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By Carol Tannenhauser
Monday, August 1, 2022
Rain, high 77 degrees.
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News
There’s joy on the Upper West Side!
On Friday, July 29th, the West Side Little League’s Juniors Baseball tournament team — the Hawks — won the New York State Little League Championship.
The 13- and 14-year-old boys will next represent New York in Little League’s Eastern Region tournament, competing against teams in their age group from nine other states — New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. The winner of the Eastern Region tournament will go on to compete in Little League’s World Series for Juniors in Michigan.
“This is the first time in the 36-year history of the league that one of our teams has won a state championship,” League President Debbie Kling, emailed the Rag. “We are so proud of the players, manager, and coaches for this tremendous accomplishment. And thanks to the parents for their support. The team advances to the Eastern Region Tournament next week in Freehold, New Jersey. Go Hawks! Go West Side!”
Tournament teams are composed of the most talented and dedicated baseball players from the league’s Spring recreational program, Kling explained. Many of them have been playing together since they were eight years old. They play in Riverside Park, Central Park, and DeWitt Clinton Park.
The Hawks had a shot at the state championship in 2020, but the pandemic shut them out — or in. Last year they made it to the States, but did not snag the title. This year, it all came together.
WSR reached some of the players and parents by email.
“When it is done right, baseball is the most fun sport there is, and we did it right!’ said Tyler McCarthy, 14, who plays second base and pitcher. “It feels awesome to say I am a New York State champion!”
“They practice all year round and their efforts came through,” said Tyler’s proud father, Michael McCarthy. “This is a well-deserved victory! Go Hawks!””
“I’m proud that my son plays for a team that is truly diverse and reflects our community and city,” shortstop Xavier Lehmann’s father said.
“This team is like a family to me,” said Xavier, 14. “I’m happy that I could contribute and that we came this far.”
“We love playing together and having fun,” said Apollo Quijano, 14, left fielder.
“This team is like family,” Julian Glasgow, 14, shortstop, reiterated. Julian’s dad is Jim Glasgow, manager of the team. “We have played so many seasons together and made sacrifices for each other to get to this point,” Julian said. “I am looking forward to the future.”
The West Side Little League is a 501c3 not-for-profit organization composed almost entirely of parent volunteers — both on the coaching and administrative sides. To learn more about its programs and scholarships, click here.
Go Hawks!
One player’s dad said: “I’m proud that my son plays for a team that is truly diverse and reflects our community and city,”
DEFINITELY! Look at the faces in the above photo and the surnames in its caption: ” Carmel, Feliciano, Ferrari, Harrison, Lehmann, Munoz, Quijano, McCarthy, Stern, and Stone”
That is our nabe and our city!
Good job, Hawks! Your neighbors are proud of you! Onward to the Eastern Regionals!
But sorry, the team will not be truly diverse until it includes some girls.
Maybe no girls tried out? Were there short kids on the team? Tall? Jewish? Catholic? Spare the bs and just appreciate the success.
Very well said! Wishing you the best in the next round
Such amazing accomplishment that is the result of hard work and dedication of the players, coaches and families! Go Hawks – this westsider is pulling for you!
Great Job team, Go Hawks, have fun.
Must be the clean healthy drinking water.
Congrats guys. You make us proud.
Beyond proud. CONGRATS HAWKS! WSLL was one of the best experiences I had as a kid in the neighborhood: good competition, good team spirit, brilliant mix of players from every corner of the hood. Went on to v competitive high school and AAU ball from there, some guys even went professional. You all did the league proud. Here’s to many more!
Congratulations and good luck in the regional tournament!
Congratulations! I was a coach in WSLL for several years. Truly enjoyed it. This is a fabulous accomplishment! I was also on a state championship team when I was 14, so I know how excited they must feel.
Wow!
That made me teary. So much bad news out there and this one was just pure joy and accomplishment for some young players. Thanks for sharing!
Big congrats to the Hawk players, coaches and families. Hard work does pay off……let’s go Mylo(a student of mine), proud of you kid.
Again, the UWS gives the Big Apple another small-town touch.
Nice story, but it’s only been 4 years since the West Side Hawks won a NY state championship — a WSLL Hawks 13-year-old team was the Intermediate 50/70 New York Champion in 2018 and represented NY in the Little League Eastern Regional tournament
For those interested – the Hawks won their first game in the regional tournament. They beat the Delaware team 24-7!! Go Hawks.