The Greater Sanford Babe Ruth 14U All-Stars take the field during the opening ceremony of the Babe Ruth World Series in Branson, MO, proudly representing Maine on the national stage.
Photo: Christine O’Donnell
By Brett Williams
The Greater Sanford Babe Ruth 14U All-Stars achieved a once-in-a-lifetime milestone this summer, representing Maine and New England in the Babe Ruth World Series in Branson, Missouri, and finishing among the top 12 teams in the world.
“It’s what every kid dreams of, really, making it all the way to the World Series,” said volunteer head coach Chris Hill. “We went out there with no expectations and came away with a couple of wins, great competition, and an experience these kids will carry forever.”
The journey would not have been possible without an outpouring of community support. In just under two weeks, Sanford rallied to raise more than $50,000 to cover the cost of travel, lodging, and tournament expenses. Three major donors, the Gerard and Gertrude Genest Gift Fund, the Mapes Family, and Marc Motors, led the charge, alongside dozens of local businesses and families who contributed what they could. “The community stepped up in such a huge way and so quickly,” Hill said. “We exceeded our expectations and our goal.”
For the players, that support meant the world. “We were the underdogs the whole time, and I felt like we just wanted to go out there and show what we could do for Sanford,” said outfielder Max Cote. Pitcher Tyler Do added, “That’s really what got us there and pulled us through. I don’t think a lot of the parents or kids could have gone without the sponsors. We’re really grateful for everyone who pitched in, even if it was little.”
After flying from Boston to St. Louis, the team made the four-hour drive into Branson. Their hotel complex buzzed with players from around the world. Max described the scene as surreal: “You’d walk through the hotel and be like, ‘Oh, there’s Panama, we play them tomorrow.’ It was so cool to be surrounded by kids from all over the world who were there for the same reason…to play baseball.” For Tyler, the World Series didn’t feel real until it was time to play ball. “When we got our badges and stepped on the field in Branson, it finally clicked, we’re actually playing at the World Series.”
Sanford faced tough competition in pool play, opening with a 17-1 loss to Panama before bouncing back with a 9-5 win over the United Kingdom. A loss to the Pacific Southwest team from California followed, but Sanford rallied to defeat the Philippines 5-4, clinching a spot in the championship bracket and a place among the top 12 teams in the world. “That game came down to the wire, and we just played our hearts out,” Max said. “It really represents what we were about.”
Tyler had one of his best performances on the mound in that same game. “My energy was super high, I ended up with nine strikeouts,” he said. “It was kind of surreal, being out there competing against kids from other countries and realizing, wow, I’m doing this on a world stage.”
Head Coach Chris Hill talks strategy with Parker Bjorklund during World Series play in Branson, MO.
Photo: Christine O’Donnell
Sanford’s final matchup came against Manassas, Virginia. Though the team fell 4-0, the score didn’t tell the whole story. The game was scoreless until the fifth inning, and Sanford actually out hit Virginia, seven hits to four. “We were in it tooth and nail right to the end,” Hill said. “That was probably one of the best games we played.”
Back in Maine, the community gathered for viewing parties at local businesses and followed livestreams to cheer on their team. “At first, we thought nobody was seeing the games except our parents,” Tyler said. “Then we started hearing about watch parties back home, and it was kind of crazy how many people we didn’t even know were following us. It really showed how much people cared about local Babe Ruth.”
Hill hopes the team’s success inspires future generations of Sanford athletes. “We showed the entire community and state that we can travel playing rec ball as well, and we can compete with the best in the world,” he said. “Finishing in the top 12 is nothing to hang your head at.” Max emphasized the pride of doing it as a hometown team: “It wasn’t travel ball, it was community ball, with kids we’ve been playing with for years. And we finished top 12 in the world. That’s pretty special.” Tyler added, “Usually we just hope to make it to states. This time, we were playing countries. And to know that we were a true Babe Ruth team, not a travel ball team, made us proud. We earned this together.”
Coaching the team were Manager and Head Coach Chris Hill, Assistant Coach and League President Kevin Do, and Assistant Coach Jeff Marcotte. The team is comprised of players from Sanford and Massabesic schools. Players on the roster included Kasey Bean, Parker Bjorklund, Max Cote, Tyler Do, Brayden Dupuis, Donovan Harvey, Patrick Jones, Turner Knox, Noah Lachance, Henry Marcotte, Issac Mann, Joe Reed, Landen Richard, Parker Soule-Parent, and Logan Thomas.
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