Grosse Pointe Woods — “Sweet Baby Jesus.”
Of the zillion details swirling in Coach Tom Mazzola’s mind as Grosse Pointe Woods-Shores Little League team prepared for the opening round of the Little League World Series, this one caused him to pause.
“Coach,” asked the kids, “can we use Sweet Baby Jesus in our prayer?”
“Well, uh, I guess so.” Who was he, after all, to turn down any divine assistance?
The team added the Hail Mary to the invocation in their pregame ritual in pursuit of fame and glory.
They didn’t bring home the grand prize of a world championship, but the 11- to 13-year-old boys got their share of fame and glory and something else — lifelong lessons.
Representing the Great Lakes Region (the second team from the Pointes to reach the World Series — the other in 1979 — and the 10th team from Michigan overall in the World Series’ 67 years), Woods-Shores was eliminated in the championship round, losing to California and Iowa, but went on to split a pair of consolation-round games, losing to Czech Republic and beating Australia.
Ten of the 13 players and three of the coaches were from Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish in Grosse Pointe Woods and St. Joan of Arc Parish in nearby St. Clair Shores.
The Star of the Sea contingent was Coach Mazzola and his son, Jimmy, along with cousins Ryan Duffy and Tommy Maxey, John Cullen, John Lizza, Antonio Moceri and Joey Rheaume. From St. Joan of Arc were Coach Patrick Zschering and his son, Evan, Coach Louis Cardinale and his son, Louis, and Ryan Shanley.
The non-parishioner members on the roster were Tyler Hall, Chad Lorkowski and Jackson Vyletel.
They were honored Aug. 25 during 9:30 a.m. Mass at Star of the Sea.
Expressing the community’s pride in their accomplishment, pastor Msgr. Gary Smetanka urged the boys “to appreciate the talents God gave them and to share them with others.”
Picking up the theme of discipline from the liturgy’s second reading, Msgr. Smetanka told them discipline is “the way to achieve a goal ... whether in all aspects of life or in faith, giving of ourselves in prayer and trust to God.”
The nearly monthlong journey to Williamsport, Pa., where 16 teams from the USA and overseas gathered for 10 days of intense competition, occupied the minds, hearts — and budgets — of families and fans.
After winning the district title in nearby Clinton Township, the caravan of players, coaches, parents and fans traveled 500 miles to Ishpeming in the Upper Peninsula for the state crown, then freshened up and got back on the road for the 350 miles to Indianapolis for the regional championship. These were weeklong events.
At this point, the team’s expenses, including round-trip air fare, was underwritten by Little League. Their fans had to pile back into cars and vans for the sojourn to the middle of Pennsylvania.
“There must have been a hundred people (at Williamsport) from Grosse Pointe supporting us,” says Coach Zschering.
Amidst the hoopla, the boys’ attention had to be primed on the business of baseball.
“Coach Mazzola was a greater motivator,” says parent Pat Vyletel. “All the boys bought into their role. They all did their part for the team.”
The players and coaches all stayed together in barracks-style buildings with bunk beds, with up to two or three other teams.
“The boys became closer. They were like 13 brothers and we were their uncles,” says Zschering.
People clamoring for autographs was novel. “Some of these boys grew up in a hurry,” Zschering continued. “We told them to be polite, to say thank you. Some boys came out of their shells” in the light of the rock-star attention they were getting.
For Coach Mazzola, this was the pinnacle of his 10 years coaching Little League. He’s going to give up the role in favor of spending time with his three other children.
“The magnitude of this was huge. It was a worldwide stage,” he said.
Sweet Baby Jesus.
Don Horkey is a freelance writer from Shelby Township. He may be reached at [email protected].
