Staff Writer

The Saco Little League 10-year-old All-Star team beat a heat wave and undefeated teams to win the District 4 championship and a trip to the regional tournament in Rhode Island.

Manager Todd Duchaine said the team faced elimination 12 times in two tournaments to advance to the 10-year-old East Regional Invitational Tournament in Cranston. The team lost its first tournament game Saturday to Connecticut but beat Vermont the following day. They were scheduled to play again Tuesday and Wednesday, after the Courier went to press.

Team members are Zachary Ahmida, Michael Bourgault, Anthony Bracamonte, Luke Chessie, Andrew DeGeorge, Matthew Duchaine, Caleb LaCroix, Eric McCallum, Ean Patry, Hunter Penley, Brogan Searle-Belanger and Tim Smith. Ryan Chessie and James Searle-Belanger are assistant coaches.

Players were chosen for the all-star team by teammates on their regular season Little League teams and by league managers. They began playing  at the end of June.

Duchaine said team members have proven throughout the season they are willing to work hard to win games and support each other.

“As kids, they’re just fantastic,” he said. “They’re talented ball players but they’re even better kids. They’re great friends to each other.” 

Though the team has been successful during tournament play, Duchaine said players are quick to rally around one another when a mistake is made.

“They don’t let one bad thing turn into two bad things,” he said. “They pick each other up.”

Duchaine said during a practice last week that his players were excited to earn a trip to Rhode Island. He said the community rallied behind the team and offered financial support to ensure every player could attend the tournament. The team raised $4,000 in a short time to pay for hotel rooms and expenses.

“People have been fantastic,” Duchaine said. “We’re very appreciative to the Saco community for their response.”

Brogan Searle-Belanger, 11, who loves to pitch for the team, said he has fun playing baseball with his friends from school. He said it felt “awesome” to win two championships.

“I never thought we’d make it that far,” he said.

Timmy Smith, 10, said he and his teammates were excited to play in the Rhode Island tournament after facing elimination so many times.

“It is a dream come true,” he said.

Recaps of the team’s games in Rhode Island can be found at www.cranstonbound.com.