Rhode Island Little League team has ‘The Wright Stuff’

There is a Lynn connection to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania this year.That’s because the World Series team from Rhode Island has “The Wright Stuff.”Lynn-born Matt Wright, former Pine Hill Little Leaguer and St. John’s Prep player, is a coach with the New England champion team from Cumberland, Rhode Island.His son, Christopher Wright, is the star catcher and home run slugger with the Rhode Island All-Stars, who begin World Series play wearing “New England” on their green uniforms later this week.Mary Wright, who is Coach Matt’s mother and a current long-time Lynn City Hall employee, is the squad’s biggest fan, certainly the proudest and happiest.”I am thrilled about the whole tournament,” said Mary from her Pine Hill residence. “I attended Saturday’s game in Bristol, Connecticut (site of the NE finals) and was so excited when my grandson, Chris, hit a home run in the 13-7 victory (over Andover) that clinched the New England title. I am so proud of Matt and Chris, our family has been in Little League for many years. Baseball is ‘in our blood.'”Even Mary’s daughter, Wendy Wright-Johnston, serves as a board member with the PH baseball league.Chris Wright’s 3-run homer was shown on the televised game on ESPN Saturday.”He has now hit a home run in each of his past three all-star games,” Matt noted.Also amazing is that Chris ran those bases with a broken foot.Mary explains: “At his first all-star practice, Chris slid into first base and suffered his foot injury. Doctors put his foot in a cast-like boot and Chris had to sit and watch practice and games hoping to recover.”The catcher’s surprisingly quick healing powers even baffled the doctors. Matt explains: “My wife is a physical therapist and I am an occupational therapist. She helped do foot therapy in my in-laws’ pool, and though his foot is not totally comfortable, it is playable.”\TV commentators have praised the 12-year-old left-handed batter, who is also a left-handed catcher, which is unusual in baseball. Matt downplays it, saying, “Chris doesn’t have any problem throwing the ball to second for a base-stealer, or back to the mound.” The 5-foot-1 receiver (a straight-A student) has also pitched and played first base.His dad/coach Matt was a standout pitcher at St. John’s Prep, and before that an all-star in the Pine Hill Big League and with the Pine Hill Little League Tigers, and also played in the Babe Ruth League. Matt’s father, the late Wayne Wright, was a superb baseball coach and manager. He coached on all Matt’s youth teams and Matt has coached his own son, Chris, since tee-ball. Matt also coaches his younger son’s Little League team.”When it comes to coaching, I learned everything from my father ? everything,” says Matt.Indeed, the Tigers (with Matt, his brother Mark, Matt Sanphy, Donna Mills, Jason Keaney, Joey Beaulieu and Larry Donovan’s sons, Greg and Todd, and many more) roared to many championships. They were the first Pine Hill Little League team to ever win the City Series.Matt met his wife, Michele, while each attended Quinnipiac College in Hamden, Conn. They became friends, got married and then resided in his wife’s hometown in Cumberland, where she works as a PT for Bayada Nurses Home Care in Providence, Rhode Island and Matt works as an OT for the school department in Central Falls, Rhode Island. They also have a son Brendan, 9, whose goal is to someday follow in the footsteps of his big brother Chris, whose goal right now is to help Cumberland win a world championship.