The WHLL 10-year-old District All Stars made history by becoming the first West Hartford team to reach the state finals.
West Hartford Little League 10-year-olds had a very successful season. Submitted photo
By Daniel Busch
The West Hartford Little League 10-year-old District All Star team made history once again by reaching the finals of the Connecticut state tournament held over the weekend in Guilford.
This year’s success follows last year’s history-making success when the WHLL 10’s won district 7 for the first time in league history. WHLL had never won a district title since the the league formed 12 years ago.
This year the 10-year-old All Stars went undefeated (14-0) winning District 7, Division 3, and Section 2 of Connecticut Little League. In the state final, WHLL ran into a very good Fairfield squad, but finished their summer baseball with their heads held high. And for good reason!
This is also a year in which every WHLL district team in its respective age group reached at least the district semi-final. But the 10’s went much further!
The entire baseball community is very proud of their achievement. To participate in the state championship is remarkable for a league that started just 12 years ago and has a competitive league in town that other towns do not have. But when you see this team, its coaches, its parents, and the league behind it, it is not surprising that it was so successful.
Last year’s district-winning team had five 9-year-old players on it: Ben Brockway, Joe Dooley, Will Gaumer, James Renda, and Michael Weiss. These five players brought their experience and leadership to this new team and it showed. These kids were always there to lift up a player who was struggling and inspire greatness in their teammates.
In addition, managers Scott LaRock and Deane Renda started team planning one year ago after the district win. They assembled a fantastic team and coached them to perfection along with coaches Chris Gaumer and Dan Weiss and assistants Jeff Dooley, Rich Chmela and John LaSpada.
It was very evident that the philosophy of “Positive Coaching” – a cornerstone of West Hartford Little League – was employed at every stage of the team’s development. When one of the team members got really frustrated with himself, Coach LaRock and Renda immediately lifted him up before it got too far. It was obvious that the coach and player relationships were very special.
The coaching staff should also be credited for researching their competition in great detail, which is effort that often goes unnoticed by most.
What was also evident was the level of fundamental development that showed in each player during the season. Players learned proper mechanics as well as strategy – both key to help each player become his personal best and overall resulting in a very smart and talented team.
This was also a team of momentum that at the drop of a hat could string eight hits together in an inning and blow the game open even after experiencing early frustration. This is the true mark of a team that has confidence and mental toughness.
The team definitely benefitted from the knowledge and experience of Coach LaRock, who spent some time playing in the minor leagues.
The WHLL baseball community was also there to support the team. Past and present league officials, friends and coaches would come to the games to support the league they helped to build and love. According to parent Danielle Weiss, the players noticed and appreciated this support from their league family.
The entire WHLL family is so proud of this team! Congratulations boys!
A special mention to Jack Gaumer for his scorekeeping and statistics charting on the Game Changer Baseball App. Thanks Jack!
The following season summary detail was provided by Coach John LaSpada:
2015 WHLL 10U District All-Stars
Season Summary
Roster:
Ben Brockway, Lucas Chmela, Joe Dooley, Will Gaumer, Dylan Jackson, Quinn LaRock, Tommy LaSpada, Carter Morton, Will Patchen, James Renda, Henry Schlatter, and Michael Weiss
Coaches:
Coaching Staff: Scott LaRock & Deane Renda (Managers), Chris Gaumer and Dan Weiss (Coaches)
Assistants: Jeff Dooley, Rich Chmela, and John LaSpada
Overall Record
14-2
Achievements:
Connecticut 9/10 District 7 Champions
Connecticut 9/10 Division 3 Champions
Connecticut 9/10 Section 2 Champions (undefeated 14-0 in pool play & playoffs)
Connecticut 9/10 State runner up
Highlights:
•Back-to-back 9/10 District 7 titles for WHLL
•First time a WHLL team has won a Division 3 championship,
•First time a WHLL team has won a Section 2 championship,
•First time a WHLL team has advanced to the state championship.
Season results
147 runs for, 71 runs against
District 7 Pool Play: Undefeated in District 7 pool play 8-0; 72 runs scored – 17 runs against; four consecutive shutouts
June 26 – WHLL 10U District All-Stars 5, Glastonbury American 4
June 28 – WHLL 10U District All-Stars 10, Mayor Mike 0
June 30 – WHLL 10U District All-Stars 14, Wethersfield 0
July 2 – WHLL 10U District All-Stars 9, Glastonbury National 0
July 5 – WHLL 10U District All-Stars 11, East Hartford 0
July 7 – BYE
July 10 – WHLL 10U District All-Stars 7, Rocky Hill 3 (7 innings)
July 12 – WHLL 10U District All-Stars 7, Hartford North End 3
July 14 – WHLL 10U District All-Stars 9, Newington 7
District 7 Cross over game, Ross Field, Glastonbury, CT
July 18 – WHLL 10U District All-Stars 10, Wethersfield 7 Cross over game
WHLL 10U District All-Stars took the last of five lead changes in a back-and-forth affair against Wethersfield, securing a 10-7 victory on Saturday at Ross field.
