach Tom Conrad of jumping out to an early 9-2 lead. "I really didn't know what to expect. I knew they'd be a little bit tight and they proved me wrong immediately. They were as lose as could be. Their bats were on fire. Every kid wanted to get into that box."

Despite the early advantage Gloucester closed the gap to 10-9 after three innings, thanks in part to Jared Lucido who clubbed another home run, his 14th in 17 state tournament games. Almost an hour before game time, fans in centerfield were still talking about Lucido's walk-off moon shot that cleared the fence, not to mention the elm tree behind it, on Friday to beat Milton.

Holden, which had four home runs in the win, add a run in the fifth and two in the sixth but the key was holding Gloucester scoreless the last three innings led by the pitching of Steven Hebert and finally McDonald. Lucido was intentionally walked in his last at-bat.

Offensively for Holden, Joe Cappabianca had a home run and four RBI and lead-off man Dennis Jardine had three hits. Sean Verrier had a home run and three RBI, Hebert added a home run, as did starting pitcher Eli Robbins.

The team's next road trip is to Bristol (Conn.) for the New England Regionals starting Sunday, Aug. 6. It's already causing problems for a certain Holden coach. Conrad, his wife and lead Holden cheerleader Charlene, along with son Joey (1 run, 1 RBI) had vacation plans to go to Maine. Those will need to be canceled. Instead, they'll be headed the other direction and join the winners from New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, Rhode Island and Connecticut.

No one from Holden was complaining about a few more games.

Photos by Bob Holmes