Latest news with #BraintreeAmericanLittleLeague
Boston Globe
5 days ago
- Sport
- Boston Globe
From ‘Kippenhan Slam' to ‘Trotta Chop,' Braintree tavern features Little League stars on the menu
Over the past six days, the restaurant has featured a dozen specials in all, each named after a player. From the Owen 'Kippenhan Slam,' a juicy club sandwich packed with turkey, ham, lettuce, tomato, and bacon, to the Colman 'Gouthro's Piccata,' with pan-seared chicken medallions, and the Trevor 'Inglis Chicken Tacos,' three tacos filled to the brim with crispy fried chicken, fans have had their pick of the roster. 'They're ecstatic,' Sean Conroy, one of the Braintree restaurant's managing partners, said about the players and their parents. 'It's just awesome the way the town is coming together.' 'Living the dream through the kids,' he added. Advertisement the New England regional title in Bristol, Conn., with a wild walk-off win, as Since then, the team participated in a and hundreds of supportive posters were posted across town. At 3 p.m. Thursday, the team will take on Irmo, S.C., the Southeast champion. Conroy said the tavern, which opened 13 years ago, decided to add to the players' growing star power. Ten of the dishes correlate to the namesake's favorite food, Conroy said. Advertisement 'This is a tremendous memory for the kids, and SouthSide has been a tremendous supporter,' said Steve Pratt, vice president of Braintree American Little League since 2022. Pratt said the kids have been getting text messages from friends eating their meals all week. 'They're getting a kick out of it,' he said. The restaurant has been streaming every game during the playoffs on its TVs 'from day one,' Conroy said. More than 100 people have packed the bar during each game, he said. 'It's been crazy,' Conroy said. 'People chant 'Braintree.' Everyone's going nuts over the games. It's like a World Series or Super Bowl.' On Thursday, the restaurant will be a 'full house,' Conroy said, with reservations and calls coming in all morning. Conroy, who coached the Braintree American team for years while his son was on the team, said the games are 'personal' for the town. 'Everyone comes together,' he said. 'Hopefully, they get a big win today.' Here's a full list of the new food items being featured. Charlie 'Doolin Loaded Tots' — Crispy fried tater tots, melted Monterey Jack cheese, crispy chopped bacon, and fried Asian tenders. Finished with scallions and a side of ranch. Frankie 'Fasoli's Baked Penne & Meatballs' — Penne pasta with homemade meatballs smothered with marinara, melted mozzarella, and Parmesan cheese. Finished with fresh basil and garlic bread. Jack 'Cushing Grilled Cheese' — American cheese, imported ham, red onion, and tomato on grilled sourdough bread. Served with fries. Sam 'Trotta Chop' — A grilled pork chop marinated in an herb vinaigrette over mashed potatoes with sautéed spinach. Caden 'McCarthy Chicken Wrap' — Crispy fried chicken lettuce, tomato, cheddar cheese, and honey mustard in a grilled white wrap served with fries. Henry 'Kuka Burger' — Angus beef patty topped with cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, bacon, and pickle chips. Topped with BBQ ranch on a toasted roll and served with fries. Logan 'Needle's Mixed Grill' — Grilled steak tips and marinated chicken breast served with jasmine rice and a side caesar salad. Cam 'Naumann Salmon' — Grilled salmon served with sautéed spinach, grilled zucchini, and grilled squash covered in lemon butter sauce. Colman 'Gouthro's Piccata' — Pan-seared chicken medallions, fresh capers, garlic white wine, lemon butter sauce over angel hair pasta finished with fresh herbs, Ryan 'Fennell Fried Chicken' — Hand battered and deep fried chicken served over mashed potatoes with a side of broccoli and topped with house gravy. Trevor 'Inglis Chicken Tacos' — Three flour tortillas filled with crispy fried chicken, cilantro slaw, cheddar cheese, and avocado. Topped with salsa roja, served with sour cream. Owen 'Kippenhan Slam' — Classic club sandwich with oven roasted turkey, ham, swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato, bacon, and mayo on toasted white bread served with fries. Globe correspondent Alexandria Evans contributed to this report. Ava Berger can be reached at
Boston Globe
6 days ago
- Sport
- Boston Globe
