Familiar Place, Different Faces: Bedford Little Leaguers Take Aim at State Title

They have one more loss than they did through the entire 2012 tournament, yet the Bedford Little League 11- and 12-year-old Little League all-stars find themselves in an entirely familiar position.

Last year, the local nine swept through New Hampshire's Division I Little League all-star tournament before sweeping D-II champ Lamprey River to earn a spot on the Eastern Regionals in Bristol, Conn. There, Bedford finished one-win short of reaching the Little League World Series.

This year, the faces are different, but the success has, to this point, been similar.

Though Bedford fell to Manchester North, 7-6, in the D-I winners' bracket semifinals on July 2, the team climbed its way into the tourney championship with three-consecutive losers' bracket victories, including avenging its lone setback with an 8-6 win against Manchester North on July 12.

Bedford continued its streak with a triumph that was impressive by any definition, defeating previously undefeated Salem, 19-1, on Saturday to set up a winner-take-all contest Monday night at 6 p.m. at Michele Memorial Park on Lawrence Road in Salem (directions below).

2013 Bedford 11/12 District Team Roster

Spencer Adams
Jacob Collins
Cade DeStefani
Alex Douidi
Nick Douidi
Noah Hughes
Noah Lavalle
Liam O'Connell
Justin O'Neill
Luke Ramsey
Graham Reynolds
Evan Schwartz
Matthew Zifchak
 
1st Alternate:
Noah Kokkinos
 
Manager: Tim DeStefani
Coaches: Dan Douidi, Brian Hughes

Directions to tonight's are as follows: Take Interstate 93 to Exit 1. Follow road across Rte 28 to the end. Take a right at stop sign onto Lawrence Road. Follow Approximately one mile. At three-way intersection take a left. Follow road approximately 1 mile, after blinking light for the fire station, entrance to Michele Park is on the right. Additional parking is available at the Mary Queen of Peace church just past the entrance to Michele Park.