Sports Week Recap: Winchester Hosts Tournament and Football Season Under Way

After another successful tournament, Winchester has officially cemented itself as the signature site for little league tournaments.

Last year was the Babe Ruth World Series, in two years it will be another World Series and this year Nutile Field hosted the 11-year-old Cal Ripken New England Regional. The field has become a staple of little league tournaments. The Babe Ruth administrative team has said that this venue is the premier site in the New England region and one of the best across the country.

This year was another example of Winchester's proficiency for housing these enormous tournaments.

The opening ceremonies had everything, from a performance by the local taekwondo school – Mr. Koo's – to the Dirt Dogs singing classic baseball tunes like Sweet Caroline and Centerfield. The opening ceremonies ended with the Voices of Hope singing Take me out to the Ballgame, the Lexington Minutemen acting as a color guard, leading the little leaguers into the field, and of course a ceremonial first pitch thrown by Selectman Brian O'Connor and Rep. Jason Lewis (D – Winchester).

It was a tough tournament for the Sachems though. Winchester played the pre-tournament favorite, Raynham, and after trailing 9-0, scored eight straight runs to challenge the Eastern Massachusetts Champs.

The second game saw Winchester eliminated in a tough extra-inning game to Hudson (NH), but the host teams proved they belonged in this tournament that featured the top teams from across New England.

But the week was just getting started.

After the Sachems were eliminated on Sunday, a handful of the players showed up at Ginn Field on Monday to participate in elementary-aged Pop Warner Football. It was Winchester's first football practice for second through sixth grade students in over 30 years.

Not to be outdone, the middle school football program – the Sachem Youth Football and Cheerleading Program – received approval to host Melrose in a night game on Sep. 21. The league will be bringing in lights and will have the cover-band, Ernie and the Automatics, perform at halftime.

It promises to be an exciting game with sausage carts, fried dough and an assortment of other food and activities to keep the fans entertained and engaged.