Saugus Little League Williamsport all-stars begin tournament season with District 16 games

By Joe McConnell

It’s Williamsport Little League all-star time once again, and the 2026 version of the Saugus Little League 11-12-year-old stars ran the gamut of emotions in its District 16 opener against Swampscott at Salem’s Forest River Park on June 30.

“It was a disappointing loss,” said coach John Benoit, “but we started well, leading 8-0 after three innings. Each player in the lineup contributed to the early offense.”

Among the Saugus offensive contributors against its Swampscott counterparts were Jacob Amodeo and Matthew Benoit. They both had two hits each that resulted in them scoring a couple of runs. Dylan Barasso supplied the power with a big two-run double in the first inning. Benoit also pitched scoreless baseball throughout the first three innings of the game, before Amodeo took over the pitching chores in the fourth, which led to another scoreless frame.

The Saugus boys went into the top of the sixth and final inning, maintaining an 8-4 lead, only to see it disappear when Swampscott scored seven times to pullout the win, 11-8.

But the good news is that the Saugus boys have a chance to recover from the heartbreaking loss in this double elimination tournament. They were tentatively scheduled to go up against Wyoma at Lynn’s Reinfuss Field on July 7 (after press deadline). But a rainy Tuesday just might have postponed it.

The Saugus team is made up of 12 players: Jacob Amodeo (outfielder, pitcher); Cadin Arsenault (shortstop); Dylan Barasso (outfielder, extra hitter); Jovan Basta (third baseman, outfielder); Matthew Benoit (catcher, pitcher); Owen Chesna (first baseman, outfielder); Owen Ciampoli (outfielder, extra hitter); Jason Cuddy (catcher, first baseman, outfielder); Joseph Fabrizio (outfielder, second baseman); Cial Gerardi (outfielder, third baseman); Gavin Peavey (second baseman, pitcher); and Joseph Rench (first baseman, extra hitter). John Benoit is the manager of the team, and Jerry Peavey and Gerry Fabrizio are his assistants.

“This is a solid roster with a lot of versatility,” said Benoit. “Many of the players were infielders on their regular season teams, but we are relying on their athleticism to adapt to new positions, so we can be sound all-around. We also have more pitching depth than we have had in previous years.”

If the local all-star nine beats aforementioned Wyoma, they will take on Salem without a day off, which is the life of any team trying to fight its way out of the loser’s bracket. But it can be done.