Everyone wins at Quincy benefit tourney

Weymouth takes baseball end of fun-for-all fundraiser

Quincy’s Adam Nazzaro connects for a base hit during the Patrick White-Jimmy Fund Babe Ruth tournament Tuesday night at Adams Field in Quincy. Behind the plate is Weymouth’s  Steve Bristol. Photo by AMELIA KUNHARDT/The Patriot Ledger

By IAN SPENCER
The Patriot Ledger

QUINCY — It isn’t quite commonplace that a baseball tournament be held in which all teams leave feeling like winners. Sure the Weymouth Babe Ruth 15-year-olds were 8-3 victors in the championship game over the Quincy 14-year-old squad, but it would be hard to tell any team that they didn’t at least win something at the eighth annual Patrick White Jimmy Fund Tournament.

Established in White’s honor, the tournament held at Adams Field has continued its success in raising money for the Jimmy Fund well beyond his passing in 2005. “The tournament is just fantastic,” Weymouth coach Mike Connelly said.

“Anytime there is an event for the Jimmy Fund you know it’s a great cause … We were just lucky to be a part of it, and it’s a been a great time.”

The Weymouth Babe Ruth team advanced to the tournament final with a 2-0-1 record after beating Scituate on a runs-allowed tiebreaker.

In the championship, Steve Bristol drove in four runs for Weymouth and pitchers Andrew Sheridan and Mitch Temple combined to keep the Quincy bats quiet. “All my pitchers have been great,” Connelly said. “We’ve had seven games in four days so pretty much the whole team has pitched. It’s truly been a team effort. These kids were amazing.”

The Quincy team qualified for the final also with a 2-0-1 record, including a victory over the 15 year-old Quincy team; something manager Dick Lombardi said is a big confidence boost for his team heading into the Babe Ruth World Series.

“It was a great tournament,” Lombardi said. “I’ve never made it this far before, and we were one of the few 14 year-old teams here … They hit real well here, and it has really been a good experience.”

Luke McDonough started the game for Quincy and despite a rough patch in the third, showed flashes of brilliance as he struck out 10 Weymouth batters in five innings of work.

After the game, teams were honored with tournament T-shirts presented by White’s family and friends.

“Every kid who grows up in the area dreams of playing on Adams Field, so the kids love it,” Connelly said. “It’s been a wonderful time and we look forward to coming back next year.”
 
Ian Spencer may be reached at ispencer@ledger.com.

 

Quincy’s Adam Nazzaro  is safe at second base after a throw to Weymouth shortstop Nick Barker sails wide in the second inning. Photo by AMELIA KUNHARDT/The Patriot Ledger