Old Rochester Youth Baseball strikes up another state tournament run

ROCHESTER — It took a “cast of characters,” as Coach Derek Crippin describes the Old Rochester Youth Baseball 11U All-Stars, to get the team to their fourth state tournament in the last five years. 

While the 11-year-old athletes didn’t advance in the Sunday, July 5 tournament, Crippin said they played their best and learned how to play even better during the rest of the season.

He said the team is made up of hard-working kids who like to have fun, and each one brings a unique personality to the group.

The coach said he sees his responsibilities as reaching beyond just winning games. He said developing talented players is important, but developing young men is even more impactful.

“Teaching them how to be respectful, how to be kind, how to pick each other up — it's really been my focus as a coach,” Crippin said. “Because of that, the wins have come over time.”

In the five years he’s been the coach, he said he’s seen the team win more frequently and get closer to one another. Much of their success, he said, comes from the fact most players have been playing together for years now.

One of those long-time players is Crippin’s son Adam. He said he’s learned a lot about teamwork and coachability from his dad and other coaches.

He said he’s appreciated being more challenged as he’s gotten older, especially when looking back to previous years playing baseball. 

“At that time it was just that you played,” he said. “You have to do your best, but still it's not as hard, but throughout the years your coaches give you more advice and they are a little harder on you.”

His teammates Cullen Heslin, of Fairhaven, and Willie Comorosky and Jack Canton, of Fairhaven, agreed teamwork is important to the 11U Allstars.

The four pitchers said they were excited to return to the state tournament this year, especially because it gave them a chance to play against some new teams. 

Jack has only been playing since last year, and he said he enjoys his teammates and their state tournament appearance. 

“I just like being on the team because all these people are in (recreational leagues), and we're all friendly,” he said. 

Cullen said it was especially fun to play against a team someone he knew played on, but he enjoyed all of their matches during the tournament. 

“I always love states,” Willie said. “The games, they're tight. It's never 30 to zero, we always score a run. Even if we don't win it's fun, because you're with your team the whole day.”