THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, July 17, 2026 Page 13 Youthful Rockies capture the 2026 Everett Little League Major Division city championship By Joe McConnell t’s not an original concept, but it sure is effective when everybody is on the same page in all walks of life. Success usually follows, and it was no different for this year’s Major Division Rockies in the Everett Little League. The Rockies battled the White I Sox all season long that began in early April, and it didn’t end until they slammed the door shut on the Sox in the best of three championship series late last month. They ended up wasting little time dispatching them in two straight games to secure this year’s city title. The Colorado boys won Game 1, 3-1, on June 18, and then proceeded to double up the Sox, 6-3 in the clincher on June 23 after taking a few days off because of weather delays. Manager Ryan McGowan summed up the championship season in basically one word: Unity. “In the end, how great it was to see our players, coaches and parents work together all season long to get this championship,” he said. “There were no dramas or egos, and as a result it was just a great experience enjoyed by everybody connected to this team. We just had a lot of good chemistry going on for us this year.” Speaking of the team, the Rockies could run it all back next year. They only had three 12-year-old graduating players on the roster, and that means the remaining seven have a chance to repeat in 2027. The Rockies recorded a 9-3 regular season record, and were 3-1 in the playoffs. They ended up being the top seed going into the postseason after beating the White Sox, last year’s city champs, three games to two in the regular season. “We played five great games against the White Sox in the regular season, and that got us a first round bye,” said McGowan, a North Attleboro native and a 1996 Bishop Feehan graduate, The Everett Little League Major Division Rockies are the 2026 city champions after beating the White Sox in two straight games late last month. They are, from left, front row, kneeling, O’Neil Santana, Giovanni Abreu Santiago, Angel Rodriguez and Evan MelgarVasquez. Second row, Emil Soto, Jonathan McGowan, J.J. Marchese, Jaxon Allen, Joshua Oliveira and Lorenzo Teixeira. Third row, manager Ryan McGowan, and assistant coaches John Marchese, Gio Abreu-Santiago, Damain Allen and Manny Teixeira. (Courtesy photo) who has been living in Everett since 2008 with his wife Jennifer. She hails from Keene, N.H. They have two children, a daughter, Michaela, 13, and a son, Jonathan, 10, who did his part to help secure the city championship for the Rockies. Both Ryan and Jennifer have been Everett teachers for almost two decades. While Jennifer continues to be on the Whittier School staff, Ryan moved on to become an assistant principal at Medford High School last year. He has been a coach in the Everett Little League the past five years, steadily ascending through the ranks with his son Jonathan. They made it to the Majors this spring with the Rockies, who were the Padres one year ago. After sitting out the first round with that aforementioned bye, the Rockies then dropped an 8-6 decision to the White Sox, their pesky rivals, which pushed them into the losers’ bracket. But they came out of it unscathed after beating the Red Sox in an elimination game, 16-2 to get another chance to beat those White Sox, which they did twice more to win the city title. Mother Nature helped pitcher Angel Rodriguez win both of those games. “Both games were no different than the previous six. They were all evenly-played games, but the difference was Angel (Rodriguez). We were able to start him in both games, because of the weather delays,” said McGowan. Most of the Rockies got a taste of winning one year ago, when as the A’s they captured the Minor Division city championship. McGowan credits his four coaches – John Marchese, Manny Teixeira, Gio Abreu-Santiago and Damain Allen – for much of the team’s success. O’Neil Santana, Giovanni Abreu-Santiago and Evan Melgar-Vasquez were the 12-yearold veterans on the team. “O’Neil was one of our top pitchers, but it was his play behind the plate that made him the MVP of the team,” said McGowan. “(O’Neil) led the team in hitting with a .659 batting average. He also had a team-leading 27 hits and 28 RBI in just 16 games that also included one out of the park homerun, while striking out just twice all season long. Melgar-Vasquez was right behind Rodriguez on the team’s depth chart for pitchers, and was counted on to close out the final two playoff games against the White Sox. He also played third base during this championship season. Jaxon Allen, J.J. Marchese and McGowan rounded out the staff, and they will be back next year, along with Rodriguez to hopefully keep the winning going. McGowan and Marchese also saw time at second base and shortstop, respectively. Lorenzo Teixeira handled the first base chores. Joshua Oliveira, Emil Soto and Abreu-Santiago were the outfielders. James Oliveira also contributed to the championship as a frequent minor division call-up.
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