Sports 07-28-2015

Large turnout for Chris Warren’s Diamonds In the Tough Softball Camp

Chris Warren was the outstanding quarterback for the 1990 Lynn English High School football team that went undefeated in the Northeastern Conference and competed in the Super Bowl at Foxboro Stadium, falling to Case High School of Swansea.

But many know Warren for his superb softball coaching career at Lynn Classical High School where he built one of the region’s best programs, with several Rams alumnae going on to play at the collegiate level.

Though he stepped down as Classical softball coach (to become vice principal at the school), Warren still coaches softball in the East Lynn Little League and conducts a pre-season softball camp for high school players.

Seventy-three players from Lynn and other communities, including Danvers, Winthrop, Marblehead, and Swampscott, are attending Warren’s Diamond in the Rough Softball Camp this week at Rogato Field.

Among the instructors are 2015 Boston Globe Baseball Coach of the Year Derek Dana, who led St. Mary’s to the Division 3 state championship this season; former Classical star Lauren Phelps, Winthrop softball coach Dave Guffey, former Emmanuel College captain Jen Garrity, Salve Regina athlete Francesca Galeazzi, and LCHS athlete Ally Dunnigan.

Travel softball tryouts

The New England Storm Jr. Olympic Girls’ Fastpitch Softball Program is conducting tryouts for the 2016 season during the next 2 weeks.

 The Storm is entering its 16th season of tournament softball.

 Ages offered are U10 – U18.

 Individual tryouts are also available.

We offer year-round facilities as well working at Tufts University in Medford, MA during the winter months.  This is under the consultation of the 2013, 2014 and 2015 National Division III Champions Tufts softball staff.

 Please visit www.newenglandstorm.org for additional details and information.

 Or, contact John Gambale at [email protected]

It’s showtime at Wyoma Little League

By Joyce Erekson

The road to South Williamsport, Pa. and the Little League World Series goes through Wyoma Square this week.

Holden, Braintree American, Newton SouthEast and Andover National Little Leaguers launched their bids for a state title Wednesday night at Wyoma’s Charlie Reinfuss Field. Although there are no local teams in the mix, the volunteers at Wyoma have been putting in hours the last few weeks preparing for the state tournament. This is the first time the league has served as host for the states since 2001. The tournament runs through Saturday.

Wyoma Little League President Tony Luciano and a dedicated band of volunteers first started planning for the tournament nearly two years ago, after lights were installed at the field. Since then there have been a number of improvements to the field and clubhouse including all new fencing around the bullpens and in front of the dugouts, railings on the top of the dugout (driveway side) where league officials and the press tend to sit, and construction of an air conditioned umpires’ room in the clubhouse. Within the last couple of weeks, volunteers also laid sod from the pitcher’s mound to home plate, reseeded left field and on Sunday, they finished spreading out the new stone dust and clay.

 “On Sunday night, the infield looked better than Fenway Park,” Luciano joked. “On Monday, in a matter of 20 minutes, all the work got washed away. We spent the better part of a day and a half trying to fix it up.”

That 20 minutes or so was how long it took some crazy rain storms, complete with thunder and lightning, to wash the stone dust away, carry some of the new clay infield dirt into the grass and flood an area behind the outfield fence.

The volunteers returned in force Monday night to start getting everything back to normal and on Tuesday, Luciano and several others, including Mike Stevens, Jay Fraher and Sam Leonard were out mowing the grass, installing the plastic tubing that runs along the top of the fence and in general, putting on the finishing touches.

Fans who sample the culinary delights being concocted in the concession stand will also get to enjoy a colorful mural painted across the front of the clubhouse by a group of artists from RawArts. Those who are a bit parched but not up for the hike to the concession stand will be able to take advantage of the drink stands behind the outfield fence. Hood is also a sponsor and will have an ice cream truck on site.

Luciano said there will be at least nine or 10 people, maybe more, working the concession stands at all times. Atlantic Cataldo has agreed to station an ambulance alongside the church during the tournament (it would have to leave if a call came in). Luciano said the Fire Department is also helping out by providing portable tower lighting to illuminate parking area  behind Sisson Elementary School and the path down to the ballfield. Spectators will park at Sisson. There will be parking in the area between the field and Pickering Middle School for VIPs (umpires, state administrators, handicapped people and the mayor). Volunteer parking will be small parking area adjacent to Pickering off Conomo Avenue.  Luciano said there will also be a drone flying over the field at various times to take pictures. On Wednesday there was a luncheon at Gannon Golf Course for the coaches, managers, district administrators and league officials.

The final game will be played Saturday at 1 p.m. The  10-11 All-Stars State Championship game will be played prior to the 1 p.m. game.

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