By John Orrell
Landmark correspondent
HOLDEN — It was nine down and a pair to go for the Holden Little League 11-year-old All-Stars.
The locals rattled off consecutive victories over Rutland, Lou Gehrig, Joe Schwartz, Jesse Burkett, Clinton (District championship game), Leominster and Westfield (twice) to earn a berth in this past weekend’s State championship tournament held in Milton.
The team left it all on the line and captured the State championship with a 12-4 victory over Hingham.
Pitching sealed the deal for the Holden stars. Ciaran Rota tossed a complete game no-hitter in the semifinal, and Luca Villnave went the distance pitching a complete game victory in the winning effort.
In the team’s final home contest and with a trip to the championship round on the line, Holden defeated Westfield July 17 in front of a stoked audience at CRA Swenson Field, 8-4. The team put up four runs in the second frame that would prove to be all that was needed, but it was timely hitting and solid defense along with the robust arms of pitchers Rota and Cam Ginnity that stood out.
“It was an amazing game. I think that in the tournament, we’ve had ups and downs but we’ve fought back,” said manager Jason Villnave. “We really showed what we’re all about. We were fighting in every inning and everybody contributed, from the top of the lineup to the bottom.
“We’re actually one of the later leagues that put together a team. I think it starts with the 10-year-old process. Last year this basically same team lost in a rain-shortened game in the semifinals of the Districts. Ever since then, we’ve been on a mission to get back here.”
“I have a lot of confidence in my defense,” said Rota, who struck out 11 Westfield batters and surrendered just 4 hits over 4 innings. “Every one of them makes great plays, and they know what they’re doing when they’re out on the field. I just focused on playing catch with my catcher, and it worked.”
But the treat for most fans was the steely and determined relief pitching of 10-year-old Ginnity, diminutive in stature but not in heart, who worked his way out of trouble in the late innings but held on for the save.
“I was fine with it (relief pitching). I’ve been through a lot of pressure by playing up,” he said.
“I just tried to throw strikes because I know they (defense) can make plays.”
It was Rota who delivered the first blow versus Westfield, a blast into the left field gap that was good for two bases. A pair of walks preceded a 2 RBI double by Jack Flaherty, putting the team up 4-0. Four more would cross the plate in the fifth, highlighted by doubles off the bats of Owen Williams, Ginnity and Bryce Makela.
Congrats from The Landmark for a superb season.
Leadoff hitter Williams expressed it well.
“The pressure is kind of scary, but you get used to it,” he said. “I’m glad we won.”
Members of the 2023 Holden Little League 11 year-old State championship team are Owen Williams, Bryce Makela, Luca Villnave, Ciaran Rota, Dylan Clarke, Hudson Loyns, Dylan Petersen, Carter Kadis, Jack Flaherty, Calvin Howley, Cam Ginnity and Evan Zaccaria. Team manager is Jason Villnave, assisted by Brian Williams and Lynn Loyns.
