Page 4 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2021 ASKS | FROM PAGE 3 Texas, to advance to the Final Four of the Little League World Series. He went on to play baseball at Fisher College in Boston. “Just the experience with all these boys – all of us great friends. Everybody still keeps in touch. Gotta remember that the parents supported us so much that summer – the parents not being able to work and traveling with us all summer. But it was definitely worth it.” Craig Cole, 30, of Saugus: He was the shortstop and pitcher on the Little League World Series team. He played a year of baseball at Bunker Hill Community College. He now works for the state Department of Revenue. “All of the fun I had with my friends and just being with my friends every day – we were close friends. I just wish it never ended. And today I’ve got two beautiful little boys.” Tyler Calla, 30 of Winchester: He was the catcher on the Little League World Series team. He is a Saugus 6th Grade STEM teacher and was recently named the varsity golf coach at Saugus Middle-High School. MARK SACCO: The first baseman and pitcher on the 2003 Saugus Little League World THE 2003 SAUGUS BOYS OF SUMMER: These 12 boys finished second in the United States and fourth in the world after making it to the semifinals of the Little League World Series. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate) He played two years of baseball at Wheaton College. “It was really a dream come true. Everybody had a job to do. Everybody worked their butts off. We had three good coaches. It was a recipe for a really good Little League team.” Ryan Bateman, 31, of Saugus: He was a utility player. He works at a cafe and medical facility. “Having a great time with my friends and traveling around the country and meeting a lot of cool people.” Matt Muldoon, 30, of Plymouth: He was a pitcher and played first base. He went on to be a designated hitter and first baseman on the baseball team at Colby-Sawyer College in New London, N.H. He is now an account manager for a software company. “Just how fun it was and playing baseball with some real close friends and not knowing how close you would get to the championship. There is something special about a summer with your best friends – and we continue to enjoy it. I’m glad to be able to be here with the team – this time for Dario and his mom at this MS4MS event. She was a big part of that summer.” Rob Rochenski, of Amesbury: He was manager of the Saugus Little League World Series team. He’s a carpenter with a wife and three children. His dad still lives in Saugus. “My most memorable moment: I never realized how good we were until it was over. Every round that we made it to, we were the best in that round until we got to the semifinals. We finished fourth in the world and second in the United States. But we beat every team in the U.S. We beat the Boynton Beach, Fla., team earlier. But they beat us in the semifinals. Before we got to the Little League World Series, we were 18-1. It was just a great ride, and we haven’t missed a beat. We continue to stay in touch. I get invited to weddings and I’m seeing them raise their own children now. That’s pretty cool.” Mark Sacco, 30, of Saugus: He played first base and pitched on the Saugus Little League World Series team. He’s now a construction worker. “The chemistry of everyone working together – it was a great crew. We all played baseball together for years past. And we all gelled and had a hell of a season. We were a hell of a good team.” Charlie Bilton, of Rowley: He was a coach on the Little Series squad proudly recalled, “We were a hell of a good team.” (Saugus Advocate photo by Mark E. Vogler) RYAN BATEMAN: The utility player on the 2003 Saugus Little League World Series team remembers most about the unforgettable summer “Having a great time with my friends and traveling around the country and meeting a lot of cool people.” (Saugus Advocate photo by Mark E. Vogler) League World Series team. A 1967 Saugus High School graduate, he has been coaching baseball for 53 years. “As a unit, they were outstanding. Individually, they weren’t. But they put in the time. All they wanted to do was keep playing baseball. We pushed them really hard, and they were willing to put the work in. They had a dream that summer. It started out with 8,000 teams that summer, and we got down to the final two in the U.S. We had Boynton Beach in pool play, but they beat in the final [U.S.]. It was just an amazing experience for everyone involved. There were 40,000 people in the stands for the games. And there were buses of people coming down from Saugus.” Mike Scuzzarella, 31, of Saugus: He was a pitcher and played shortstop on the Saugus Little League World Series team. He’s an engineer and has ASKS | SEE PAGE 14
5 Publizr Home