WHLL 10U District All-Stars pulled out the win thanks to a strong second inning, in which they scored on an RBI single by Will Gaumer to plate Henry Schlatter.
After Wethersfield jumped out to an early 3-0 lead, WHLL 10U District All-Stars quickly matched Wethersfield’s strong inning with a four-run inning of its own in the first. West Hartford All-Stars 10U scored on an RBI double by Joe Dooley, a two-run double by James Renda, and a passed ball.
Will Gaumer racked up three RBIs on three hits for West Hartford All-Stars 10U, including a two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Wethersfield couldn’t get anything going as long as Ben Brockway was on the rubber. Ben held Wethersfield hitless over 1 2/3 innings, allowed no earned runs, walked two and struck out four. Michael Weiss recorded the win for West Hartford All-Stars 10U. He allowed four runs over 2 1/3 innings. He struck out three, walked four and surrendered four hits.
District 7 Championship, Ross Field, Glastonbury, CT
July 20 – WHLL 10U District All-Stars 9, Newington 3
WHLL 10U District All-Stars trailed 3-1 headed into the bottom of the fifth inning and erupted for eight runs, sparked by an RBI single by Dylan Jackson, a sacrifice fly by Joe Dooley, a three-run home run by Tommy LaSpada, an RBI double by Michael Weiss, and an RBI single by Will Gaumer.
Joe Dooley got it done on the rubber on the way to a win. He allowed three runs over five innings. He struck out five, walked two and surrendered eight hits. Will Gaumer pitched the sixth inning to secure the win.
CT Division 3 Tournament, Adams School, Guilford, CT
July 22 – WHLL 10U District All-Stars 4, Waterford 3 Pool play
July 24 – WHLL 10U District All-Stars 10, Cromwell 5 Pool play
July 26 – WHLL 10U District All-Stars 10, Cromwell 0 Division 3 Championship Game
West Hartford All-Stars 10U scored in the first on an RBI double by Will Gaumer, an RBI single by Ben Brockway, an RBI double by Tommy LaSpada, an RBI single by Dylan Jackson, and a three-run double by Will Gaumer.
WHLL 10U District All-Stars’ Joe Dooley kept Cromwell off the scoreboard for all four innings he was on the mound. He pitched a shutout, allowing no runs on two hits while striking out four.
West Hartford All-Stars 10U’s Will Gaumer, Ben Brockway, James Renda and Dylan Jackson combined for seven hits and six RBIs.
CT Section 2 Championship, Adams School, Guilford, CT
7/30 – WHLL 10U District All-Stars 21, Tolland 11 Section 3 Championship Game
After two innings WHLL trailed Tolland 7-5. In the 3rd inning Carter Morton, Michael Weiss, and Will Patchen scored to give WHLL an 8-7 lead.
The game was back-and-forth heading into the fifth, with 10 lead changes. Tolland scored 3 in the top of the first, and WHLL 10U District All-Stars answered Tolland ‘s top inning with four runs of its own in the first. WHLL 10U District All-Stars scored on an RBI double by Will Gaumer, an RBI double by Joe Dooley, and a two-run home run by Tommy LaSpada.
Trailing 11-9 entering the bottom of the fifth, the WHLL 10U District All-Stars scored 12 runs en route to a 21-11 victory. WHLL 10U District All-Stars scored on an RBI single by Joe Dooley, a two-run single by Henry Schlatter, a two-run single by Henry, an RBI single by Michael Weiss, a two-run double by Lucas Chmela, a two-run double by Lucas, an RBI single by Will Gaumer, an RBI single by Ben Brockway, a two-run double by Joe Dooley, and a two-run double by Michael Weiss.
Dylan Jackson, Michael Weiss, Joe Dooley, and Ben Brockway anchored the pitching staff for the WHLL 10U District All-Stars. Dylan Jackson got the win for West Hartford All-Stars 10U. He allowed four runs over 1 2/3 innings. Dylan struck out three, walked five and gave up four hits. Ben Brockway pitched a perfect fifth inning.
CT State Championship series (best of three), Adams School, Guilford, CT
Aug. 1 – WHLL 10U District All-Stars 5, Fairfield National 9
Aug. 2 – WHLL 10U District All-Stars 6, Fairfield National 16
