Falcons are flying! The UWS Little League team wins the State Championship! – West Side Cloth

By Carol Tannenhauser

Monday, August 1, 2022
Rain, high 77 degrees.

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There’s joy on the Upper West Side!

On Friday, July 29, the West Side Little League junior baseball tournament team – the Hawks – won the New York State Little League Championship.

The 13- and 14-year-old boys will then represent New York in the Little League Eastern Region tournament, playing 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 East Region tournament will go to the Little League Junior World Series in Michigan.

“This is the first time in the league’s 36-year history that one of our teams has won a state championship,” league president Debbie Kling told the Rag. “We are very proud of the players, manager and coaches for this tremendous achievement. And thank you to the parents for their support. The team will qualify for the Eastern Region Tournament next week in Freehold, New Jersey. Come on hawks, go west!

Tournament teams are made up of the most talented and dedicated baseball players in the league’s spring recreational program, Kling said. Many of them have been playing together since they were eight years old. They play at Riverside Park, Central Park and DeWitt Clinton Park.

The Hawks had a shot at the state championship in 2020, but the pandemic ruled them out — or in. Last year, they made it to the United States, but didn’t clinch the title. This year, it all came together.

WSR has contacted some players and parents via email.

“When 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’s great to say I’m a New York State Champion!”

“They train all year and their efforts have paid off,” said Tyler’s proud father, Michael McCarthy. “It’s a well-deserved victory! Come on hawks!””

“I’m proud that my son is playing for a team that is truly diverse and reflective of our community and our city,” said shortstop father Xavier Lehmann.

“This team is like family to me,” said 14-year-old Xavier. “I am happy that I was able to contribute and that we have come this far.”

“We like to play together and have fun,” said 14-year-old left fielder Apollo Quijano.

“This team is like a family,” reiterated 14-year-old shortstop Julian Glasgow. Julian’s father is Jim Glasgow, team manager. “We’ve played so many seasons together and made sacrifices for each other to get to this point,” Julian said. “I look forward to the future.”

The West Side Little League is a 501c3 non-profit organization comprised almost entirely of parent volunteers – on both the coaching and administrative side. To learn more about its programs and scholarships, click here.

Go hawks!