Minutemen bring their game to Cooperstown.
For a group of local athletes, their field of dreams lies in central New York, rather than Iowa.
The Central Massachusetts Minutemen baseball team recently returned from a week-long experience at the Cooperstown All Star Village in Oneonta, New York.
Competing against some of the top 12U teams in the country, the Minutemen played a total of seven games from Aug. 6 to Aug. 12.
“We finished 52nd out of 72 teams, but the kids had a blast,” said Leominster Little League president Rob Lora, who also coached the team.
“We played with 11 and 12-year-olds, and many of the teams we faced were older, but that didn’t matter. For over a decade, the Minutemen have brought players from Central Massachusetts to this event, offering them a chance to create lasting memories.”
The Cooperstown All Star Village complex includes 12 fields with 70-foot base paths and 50-foot pitching distances.
Each week, Cooperstown All Star Village invites former Major League Baseball players to serve as ambassadors and greet teams during the opening ceremony. During the week that Leominster attended, teams were welcomed by Howard Johnson, a two-time World Series champion, the 1991 National League Home Run and RBI leader, and a member of the New York Mets Hall of Fame.
The week also includes a skills competition before the start of pool play games.
“It’s an incredible experience for the players, coaches, and families. It’s probably the most fun and enjoyable experience I’ve had in my coaching career, and this was my sixth time making the trip,” said Lora. “It’s more about enjoying the moment and having a great time than focusing on wins and losses. You get to see some really talented teams while you’re there.”
Cooperstown All Star Village offers Major League-style baseball fields and amenities, along with onsite accommodations for the entire family.
“In addition to playing baseball, each team has the opportunity to visit the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown,” Lora added. “Another popular activity for the kids is trading pins with players from other teams. Every team has its own pin, and some of the kids come home with 50 or more. Even now, many of the kids are still trading pins on Facebook with teams they didn’t get a chance to trade with in New York. It’s fantastic. With 72 teams participating, you get a list of all the teams, and these kids are forming connections with players from all over the country.”
The Minutemen roster includes 11 players: eight from Leominster, and one each from Clinton, Holden, and Pittsfield.
This year’s team consisted of Rorke Lora, Vin DiGeronimo, Nolan Rondeau, Camden Hofer, Santino Tata, JT Kamataris, Brent Frisch, Weston Wigglesworth, Matt Cirone, Ryan Kelly, and James Wyman.
“What’s great is that some teams include girls on their rosters. It’s not just boys,” said Lora. “There was a team from California that brought all girls, and they were really good. They were hitting home runs and running the bases exceptionally well.”
Assisting Rob Lora this season were Shaun DiGeronimo and Will Vargo.
Lora mentioned that the team plans to register and return to All Star Village to compete again in 2025. Tryouts for that team will be held at Ronnie Bachand Memorial Field in Leominster. Although a date hasn’t been set yet, Lora noted that tryouts will take place in September and will be announced on the Leominster Little League Facebook page.
