First base line being widened

Widened base path, view from third base

Other edges of the infield were cleared on November 20th in preparation for the new infield mix coming.  Preparation for the delivery is key in making the project go smoothly.

Repaired edge from 2nd to 3rd

Unrepaired edge from 2nd to 1st

Further updates to the field are also happening.  Actions necessary to control flood waters that incapicate the field after heavy rains will also begin in the next couple of weeks.  Controlling the flood water is a huge step toward making Brookmeadow a beautiful and enjoyable field for all to use.  Watch for further updates and pictures!

Listed below are some of the important updates for the upcoming season.

•  T-Ball has been expanded to include 4 year olds.  You can register your son or daughter for T-Ball as long as they will turn 4 after 4/30/2012.
• T-Ball was changed last year with a fantastic result.  We now have smaller teams for these players and instead of a 60 minute game we split the time up between a practice and a game. Kids get to understand the basics and with the teams having less players are more involved in the action.
• We are always looking for coaches to help the league so please register and you will receive additional information after the New Year.
• There will be a $25 late fee for any registrations we receive after 01/15/2012.
• Any family with 3 or more registrations will receive a $60 discount on the total cost.
• Any player not playing on a Majors (Dauphinais Division) team in 2011 is required to tryout and those dates will be confirmed soon. Tryouts to take place in January, 2012. So this applies to any player in AA, AAA or Majors which is generally age 9 and above. The tryout will consist of a 1 hour session that includes hitting, fielding and pitching.

Note that 4-year old’s have been added! Any child turning age 4 by April 30, 2012 is eligible to play in Little League.

Who: Grafton Little League boys and girls, ages 4 through 6.

What: FREE Fall T-Ball Baseball Clinic
Where: Ferry Street Baseball Complex
When: Saturday, October 22, 1:00 p.m.
Why: Grafton Little League is hoping to introduce the great game of baseball to the future generation of players.

If you have any questions about the clinic please contact Grafton Little League’s T-Ball Division Vice President Ken Papetti at: ken.papetti@am.jll.com

Here’s a flier detailing the clinic.

Heading into last night’s game Grafton was 3-0 and a very good Northboro team came in 3-1. It took a collective effort from all 12 Grafton players to pull out a victory. The team banged out nine hits including three home runs. In the first inning Northboro pushed across one run on three hits off starter Dubois. In the top of the second with a runner on second for Northboro and one out, Grafton right fielder Brendan Coates picked up a ball in short right field near the foul line and threw a strike to catcher Michael Holbrook. A run down ensued and 3rd baseman Brian Fletcher returned a throw to Holbrook and the runner was tagged out preventing the run from scoring. Grafton worked the rundown to textbook perfection. Grafton would erase Northboro’s lead with three runs in the bottom of the second. Brad Bombard started things off for Grafton with a base hit to left field. He advanced to second on a passed ball and would score the team’s first run on Dubois’s single up the middle. Bombard slid into home just ahead of the throw home that bounced off the catcher’s mitt. The next batter O’Toole hit a two-run homer to left and Grafton had a 3-1 lead heading into the 3rd.

In the top of the 3rd Northboro scored two runs on a two run home run to right field to tie the score at 3. In the bottom of the 3rd Grafton would strand two runners. The teams went scoreless in the 4th inning with the score remained knotted at 3. Northboro would take a 3 run lead in the top of the 5th inning with three singles and a walk making the score 6-3. Grafton cut down a second runner at the plate trying to score on a base hit to right field as Dubois threw a bullet to catcher Cam O’Toole whom tagged out a runner on a nice play and prevented what could have been an important run from scoring. Heading to the bottom of the 5th Northboro led 6-3. Grafton would send 9 batters to the plate in the home half of the fifth. JD Bailey led off for Grafton and hit a long shot to right field that was caught in foul ground for an out by the right field roughly five feet in front of the fence. With one out Holbrook reached as he hustled down the first base line as the shortstop bobbled a ball in the hole. Brian Fletcher followed with a single and on a full count Brad Bombard drew a walk to load the bases before Dobois’s and O’Toole’s fireworks. Dylan Ramos then laced a single to left field that bounced two feet in front of the fence. He was stranded on first as the inning ended.

In the top of the 6th Northboro needed two runs to tie the game but the Grafton defense went into lockdown mode and the first out was made by Tom Nicalek as he dug out a grounder near the 3rd base bag and threw to Fletcher at first on a close play. Northboro’s second batter singled to left but Dylan Lague struck out the next batter and induced a ground ball to shortstop that Brad Bombard fielded and threw to first to end the game.

Grafton plays Shrewsbury National in the District 5 semi-finals Wednesday night at 5:30 in Millbury at their Washington Street field. The other remaining teams in the tournament are Oxford and Spencer-Brookfields. A large crowd of parents, friends, siblings and younger Grafton Little Leaguer’s were on hand to support the team.

Grafton Little League’s District 5 11/12 year old 2011 All-Stars are: JD Bailey, Brad Bombard, Brendan Coates, Trenton Dubois, Brian Fletcher, Michael Holbrook, Dylan Lague, Ryan Manning, Alex Marquis, Tom Nicalek, Cam O’Toole and Dylan Ramos. The team’s head coach is Steve Holbrook and assistant coaches are Dan Dubois and Bob Manning. Special assistant is Mark Marquis.

Opening Day ceremonies will begin as soon as all players and invited guests have marched from SGES to Ferry Street. There will be plenty of food, beverages, games and fun family activities for everyone! Children’s activities will include:

• A moon walk
• A rock climbing wall
• A speed pitch contest
• And a pie eating contest

A silent auction will also take place with many pieces of sports memorabilia available.

Also, there will be a special ceremony for 12-year old players, where they will receive league jackets.

Registration will be available for both the 2011 Grafton Little League Golf Tournament and the 2011 Miner Family Summer Baseball Camp. Families can also learn more about the Pitch, Hit & Run Competition taking place May 7 at the Ferry Street Complex. The T-Ball and Single A Divisions will be playing games on Opening Day. Players in the AA, Bazinet and Dauphinais Divisions will be having their team photos taken.

Each player is asked to bring one package of ‘all beef’ hot dogs and rolls with them to the drop off. Stop & Stop will be running a special next week on hot dogs and rolls.

Volunteers needed!

Many volunteers are still needed to make the day a success! To help with set up, ticket sales, concession stand sales, activities, games and clean up, please access the Opening Day Volunteer sign-up sheet.

For additional information, contact Parade Coordinator Ruchelle Miller at ruchellemiller@hotmail.com.

Finally, these events are published on the league’s activities calendar. Some teams’ schedules have been published too, and hopefully all the schedules can be published in the coming weeks. You can add the calendars to your personal ones, to always be kept up-to-date on the activities. Check the Calendars menu for more details.

The fields have never looked this good in early April. It’s important for everyone to know that we had roughly 60 volunteer coaches/parents and 15 players helping across town on Saturday morning. A lot was accomplished and we’ll spend the next week getting a few small projects completed.

Again, from our board to all coaches and parents we thank you!

Bill Keeler, President

Larry Sasso, Vice President

Heather McCue, Treasurer

Ruchelle Miller, Secretary