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09/28/2020 12:00 AMThe Guilford 10-12 Little League All-Star baseball team went on a remarkable run to win the District 9 title and advance to its Sectional Tournament this summer. Although Guilford’s summer of success came to an end in the sectional final, Head Coach Mark Matlosz was proud of his team for having such a memorable season.
Guilford claimed the District 9 crown by defeating Madison in the best-of-3 championship series. Guilford took a 5-1 loss in the first game, but then won the next two games while facing elimination, earning a 1-0 win and then a 3-2 victory that solidified the title.
By virtue of winning districts, Guilford moved on to its Sectional Tournament. Guilford lost a 6-1 decision to Montville-New London in its first game of group play, but then bounced back to notch a 4-1 win over Rocky Hill to advance to the championship.
On Sept. 27, Guilford had a rematch against Montville-New London with the title on the line and took an 11-1 defeat. If Guilford had won sectionals, the team would have advanced to the state final.
“All of us thought that the tournaments were going to stop at the district level. The [10-12] team was the only team that got to play past districts,” Coach Matlosz said. “All the younger kids were stopped after the District Tournament, so we were fortunate enough to play as long as we did.”
Coach Matlosz credited all 13 players on his team for contributing to Guilford’s successful season. Matlosz said that each and every one of them made an impact throughout the District and Sectional tournaments.
The players on Guilford’s roster are Liam Earle, Ryan Kennedy, Ethan Loban, Finn Matlosz, Logan Matlosz, Patrick McGowan, Austin O’Brien, Henry Ogeneski, Alex Riga, Cade Rinehart, Aiden Ruotolo, Tanner Smith, and Alex Tafro. Coach Matlosz’s coaching staff includes assistant coaches Chris Loban and Chris Ogeneski. Matlosz has coached every player on the squad since they were in tee-ball.
“I looked quickly at stats, but they don’t do this team justice,” said Matlosz. “A great coach once told me that players win games, and we have good players. These kids played unselfishly, with many of them not playing as much as they were used to, but sacrificing for the good of the team as a whole.”
Matlosz also credited the team’s parents for consistently lending a hand at the games and supporting the coaching staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Honestly, it wasn’t just the kids, but the parents as well, who never had a bad thing to say. They all encouraged this team from the first pitch to the last,” Matlosz said. “There was a lot of time committed to this team by players and parents alike. Much of it was decided in the last minutes due to so much craziness, and the only thing anyone ever said to me was, ‘What can I do to help?’”
Guilford started off its run to the District 9 title by posting a 6-0 record in pool play of the tournament. Guilford earned wins versus Essex (4-3), Deep River (9-2), Madison (7-4), Portland (10-1), East Hampton (7-1), and Clinton (2-1) to advance to the final, where it faced Madison in a best-of-3 series.
Coach Matlosz was impressed with the way his team shook off its loss to Madison in the opener to win the next two games in dramatic fashion and capture the title.
“We lost the first game, but ended up winning on walk-offs the next two games,” Coach Matlosz said. “We won 3-2 in the final game, and it was a great way to win the championship. We relied heavily on our pitching and fielding throughout the postseason.”
Even with all the success, Matlosz said that his favorite part of coaching the team was seeing the kids evolve as baseball players and develop into strong athletes.
“I’ve been assisting with the Guilford AAU program since these kids first started. There is no better feeling for me seeing them grow up and turn into a fine group of young athletes,” said Matlosz. “Most importantly, they’re a well-rounded team. They all enjoy being with each other, and that’s what makes it so fun for all of us.”
As he reflects upon an enjoyable summer, Matlosz said that he and his fellow coaches couldn’t be prouder of how Guilford represented itself on the ballfield throughout its championship run.
“All of Guilford should be proud that they are helping to raise great kids,” Matlosz said. “I know we are only going to get better with time, and I’m looking forward to seeing what they can accomplish in the future.”