The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Junior Little Leaguers state champs
Team heads to N.J. for Eastern Regionals
TORRINGTON — The 14 members of the state champion Torrington Junior Little League team were on the road to New Jersey on Wednesday to compete in the Eastern Regionals. In New Jersey, they’ll play against teams from Delaware and other champion teams from around the region. If they win in New Jersey, they’ll go on to Taylor, Mich., to play in the Junior Little League World Series.
It’s the first time in the team’s three-year history as a junior league that they’ve ever gotten this far — and they’re very excited.
While waiting in the car for his mother, Carole Campbell, Ray Campbell, 14, and teammate Ryan Green expressed their happiness at the chance to play in the regionals and the possibility of playing in the World Series.
“We’re playing against Delaware on Thursday, and if we beat them, we’ll play again on Friday against another championship team,” Ray said. “It’s pretty amazing that we’ve gone this far. We’re all really excited.”
The team became state champions after playing against Cromwell, Eastwood and the Annex team, a group of Little League players from West, North and East Haven. “It was a close score,” Ray said.
Ray graduated in June from Torrington Middle School and will be a freshman at Torrington High School in fall. Ryan, 14, also is a TMS graduate heading to THS in September. The boys have known each other since grade school.
Carole Campbell and her husband, Kevin, are thrilled for the team.
“I’m really excited for the whole team,” Carole Campbell said. “They’re a great group of kids. They’ve been playing together for a long time and many of the kids have been in school
together since kindergarten. They’re like a group of brothers and they play so well together.
“It’s hard to comprehend that this team from Torrington is representing the state of Connecticut this way,” she said.
Carole Campbell had high praise for the team’s coaches, including head coach Mike Semonich and assistant coaches Joe Groebel and Tom Rooney.
“The coaches are class acts,” she said. “They have such a wealth of knowledge and they’ve taught the kids so much. They really know what they’re doing . ... I can’t say enough about them. They’re where they are because of the coaches, and because they all work so well together.”
Ray , who plays first base, is exceedingly proud of the team.
“When we won (the
state championship) I didn’t know how to handle it at first,” he said. “I didn’t know what to do. But it’s awesome that we made it this far. We hae some great pitchers, great hitters, and if we keep going, we can beat anyone.”
Ryan a pitcher, third baseman and right-fielder, agreed.
“It just hasn’t happened before, but we can do it,” he said. “We just have to get it all together.”
Ray missed out on last year’s season because of an arm injury, and is happy to be part of the championships for his last year on the team.
“I’m so honored to be on this team,” he said. “For our last year, going to the World Series — that would be so cool.”
Both boys had high praise for their coaches. “They’ve just kept us going,” Ray said. “Coach Mike has done a great job.”
The team held a pasta supper Tuesday night at First Assembly of God church in Torrington to raise money for the trip. Along with family and friends, the dinner was attended by Mayor Elinor Carbone and state Rep. Michelle Cook, D-Torrington.
“There were so many people there — it was awesome,” Ray said.
To support its travel expenses, the team has set up a Go Fund Me link on its Facebook page. Visit www.facebook.com/ Torring-ton-Little-League-Soft-ball-CT-6955886837 86883/ to make a donation and learn more about the team.