Tri-Town American Legion baseball team celebrates
The Tri-Town American Legion Baseball Team, from Putnam, Thompson and Woodstock, recently celebrated the end of their season, complete with awards and inspiring words.
Michael Merrill, chairman of the Tri-Town Baseball Team Executive Committee, said: “This banquet is an annual tradition where we celebrate the end of a short but intensive season consisting typically of over 22 games in six weeks. We also recognize the players, the parents, the sponsors, the volunteers, the team moms, and everybody else that makes it possible for us participate in this great sport of baseball”.
The event began with the posting of the colors by the American Legion Honor Guard consisting of Frank Tremont and Chris Steinbrick. The recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance was led by Jax Carita. The invocation was given by Christie Akana, and opening remarks were made by Merrill. In his remarks Merrill thanked the team’s sponsors including the American Legion Posts from Thompson, Putnam, and Woodstock. He also thanked sponsors including Linemaster Switch, the O’Brien Group, The Merrill Family, the Mayhew Family, the Carita Family, Ron and Donna Coderre, the Thompson Lions Club, the Putnam Rotary Club, the Putnam Lodge of Elks, ERW Precision Sheet Metel Inc, Dan and Kathy Durand, John Sherman, and Everett & PatandShepard.
After a roast beef dinner, Merrill introduced the guest speaker – Sean Trindall, the coach of the Framingham State University baseball team from Framingham, Mass. Coach Trindall offered sage advice to the young men from the Tri-Town Team who aspire to play collegiate baseball. Afterwards the coaches made some remarks – including the 19U team coach Jason Akana, and assistant coaches Brandon Carita and John Merrill, as well as the 17U team coach Maxwell Racicot and assitant coaches Ken Magee and Ben Kipp.
The awards were then presented. The Louis Francis Bates Memorial Award went to Benjamin Gustafson. The Joe Lindley Memorial Award went to Noah Kipp. The Stan Lesniewski Award went to Brady Devlin and Jacob Turner. The Executive Committee Award went to Robbie Dion. The Rene “Doc” Desaulniers Award went to Nicholas Devlin. The Coach Tom Auclair Award went to Lucas Carita. The Everett G. Shepard Community Service Award went to Evan Mailloux, and the Ronald and Donna Coderre Scholar/Athlete scholarship went to Evan Mailloux.
Michael Rocchetti, Putnam’s American Legion Post commander, said: “The American Legion Baseball program was established in 1925 – so this year’s marks its 100th year. It’s a great program and baseball is such a great sport. The lessons these young men learn playing baseball, such as commitment, dedication, teamwork, discipline, diligence, sportsmanship and fair play, and the importance of developing your skills, will serve them well in almost any other future endeavor. We are proud of the players and we are especially proud of our coaches. They put a lot of time and effort into this. They are making a big difference in the lives of these young men.”
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19U Players - Senior: Will Bushey, Ceydian Campos, Lucas Carita, Logan Coutu, Brady Devlin, Nicholas Devlin, Robert Dion, Robert Ellsworth, William Ellsworth, Gabriel Fuentes, Gabriel Girard (DR), Benjamin Gustafson (DR), Brayden Hamlin, Sebastian Hanshaw, Tyler Kouatly, Evan Mailloux, Jacob Turner, Trevor Turner. Head Coach – Jason Akana, Assistant Coaches – Brandon Carita, John Merrill
17U Players – Junior: Benjamin Boledovic, Ryan Collard, Matthew Dearborn, Gabriel Girard (DR), Joseph Girard, Jax Golden, Benjamin Gustafson (DR), Oliver Hayden, Noah Kipp, Elijah Laprade, William Magee, Carter Murawski, Noah Pillsbury, Blake Ward. Head Coach – Maxwell Racicot, Asst. Coaches – Ken Magee, Ben Kipp