Chuckie Cassaro played Little League baseball as a kid so he knows how much fun the sport can be. He also knows that the more you play the game, the more you improve your skills.
That’s why Cassaro, head coach of the East Boston Little League Two 9-10-year-old team, and his fellow coaches, Hugh Albert, Jim Brayden, and Paul Feudo are so proud of all the players on their team who made the commitment to compete in the District Jimmy Fund Tournament.
The Eastie team practiced two or three times a week – sometimes on sizzling hot days – and played seven games against other Boston-area teams. Though some of the players weren’t accustomed at first to the Major Division rules such as being allowed to steal bases, they adapted quickly to the new format.
“It took the players a couple of games to get used to the different rules, but from the first two games to the last five, the coaches saw a huge improvement in the team,” said Cassaro.
The pitchers for the team were John Festa, Anthony Caceres, and CJ Cassaro. Domenic Delvecchio became the team’s No. 1 catcher, making a major improvement in his skills from the first game of the season back in April.
Caceres, Sidney Albert, and Miles Albert played in the Minor Division this season but the 10-year-old trio is now ready to make the jump to the Major Division next season.
“It was just a great experience for everyone involved,” said Cassaro. “The kids totally improved their baseball skills. I’m looking forward to coaching these kids right through Little League and beyond.”
The other East Boston Little League 9-10-year-old team (Eastie One), led by coach Thomas Henderson, took notice of Eastie Two’s performance in the tournament and paid it a high compliment by inviting some of the players to join its team for the playoff rounds.
That Eastie team will play for the Jimmy Fund Tournament championship on Sept. 1.