SIDNEY — The Ararat 10U All-Star baseball team secured the final out of its 5-2 state tournament victory, and then couldn’t contain its excitement. First, the players swarmed pitcher Dylan Napples on the mound. Then, they reconvened in left field, where the postgame jubilation continued.
It was the kind of scene that was missing last year, when the coronavirus pandemic nixed postseason play and had teams waiting another season to feel the joy of winning a state tournament game.
“It’s really more fun than rec,” said Ararat pitcher Andrew Taylor, who started and threw five innings of his team’s victory over Messalonskee, which sent it to the final with Andy Valley. “Every time, it’s not that much of a challenge. But when you’re playing against all these good players, it makes it harder and more fun having that challenge.”
“They probably appreciate it a little bit more this year,” Messalonskee coach Ray Bernier said. “I think just getting back to normalcy is the big thing.”
That challenge wasn’t available last season, as youth teams mostly had to stick with their local schedules, if they played at all.
Ararat coach A.J. Kavanaugh said there was a feeling of gratitude throughout the spring and summer of 2020 of being able to play baseball in the first place. At the same time, however, the players knew what was missing.
“Just to have this experience, to have the crowd with us, we didn’t get that last year,” Kavanaugh said. “The Ararat pride that we see every year that we do have All-Stars, we missed that. So it’s been great the last two weeks.”
Ararat baserunner Michael Gardner is out at third base as Messalonskee’s Chase Dempsey receives the throw during a 10U state tournament game Monday at the Recreation Center in Sidney. Rich Abrahamson/Morning Sentinel
When All-Stars neared this time, Kavanaugh said he could see the players’ excitement rising.
“One hundred percent,” he said. “As soon as the All-Star teams were set and we started practicing, I could see the kids get along. … They all came together, from different teams, and they bonded immediately.”
Asked what he missed most last year, and what he was enjoying this time, Napples, who broke a 2-2 tie with a double in the fifth, had a ready answer.
“Playing with teammates and having fun,” Napples said. “It’s competitive.”
Napples saw that for himself at the plate and, then, on the mound. The bases were loaded with one out in the sixth when Kavanaugh brought Napples in from center field. He was nervous — “kind of,” he said — but a keep-it-simple approach allowed him to get a strikeout and groundout to win it.
“Just come in throwing strikes,” he said. “Throw strikes and see what happens.”
Whether they won or lost, the players said they appreciated the chance to go up against other good teams and good players in the tournament.
“It’s a challenge, and I like challenges,” said Messalonskee extra hitter Hunter Poulin, who had two hits and an RBI. “They get outs easily. If you get an infield hit, you’re almost always out because they get the ball quick.”
His teammates shared that feeling.
“It’s fun playing competitive baseball,” Messalonskee catcher Brandon Frowery said. “I really like that. … It’s nerve-wracking, because you know you’re playing against the best teams out of Maine.”
“It was very disappointing (last year). I was really looking forward to playing,” Messalonskee shortstop Kyle Cummings said. “(This) was really fun. We won the last game in extra innings, it was a pretty close game.”
While Messalonskee’s tournament run ended with the defeat, Ararat’s victory gave it another six innings to play in sweltering 94-degree heat.
Given the alternative from last year, however, they couldn’t wait to play again.
“It’s a fun environment to play against good teams and play competitively to win the championship,” said Ararat catcher Anthony Kavanaugh, A.J.’s son, who along with first baseman Brady McLaughlin had a hit and an RBI in the victory. “It was tough (last year). I really missed it.”
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