Wayland Teams Win Jimmy Fund League Championships

Wayland's youth baseball showed its strength this summer as both the major league and minor league teams in the Jimmy Fund League emerged from tough seasons as champions.

Daniel Caples, of the Wayland Baseball and Softball Association, said that the Wayland Jimmy Fund Majors Team played a perfect 12-0 season on the way to a Jimmy Fund West Championship. Other towns represented in this summer league included Lincoln, Sudbury, Concord, Carlisle, Acton and Maynard.

And the Wayland Jimmy Fund Minor Black Team also played a hard-fought season before securing a victory. Michael Wegerbauer provided the following details:

After hard earned victories on Tuesday and Thursday earlier in the week against tough Concord-Carlisle and Sudbury-Lincoln teams, the Wayland Minor Black team took the field Friday, Aug. 3, to face off against the top seed Weston team.

Wayland struggled early against tough Weston pitching and defense, but staged a five-run rally in the top of the fifth to come back from a 3-0 deficit, then hung on with solid pitching and some great defense to win the Jimmy Fund Championship under the lights at Featherland Park in Sudbury.

The Jimmy Fund Little League Program began in 1987 and allows young ball players to play the game they love while working to raise money and awareness for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund.

According to the league's website, teams conduct canister collections around town, host bake sales and car washes, and participate in other fundraising activities all while participating in a special Little League experience.

Teams raised more than $250,000 in 2011.

"Wayland Baseball & Softball Association is honored to be part of [the Jimmy Fund League] and help raise awareness and funds through this unique league," Caples said.