Lynn and Peabody fifth-graders have a ball

LYNN – The North Shore Navigators pulled out all the stops for Lynn and Peabody fifth-grade students Wednesday morning at Fraser Field, and when all was said and done, the show had a happy ending.The Navigators won, and general manager Bill Terlecky was able to preside over one of his favorite days of the season.?I can?t wait to fill up Fraser Field with schoolchildren and put on a great show for all the kids as the school year winds down,” Terlecky said before the 10:30 a.m. game.Terlecky, who is in his fourth season as general manager, was pleased with the turnout as 1,884 kids cheered the players on to a 1-0 win over the Seacoast Mavericks out of Portsmouth, N.H.?There aren?t many things in life that meet or exceed my expectations, but we did that today,” Terlecky said. “Today is about the fans and players. The players and kids are having a blast, but I?m probably having the most fun of all.”Terlecky and his staff gathered at 7 a.m. to make the students? lunches.Superintendent Dr. Catherine C. Latham threw out the first pitch but admitted she had some help.?I did practice a bit beforehand and got some coaching tips from my office staff,” Latham said. “I am really happy that the ball made it to the catcher?s mitt without hitting the dirt first. Bill Terlecky and the team were great sports and gave so many students staff members a wonderful day.”Imanol Percel, a fifth-grader at Callahan, enjoyed connecting with his classmates and teacher Ariane Dobias while watching the game.?This game is fun and exciting,” Percel said of the team, which is comprised of players from colleges representing many areas of the country. The Navigators also have several North Shore players with them.?I like to see how the college people play,” Percel said.Percel, who plays second base and shortstop and also pitches for West Lynn Little League, said baseball is his favorite sport and hobby. He also enjoys playing baseball with his family.Beyonce Rondon, fellow Callahan student, said the game was fun and exciting.?I?m curious who?s going to win,” Rondon said.Devin Copithorne sat in the dugout with other Lincoln-Thomson students and had the opportunity to play catch with the players prior to the game.?There?s a lot of action here,” Copithorne said. “It?s not like we?re sitting here waiting for something to happen.”Tyler Phat, also a fifth-grader at Lincoln-Thomson, said he enjoyed hanging outside of school and learning about baseball at the same time.?It?s pretty cool to see how they play,” Phat said.Their teacher Sarah Krasowski said the seating arrangement was ideal.?Even if they aren?t sitting with kids from other schools, they are sitting near kids from other schools,” Krasowski said. “They?re able to interact with them in the food or bathroom line. A lot of my kids came from Cobbet, Sewell-Anderson and Sisson, so they see familiar faces here today.”Students from Sewell-Anderson, Fallon, Sisson, Harrington, Washington, Ford, Shoemaker, Lynn Woods, Brickett, Tracy, Hood, Aborn, Ingalls, Connery, Cobbet, Drewicz, St. Pius V, Sacred Heart represented Lynn. Brown School fifth-graders in Peabody also attended.