By Marc Thaler
Staff Writer

Michael West spouted perhaps the best line of the spring sports season during a recent Cawley Middle School baseball contest.

Cawley Middle School second baseman Keith Pilotte makes a clean toss to first, displaying the type of defense that helped the Hawks to a 2-1 error-free win earlier in the season. (Marc Thaler Photo)

The catcher for the Hawks, one of several true leaders according to head coach Jon Frazier, walked back to the dugout from behind home plate after his teammates turned a textbook 6-4-3 inning-ending double play on May 12.

"I've never been on the defensive end of a double play before," West said while lifting his catcher's mask above his face to reveal a huge smile. "I've always hit into them."

It's been a tough season on the diamond for the 2005 Hawks. But one would never know the ball hasn't consistently bounced their way. This crew, quite simply, is devoted to having a good time on the diamond.

"This team is dedicated to playing baseball," Frazier said. "They come to the field and work hard every day with a lot of enthusiasm."

There might not be a more relaxed bunch of baseball players in Tri-County competition this season.

There's no question the transition to the bigger diamond and more spacious field have created new challenges for many players, Frazier said.

"It's a big leap to come and play under high school rules on a major-league diamond," Frazier said. "When they're playing for the first time at this level - facing older kids, faster pitching and better defense - it takes some getting used to."

Still, overcoming new obstacles is a part of life, Frazier added. Although most of the outcomes haven't gone in the team's favor, the coach said his boys are a success story.

These Hawks simply refuse to quit because the road is a bit bumpy. And Frazier said that's a more telling sign than anything a scoreboard can offer.

"With all the choices they'll have to make in their lives, sports provides them with an opportunity to learn to work hard and support others," Frazier said. "Natural leaders develop as they learn how to work with teammates."

In fact, the group's ability to embrace teamwork produced a tremendous CMS victory earlier this season.

Facing Nashua Christian, Cawley won a 2-1 contest, plating the winning run on a Ryan Duckless double in the last of the seventh inning.

The coach said the Hawks received a spectacular effort on the hill from Anthony Petroski, backed by stellar defense. "Our team had no errors," Frazier said. "These guys played a flawless game on defense. Rarely do you see that at this level."

The complete '05 Cawley baseball roster includes Chase Ciechon, Timothy Clemene, Sean Connolly, Jake Desharnais, Duckless, Jesse Greene, Matthew Lessard, Stephen Maccini, Bryan Medeiros, Keith Pilotte, Petroski and West.

"As coaches, our jobs are to create positive mental attitudes whether the game ends in a win or a loss," Frazier said. "That translates to other things later in life. And the chances of having a satisfying life are much greater."