‘We caught lightning in a bottle': Braintree baseball is riding high into the Little League World Series
Frankie Fasoli's heads-up base running created a highlight for life. 'He's an 85-pound kid that plays like he's 6-foot-5,' said Braintree American Little League president Nick DiMartino. 'He's one of the smartest 12-year-old baseball players I've ever seen in my life.' Advertisement After the walkoff win, assistant coach PJ Kippenhan stayed awake until 2:30 a.m., responding to 440 text messages. Videos from Jake and Joe's, The Tree, and Braintree Brewhouse erupting in celebration poured in. Frank Fasoli had 288 text messages of his own, from friends, co-workers, and former college roommates. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up In 72 years, Braintree American had never won a state title. Now, it is at the pinnacle of the sport, serving as the heartbeat of a proud baseball town. Representing New England, Braintree American will open its Little League World Series campaign against Irmo, S.C., the Southeast champion, on Thursday at 3 p.m., on ESPN. Braintree American on their float for the LLWS welcome parade! — Braintree American Little League (@braintreeALL) 'This is the biggest story in town ever,' said DiMartino. 'This is the biggest baseball story in the history of Braintree.' Advertisement Braintree American owns a spotless record, undefeated in its march to Williamsport, Pa. The adversity of years prior shaped this team. Tee ball in Braintree begins at 6 years old. The first year of baseball is at 8, which consists strictly of league play. This group was the first 8U team in Braintree American history to win the Friendship League. The same coaching staff of Frank Fasoli, Kippenhan, and Shaun Needle has been with this group from the beginning. In the age of AAU baseball and privatization of youth sports, this group has stuck together to compete every summer. 'They're like my own family,' said Frank Fasoli. At 10 years old, they were in the mix but fell short to Norwell in District 8. Last summer, the 11U Braintree American team lost in the district championship, again to Norwell. Kippenhan instructed the players to remember the feeling of watching Norwell celebrate on their field. Fast forward a summer, and Braintree American dances on as one of the final 10 teams out of 6,000 in the country. 'This year, we caught lightning in a bottle,' said Kippenhan. 'There's something special about this group.' Pitching and defense carry the team. Colman Gouthro, Frankie Fasoli, and Henry Kuka serve as the team's aces. Gouthro lights up the radar gun in the low 70s, while Fasoli and Kuka can fire in the high 60s. Gouthro swings a powerful bat, launching home runs throughout the summer. He left the park in the District 8 final, a 9-3 victory over Hingham, and in the sectional final, a 3-1 victory against Bridgewater. In the Braintree American home run derby, he sent a dizzying 25 balls over the fence. Advertisement 'I've never been so happy to have a net in front of me,' quipped Kippenhan, when pitching to Gouthro in the batting cages. Sam Trotta, the only addition to the team this summer, slugged a solo home run, which amounted to the difference in a 1-0 victory over Walpole in the state championship. 'If this kid can bring us one big hit, make a difference — he's a kid that could do that,' said Frank Fasoli. 'There couldn't have been a bigger spot to do it.' The team's success has captivated the town. Members of the Braintree High School baseball team, which reached the Division 1 state championship game, help throw batting practice to alleviate the aching shoulders of the coaching staff. The varsity team drove two hours to Bristol, Conn., then chanted the players' names in the left field bleachers during regionals. SouthSide Tavern offered a special sandwich every day, named after a different player. 'These kids are living the dream,' said Frank Fasoli. Early in the summer, parents debated signing up for the players to compete in a tournament in Cooperstown. The coaches quipped that they'd rather be in Williamsport. Now the coaches watch their players sit next to compatriots from Japan, Czechia, and Pennsylvania, and trade pins. 'It's amazing to watch them do this,' said Frank Fasoli. 'The way that they are fitting in and evolving and growing, they don't even know it.' Cam Kerry can be reached at
