Brownell Insurance clinches inaugural title for Derry girls softball league.*
By CAROL ROBIDOUX*See editor's note below
Union Leader Correspondent
DERRY – After weeks of bat-swinging, ball-catching, fist-bumping, gum-cracking, base-stealing, heart-breaking action, the first ever Derry Little League Girls Softball Championship went to the dozen girls of summer in red Brownell Insurance T-shirts, who yesterday won one for the record books.
“There are no losers this year,” said the loudspeaker voice from the press box as Brownell huddled for a team photo in center field to celebrate their 12-9 victory. Their formidable foes, Derry Imaging Center, settled for second-place trophies and star-shaped chocolate lollipops. After two rain delays, the six-week season ended yesterday where it began in May, on O'Hara field. It took several years of planning, but this year the League took over the town's recreational softball program and fielded four teams in the 9 to 12 age group. Greater Salem Footcare and Fred Fuller Oil competed with Brownell and Derry Imaging, enjoying all the perks of regular Little League competition – uniforms, concessions, music, manicured field, diamond dirt and a scoreboard, although Brownell coach Al Walalis insists the girls are more focused on learning and fun than standings or scoring.
“They don't pay that much attention – neither do we. I can't honestly tell you what our record was this year,” Walalis said.
Organizers are already looking forward to expansion next season.
“Some of these kids will be 13 next summer. Maybe we'll start a senior league,” said League Executive Vice President Donald Kirkland.
He said the league had hoped for more players this season, but had a tough time fielding teams in the younger and older age groups. “That's OK. Before you walk you gotta crawl,” Kirkland said.
“We're here with two great teams playing championship softball on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. It doesn't get any better than this, and their success is a testament to the four team managers and all the parents,” Tritto said.
Coach Walalis almost didn't make it through the tension of the sixth inning.
“We've been battling all year long with this team. They've had our number all season, beat us every game we played,” Walalis said, pacing a little as his daughter Ashley settled into the zone.
Although the game remained close and was all tied up, 9-9 in the fifth inning, Brownell took a three run lead in the sixth, and held it for three fast outs, erupting in cheers as they ran victoriously to the dugout.
After trophies were handed out to both teams, Walalis called his team back for one last bit of coaching.
“Everybody, hands in,” he said, as the girls made a circle around him, clutching trophies in one hand and piling their outstretched free hands into the center. “I couldn't be prouder of you girls. One last time, Brownell Insurance, on three.”
And with that, the girls called it a season – “One-two-three-BROWNELLINSURANCE,” free hands flying up in the air, a fitting end to the beginning of something bigger than all of them.
*Editor's note: Thank you for all the Anonymous comments. Unfortunately that makes it hard to respond directly, but to those parents disappointed about 'coverage' of the game, let me clarify:
I came out to get a photo of the championship team, not to provide coverage of the game. I arrived after 2:30 pm expecting the game to be wrapping up, but due to rain delays which I wasn't aware of, I got there at the top of the game, not the bottom. Instead of going home, I stayed for the next 90 minutes on my own time, standing on the "visitor's" side where I was directed when I arrived, and mainly took shots at the end, of the teams congratulating one another, receiving trophies and then of Brownell celebrating victory. It was never intended to be a photo shoot of the game. I did do a feature about the league in May when it launched, and took photos of both teams at that time. That story is archived, and photos were posted here. While I understand the feeling that some feel Derry Imaging should have been featured more prominently after such a great season, I am not a League photographer; I was there for the news, and on this particular day, it was to take a photo that summed up the game's outcome. I posted the slides at the request of several parents who saw me taking photos after the game. It was meant as a courtesy, not a slight, and I just wanted the chance to explain. I also wanted to point out that of the town's three newspaper's, I was the only reporter/photographer who came out for the championship game. CR
*Editor's note: Thank you for all the Anonymous comments. Unfortunately that makes it hard to respond directly, but to those parents disappointed about 'coverage' of the game, let me clarify:
I came out to get a photo of the championship team, not to provide coverage of the game. I arrived after 2:30 pm expecting the game to be wrapping up, but due to rain delays which I wasn't aware of, I got there at the top of the game, not the bottom. Instead of going home, I stayed for the next 90 minutes on my own time, standing on the "visitor's" side where I was directed when I arrived, and mainly took shots at the end, of the teams congratulating one another, receiving trophies and then of Brownell celebrating victory. It was never intended to be a photo shoot of the game. I did do a feature about the league in May when it launched, and took photos of both teams at that time. That story is archived, and photos were posted here. While I understand the feeling that some feel Derry Imaging should have been featured more prominently after such a great season, I am not a League photographer; I was there for the news, and on this particular day, it was to take a photo that summed up the game's outcome. I posted the slides at the request of several parents who saw me taking photos after the game. It was meant as a courtesy, not a slight, and I just wanted the chance to explain. I also wanted to point out that of the town's three newspaper's, I was the only reporter/photographer who came out for the championship game. CR
Both teams played an awesome game yesterday!!!
