Lynnfield – “Lynnfield is building a baseball mecca,” described Casey Paton. The 10s and 11s Lynnfield All-Star teams won their championship games over Swampscott and Peabody West this past weekend. The 10s beat Peabody West 4-2 while the 11s beat Swampscott 5-3 sending both teams to the sectional round of the tournament.
“I don’t think any of those age groups have won our district since probably 2009. This past weekend the 10-year-olds and the 11-year-olds both won their district championship, which is awesome,” said Paton. “The 10s beat West Peabody which is normally the powerhouse program in our district.”
“I think that all of this started in this age group (10-year-old) during COVID-19. We started playing a lot of sandlot pick-up which you know is just a blast,” said Lynnfield’s 10-year-old team’s coach Mark Hudson. “A lot of these kids play year round and they put a lot of time into it and so there’s this core group. And we can already see the younger groups hearing about it and wanting to go do it. I think that 10 years to come we’re going to be in contention for districts, sectionals, and who knows what else.”
It has been 11 years since Lynnfield has been the District 16 Champions. “I’ve heard conflicting stories. Somebody said 20 years, I don’t know if it’s the last time the 11-year-old district team won their district. But, you know, I’ll take it. I don’t know how long it’s been but I’ll take it, I love it,” said Lynnfields 11-year-old team’s coach Jared Burke. “The 10s won 4-2, they beat Peabody West, another great team. The future is bright for baseball in Lynnfield, for sure. A saying that we have been saying from day one Pioneers hustle harder.”
The 11s won their game over Swampscott 5-3 in extra innings. “I’d like to get into sectionals and really do some damage,” said Burke.
“I think it’s great to see Lynnfield teams get a chance to, you know, be in this position. Where in years past it was not us. So, it’s good to see all the teams doing well, it’s good,” said Lynnfield’s 12-year-old team’s coach Don Hubbard.
“It’s exciting to see a two-three year investment starting to kind of get put together. I feel very excited for the kids, I mean they’re playing their hearts out and have the chance to go to sectionals now then potentially go for a state title. It’s a very exciting time for Lynnfield,” said Paton. “Baseball is back in Lynnfield.”
