By Brett Peruzzi, Contributing Writer
Northborough – It takes more than a global pandemic to keep the region’s young baseball players from hitting the field. The American Legion Zone 4 of Massachusetts baseball season was cancelled due to the COVID- 19 pandemic, so 10 teams scrambled to form the Worcester County Baseball League for a summer season, with social distancing and other health protocols in place to keep the players and coaching staff safe.
The Northborough Legion Team took the league championship, after its 11-5 victory against Leominster.
“It was great to have a summer of kids competing on the baseball field with their friends after missing their spring season,” said Northborough team coach Ken MacDonald. “The team showed a lot of heart and resilience, coming back out of the losers bracket to win six consecutive games and the championship.”
MacDonald cited pitcher Jack Choate of Westborough, who threw a no-hitter in the playoffs against Milford and belted a three-run homer in the clinching championship game versus Leominster as one of the team’s key performers this season. Other standout players included shortstop Patrick Solomon of Southborough, who as lead off hitter had 29 hits, a .403 batting average, 20 stolen bases, 25 runs scored, and turned 15 double plays, as well as right-fielder Drew Lewis-Keddy of Westborough, who had 20 hits, a .320 batting average, 8 doubles, 15 RBIs, 18 stolen bases, and one home run.
“This is a group of kids that truly love the game of baseball and reached their goal of winning a championship after several injuries to key players,” said MacDonald.
The team finished the season in August with 20 wins and nine losses, winning 11 of its last 12 games.
