Summer And Baseball - Commack North Little League Team Moves Into Finals

By Dana Klosner

The Commack North Little League Team has done it again. This team of 13 twelve and thirteen year olds has won the District 34 Williamsport Championship for the second year in a row. They have a 6-0 record beating Bayshore on July 7^th in the championship game. They are now in the Eastern Regional Finals, in which they made it to the semi-finals last year, losing to the eventual US Champion.  The Eastern Regional Finals will be played locally at Commack North’s Cedar Road Baseball Complex. They will be competing against 9 teams from Maryland to Massachusetts and all states in between. If they win the Eastern Regional Finals they will go on to California to represent the East Coast in a chance for the US title, where they will play teams from the Mid-West and the West. If they go on to win that they will be the US champions and go on to play in the Little League Baseball World Series. 

“The team is made of up 13 boys who love baseball for what it is,” said Team Manager Doug Silverman. “They just love to play the game. Last year we had 9 thirteen year olds and 4 twelve year olds. This year we have 10 twelve year olds and 3 thirteen years olds. You wouldn’t be able to tell the difference. They are confident and assured of themselves. This is a fun game regardless of how competitive this tournament can be. Of course they want to win, but they just love playing this game. They also love it that the community is behind them. Lots of people from the community come out and support them and they love the attention.” 

This is the first time the boys have been playing together as a team. They’ve only been practicing together since June.

“There’s lots of camaraderie among them,” Silverman said. “Each one plays his role. No one thinks they stand out. Their motto is thirteen for one. Everyone plays their own role and do the best they can. I have a lot of fun coaching these boys.”

The boys agree with Doug Silverman. It’s all about the game.

“I was six years old when I started playing,” said Nick DeCicco, now 13, who plays short stop and pitcher “My parents started me up with it. I got into it. You always push yourself to do better.”

“Getting to play is good,” he went one. “And the amount of fans that show up is great. I love the excitement of all of it. We’re all motivated to win. Everyone’s goal is to go to California.”

For Drew Silverman, Doug Silverman’s son, who plays pitcher and catcher, baseball is just fun.

“It’s a good time,” Drew said. “It’s fun, anything can happen. It’s a great time to hang out with the guys.”

Drew, who has been playing the game since he was three years old, is motivated by watching sports.

“I love watching them do really good.”

Drew’s advice to other kids: “It’s fun, it keeps you active, and it’s a good chance to hang out with your friends.” 

And what do the boys think their chances of winning are?

“I think we have a strong chance,” said Nick. “We have pitching depth, a great amount of hitting and our fielding is good.”

“We’re just as good as last year,” said Drew.  “Anything’s possible.”