Minor league champs Boston Closet celebrate with the championship trophy.

On Thursday, June 27, Boston Closet won the 2013 Somerville Little League Minors Championship. This was the third straight year a team sponsored by Tom Lynch of Boston Closet and managed by Sean Sullivan has won the Somerville Little League city championship and the first time in the minors division.

This year’s team had 13 players and was made up of three players that were 7 years old, three that were 8 years old, three 9 year olds and four 10 year olds.

In the best one out of three game semi-final series, Boston Closet was able to sweep the first two games and win the series with two come from behind, one run victories. In the second game of the series Boston Closet found themselves behind by a score of 9 to 0 after just two innings.

Relying on the team playoff theme of composure, the players were able to compose themselves and with solid pitching from relief pitcher Travis Freitas, they were able to claw back into the game and win it with 3 runs in the top of the 6th inning.

Moving onto the best 2 out of 3 game championship series against John’s Team, Boston Closet would find themselves down 1 game to none, after losing the first game. Coincidentally they would lose by 1 run in the last inning.

Once again, coach Sean Sullivan would rely on the playoff theme of composure when rallying the kids after the loss. Boston Closet would come back to win the next two games and the championship by playing two of their better games of the whole season, winning by a combined total of 34 to 8.

In game 2 on Wednesday, June 26, Boston Closet would control the game with excellent pitching and catching by Max Hall and Aidan O’Donovan, this along with the base running of speedster Brady Sullivan, Matthew Barton, Dillion Marujo and Nate Bogosian would be more than enough as Boston Closet would win 15 to 2 and tie the series at 1 game apiece.

Coming back the next night on Thursday, June 27, and with the championship on the line in the deciding third game, Boston Closet would play nearly flawless baseball, playing solid in all aspects of the game.

This time Boston Closet would be led by the solid infield play of first baseman Max Hall, second baseman Brady Sullivan, shortstop Travis Freitas and third baseman Robert Benavides. This, along with the outfield play of William Capuano, Harry Hall, Alvin Benavides, Owen Carr, Austin Pereira, Nate Bogosian, and Dillion Marujo, would combine with the offensive multi-hit game of Aidan O’Donovan and Matthew Barton to produce a championship 19 to 6 win.

1st row, lying down left to right: Alvin Benavides, Brady Sullivan; 2nd row, kneeling left to right: Robert Benavides, Matthew Barton, William Capuano, Harry Hall, Aidan O’Donovan, Austin Pereira; 3rd row, standing left to right: Max Hall, Nate Bogosian, Travis Freitas, Dillion Marujo, Owen Carr; 4th row, standing left to right: Assistant Coach Chris Hall, holding his son Jasper, Assistant Coach Brian O’Donovan, and Head Coach Sean Sullivan.

As the final out was recorded, coaches Sean Sullivan, Brian O’Donovan and Chris Hall raced onto the field to meet the already elated players. This was soon followed by the team parents and the celebration started. After the post-game handshake, the championship trophy was presented to the players, who then did a team victory lap around the infield. After many group and individual pictures with the championship trophy and a celebration that lasted for well over an hour, the 2013 Minors season was now complete.

Boston Closet would finish the season with 11 wins and 4 losses. Losing all 4 games by only 10 combined runs, they would give up the least amount of total runs for the season. Playing sound team defense, with excellent base running, solid pitching and pretty good hitting, they were able to be competitive in every game they played this season.

As coach Sean Sullivan said, “We really came together as a team. We had a lot of practices over the season, and the kids were able to put all the things they had learned together to produce a solid season that resulted in a championship. One of our themes for the season was focus and we added composure as our playoff theme, and these kids did so well with both, they really deserved this championship. As a coach I am so proud of how they played the game.”

Boston Closet celebrated their championship year with a team and family party held on Tuesday, July 2. The party was generously thrown by Boston Closet owner Tom Lynch, who also generously purchased the player’s championship trophies and jackets. Coach Sean Sullivan said, “Tom Lynch is a great friend of mine, but also one of the most generous guys I know. He has been a great supporter and sponsor of my family and I, and of youth sports in general for many years. This is now three straight years that our name will go on the championship trophy together. I am proud to now have my name on both the majors and minors championship trophy, along with that of Boston Closet.”