Millerton looks back on a winning combination

MILLERTON — Sept. 2 was a nostalgic moment for the Millerton Babe Ruth squad. Cake was cut; uniforms were donned for the final time this season. It was a celebration lap for the 14 players, three coaches and countless parents of the team that clinched the Colonial League championship over Pine Plains in July in a double-header.

“We knew Pine Plains was the team to beat,� explained head coach Ron Wilson. “They’d beaten us twice.�

“But those were games where we beat ourselves,� coach Mike Setaro added. “And I think the kids learned from that and gained confidence.�

Teams in Millerton, Amenia, Pine Plains, Lakeville and North Canaan, as well as a Sharon/Cornwall/Kent conglomerate, form the Colonial League. This was Wilson’s second year coaching, but he’s familiar with many of the players as he coached them during their Little League years.

Along with cake-cutting and sharing memories of victory, Wilson passed out baseball bat-trophies to each of his players, and everybody got a chance to take in the team trophy that will sit in Millerton Village Hall for the next year. Going back to 2001 (the first year that specific trophy listed the champions), Millerton had yet to win the title, and a parent attending the championship game speculated that a Millerton Babe Ruth team hadn’t won the championship since the early 1990s.

Their winning season began at the end of June, after school let out for the summer. There were some losses, but strong victories as well, leading to a final season record of 7-3.

“They’ve been a really good group of guys,� Wilson said. “The big thing is that they support each other.�

Pitcher, catcher and outfielder Steven Hutchinson, who threw a one-hitter and a complete game in the final championship match, echoed that sentiment.

“We were one of the best teams I’ve ever played on,� he said. “The trust really came out this year.�

After defeating North Canaan by one run in the bottom of the seventh, Millerton advanced in the championship tournament to the finals, meeting Pine Plains. The best-of-three series found Pine Plains winning the first game 10-8. The final two games were then to be played back-to-back, with what Wilson called “a pitching duel� dominating the first game, won 2-1 by Millerton. Wilson said his team’s pitching depth (there are several solid hurlers on the squad) paid off in the second game, with Millerton winning by a score of 15-2.

It was Eddie Rich’s favorite game of the season, the pitcher, catcher and third-baseman said. Eddie, who is 16, will move up to the Connie Mack league next year, after playing four years at this level.

“We were more energetic,� he explained. “Last year we didn’t seem like we wanted to play as much.� Eddie said he would miss his teammates and the good coaching, but that he was looking forward to the step up.

Justin Lind is the only other player leaving the team next year. Returning players are Brian Christofel, Andrew Schultz, Steven Hutchinson, Tyler and Hunter Smith, Jordan Mayville, Joey Milano, Justin and Jade Martel, Griffin Wilson, Joe Giblin and Matt Matteo.

Wilson will be returning as well, along with coaches Setaro and Joe McEnroe, who also works with the Webutuck junior varsity squad, which features a nearly identical lineup.

“This year we were aggressive, with some solid defense and clutch hitting,� Wilson remarked. “We’re losing two guys next year, but we’ve got a good bunch who are returning.�

“I’ll be back for next  year,â€� Hutchinson said. “I hope we come back and win the championship again.â€