ANDOVER — Andover Little League has history this time of year, as in developing very good baseball teams.
The town has produced several teams that have gone on to district, sectional, state and New England regional Little League championships, including one that made it to Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa. in 1988.
In fact, last year, an Andover team got to the state championship, finishing fourth overall out of 160 teams.
State Little League officials offered Andover the opportunity to host the 2024 Massachusetts State Little League Championships at the Deyermond Park Complex, and its three fields, on Blanchard Street.
Andover, of course, accepted.
The four sectional champions will begin play on Thurs, July 25 through Sun., July 28. The winner advances to the New England Championships in Bristol, Conn. the following week.
“We are very proud of our facilities,” said A.L.L. president Ryan Murphy. “Our fields are very nice. We just added a new press box. They came by last August and asked us to consider hosting the state tournament.
“It’s a lot of work, no doubt, but for us it’s a chance to showcase what we have here, which is a great place to play and watch Little League Baseball,” said Murphy. “We’ve had some real good teams over the years, including last year’s team. It would be awesome to have one of our teams here.”
Murphy made the trip to Williamsport in 1988 to see the Andover team play a consolation game. It was memorable and definitely stoked the flame inside of him to be part of the town’s program when he had children.
“I saw pictures the other day from that team, seeing Jim Arnold, who was a great person and great for the town’s baseball program,” said Murphy. “Those kids, that team, really was special.”
All of the Andover Little League tournament teams – 10, 11 and 12-year-olds – the 12-year-old “Williamsport” team begins its District 13 schedule in Wakefield on Thursday.
Because some area towns have left Little League Baseball for the Cal Ripken Baseball, including North Andover and Tewksbury, Andover has been moved to a new district alignment that includes Acton-Boxboro, Billerica, North Reading, Reading, Wayland-Weston, Wilmington and Stoneham.
The District 13 semis will be on Wed., July 10 in North Reading and the championship on Thur., July 11 in Woburn.
“It’s a long run but it’s worth it,” said Murphy. “We are looking forward to a great July of baseball and showing people what we have here in Andover.”