ReplyDeleteTo all the girls on the Derry Imaging team, you're all CHAMPIONS in my book!!! Finishing the season with a 12-0 record, something that no other team in the league accomplished!!! No team is better than the other!!! All the girls on all the teams played their hearts out and I am looking forward to next season!!!
It was an awesome season. Derry Imaging had a great year (undefeated) and so enjoyed the coaches, Bobby, Anna, Alexa and Dave. The parents couldn't be prouder of them. We fought hard girls and came out on top no matter the outcome of the final game. Everyone, including parents and family, took something from this first great year of Derry Little League Softball. Can't wait for the nail biting season next spring!
ReplyDeleteDerry Imaging would have liked some pictures of their team. They had a 12-0 season and there's no pictures of them!
ReplyDeleteDon't know if you were at the game but Carol Robidoux spent the whole game on the side of the red team, that's why there are NO pics of Derry Imaging. Derry Imaging doesn't need pics or a story about them. They are SUPER STARS!!! They'll be back next season :)
ReplyDeleteoh PLEASE! I am sorry Derry Imaging lost but GET OVER IT!!! they didnt win...they had a great season, no one disputs that but come on act like an adult! Atleast Brownell played fair, didnt purposally walk good players! Brownell actually is the team that came out on top! These are kids, take the loss and keep your head up high, you lost big deal, get over it!
ReplyDeleteOK everyone. This is not the place to be fighting over this. Carol was only doing her job (even went out of her way to stay on her own time to give more publicity to the Derry Little League Softball Program). Please do not post any more negative comments here on her personal site.
ReplyDeleteCarol, Thank you.
Derry Little League Softball Program will only grow stronger with help from great people like yourself. We hope to see you again in the future.
My last comment is to ALL 4 Teams, THANKS FOR GREAT SEASON... All the girls ( on ALL 4 TEAMS) were GREAT SPORTS and played there hardest !
Thanks Coach Al Walalis (Brownell Ins) Red Team
I want to thank Carol for staying and posting this article. It is great to read about a program for the kids of our town.
ReplyDeleteIt is very unfortunate that some of the people posting comments acted so childishly.
Remember one of the things children learn in little league is good sportsmanship......the parents also need to show good sportsmanship.
As a coach in town for several years I think this serves as an interesting learning point. Parents are way too focused on the wrong things with youth sports these days. I bet you would be hard pressed to find a kid who really cared much that Carol didn't spend time on their side of the field or write as much about them. They were out there (like most kids in all sports) to have fun and enjoy the game. As I tell all my players and parents each season - "while winning is fun, the score of any game is not as important as the fact that everyone out there is having fun!"
ReplyDeleteParents need to take a lesson from the kids - 2 minutes after a loss the kids are usually laughing and having fun and on to the next adventure - while the parents are still grumbling about missed calls, unfair tactics, the amount of playing time their kid got, etc. Lighten up folks - this is YOUTH sports.
I agree that there should not be any arguing over this. Don't know who posted the negative comments but as a mother of one of the Derry Imaging players, I enjoyed every minute of every game played!
ReplyDeleteThis article was well written and I would like to thank Carol for coming out and covering this game! Congrats to Brownell Insurance we look forward to next year which hopefully involves more girls and more teams! This program was run VERY well and my daughter MaKayla (who had never played the sport before) really enjoyed every minute of playing/practicing! I highly recommend more parents to encourage their children to take part in this league. The coaches, the girls, the league members everyone was great! I know that MaKayla and I have come out of this with a lot of new friends and a memorable experience!
On another note, I don't think that any of the parents from the Derry Imaging team would have posted the negative comments that were made here. None of us reacted childish about this and I am surprise to see what has been written, although the only comment that I found childish was the one about the pictures/Carol. None of the other comments were made in a negative way. If you were in our shoes, you to would think that your child is a champion after the way the season was played!
Carol,
Thank you again for coming out and covering this game, as you said in your comment above you were the only report at the game and we all GREATLY appreciate it.
Sincerely,
Melissa Rogers & MaKayla Baré