By John Orrell
Landmark correspondent
WORCESTER — Players, coaches and team supporters knew from the start that the July 12 matchup between the Holden and Rutland District 4 Little League all-stars at Worcester’s Joe Schwartz Field would be anything but a slugfest — not with the stable of arms that each team possessed.
Those pre-game prognostications proved on target, as Rutland would score the game’s only run on an RBI single by Logan Tessier in the second frame. That run propelled Rutland on to Sectional competition, which will feature a double-elimination format. The opening contest was slated for July 18 at a field and time to be announced.
“I’m really proud of these kids. Every game has been a battle,” said Rutland manager Brian Ferguson after the game. “We haven’t blown anybody out. All-Stars brings the best out in everybody. I knew that if not a pitcher’s duel, it would be a fielders’ duel. I knew it was going to be a one-run game.
“We can go all the way. When you beat a team like Holden, there’s not many teams out there that can stop you. If we play our baseball, we can go all the way. We’re deep in pitching and deep in catching.”
“I knew it was going to be a pitcher’s duel and one or two runs was going to make the difference,” said Holden manager Artie Barnes, echoing Ferguson. “It could have swung either way at any point in time. One swing of the bat could have changed the outcome of the game.
“I’m super proud of these kids. They battled all season, right to the end, but fell a little short. It was a matter of a couple of plays, and that was the difference in the game. These kids have been with us for three years and they’ve played hard, giving it all they had. They left everything they had on the field, and they never gave up.”
And long live the unprecedented heroics of Logan Tessier, who was the most unlikely of heroes. Just 24 hours before the game, he shed a cast resulting from an arm injury suffered in a kickball game three weeks prior. His appearance in the game was a gametime decision, one that may not have seemed real but for the celebratory congratulations held after achieving a 1-0 triumph.
“This was Logan’s first trip back after breaking his arm,” Ferguson said. “He got cleared yesterday with a doctor’s note saying he was cleared to play, so he came back in and he gave himself the 12-year-old memory he deserves.”
“He’s been cheering us on all year and I’m glad he got to come back and get this win,” said catcher Declan O’Connor. “Winning tonight was awesome.”
“I know a lot of guys from Holden, so I knew it (winning) would be tough,” said starting pitcher Dean Bennett, who struck out 12 through five innings before yielding to reliver Nathan Ferguson. “Logan Tessier just came out of a cast, and he got us the winning run.”
Nathan, son of manager Brian Ferguson, worked his way out of a final-inning jam after allowing a single and a walk, but retired the final Holden batter on a strikeout and the celebration was under way.
What would turn out to be Rutland’s game winner came on a single by Mason Ramos leading off in the bottom of the second inning. Jacory Acker reached on an error before Petey Sinclair drew a walk to load the bases. It was then that Tessier looped a bloop single to right, sending Ramos home for the 1-0 advantage.
“I hadn’t played in a while, but it was fun at the same time,” said Tessier of his memorable plate appearance. “I was kind of nervous, though.”
Manager Ferguson had special praise for his defense that has been inexorable through the tournament. Keeping runners off the basepaths has been a theme for this Rutland band of all-stars from the beginning.
“For them to have the confidence to stand on the mound and allow hits and know that the fielders behind them are going to make the plays is huge. We’ve played error-free baseball in the games we’ve played so far. That’s impressive for 12-year-old kids, but they do it and get the job done.”
Members of the 2023 Rutland District 4 Little League All-Star championship team are Jacory Acker, Dean Bennett, Ben Crowne, Nathan Ferguson, Ryan Frederick, Declan O’Connor, Luke Pettes, Mason Ramos, Jackson Rosoff, Petey Sinclair, Noah Stockenberg and Logan Tessier. Manager is Brian Ferguson, assisted by Tim O’Connor and Tom Rosoff.
Members of the 2023 Holden District 4 Little League All-Star team finalists are Aiden Carroll, Ryder Lorusso, Artie Barnes, JD Fiske, Kellan Dzik, Grant Barnes, Matt Case, Christos Salerno, Ben Alarie, JT Kamataris, Patrick Cicio and William Sturrock. Manager is Artie Barnes, assisted by Steve Lorusso and Tom Kamataris.
