Its 10 a.m. on a July Friday at the Bates Elementary School, and two of the top high school pitchers in the state take the mound for a championship game in their home town. BC High’s Mike Vasil, the Boston Globe’s Division One Super Eight player of the year, faces Wellesley High’s Henry Weycker, also a Globe All Scholastic who pitched his Wellesley High Raiders to a Division One Eastern Massachusetts Championship. The batters they face range from eight to twelve years old, battling for the legendary Terriers Bucket.
Coaching the next generation is where these high school stars choose to have summer fun giving back to their community. “It means a lot” said Vasil. “When I was younger I remember looking up to the older kids who coached here. Now when you’re the guy giving back you realize its life changing because you’re an influence on the kids for their future as well.”
A summer tradition since 1991, Terriers is a place where kids of all ages come to have fun playing ball. “Almost every one of our coaches enjoyed playing here as a camper, and it has become such a great tradition to see them come back and create such great experiences for the next generation.” said Joe Roberts, who directs the program. “We get them in the game, as pitchers and catchers, quarterbacks in flag football, and in the mayhem of Dodgeball. Our coaches have as much fun as the campers, and the kids absolutely love playing with and against them!”
Coaching also creates valuable learning experiences for high school athletes. Brendan Dolan, a captain of the Raiders baseball team who is heading to Tufts to play football said “It’s a great feeling to help the younger kids have fun and give back to our community.”
Added Jay Driver, a rising sophomore at Wellesley High and also a member of the baseball team this past spring, “I have learned so much from Terriers, whether its sportsmanship, effort or hustle, it helped make me into the athlete and person I am today.”
While some of the coaches might be top players, the campers don’t have to be. “We our proud to be a place where kids with a wide range in age and experience have equal levels of enjoyment playing together” says Roberts. “Our coaches commitment to truly care and get involved are what make it all possible.”
Vasil and Dolan were the latest inductees into the Terrier’s Hall of Fame. Both were honored to be included into the exclusive group joining former Major League Baseball Player Nate Freiman, and yours truly, who were both part of the inaugural 2004 Hall of Fame class.
For the record, Weycker’s Hoya’s (named after Terriers Hall of Famer & Georgetown baseball’s Kevin Superko) beat Vasil’s squad 4-3 to win the bucket. Following an undefeated high school season, it was Vasil’s second “loss” of the summer at Terriers. They lob them in. Their next matchup might be in the ACC with Vasil heading to Virginia (2018) and Weycker Virginia Tech (2019). The Terriers camp program wraps up its 2017 summer the week of August 21st at the Wellesley Recreation Center. The Terriers “Archives”, including the Hall of Fame, photos and highlights are available at www.terrierssports.com
Henry Weycker (Center Right Blue Shirt) and Mike Vasil (Center Left Orange Shirt) engage in a friendly stare down while their teams look on
Henry Weycker (Back Left) and his team the Hoya’s celebrate their Terriers Bucket Championship
Wellesley Sports Blitz 