Tom Flanagan: Leominster baseball does their part for the kids

Leominster’s Eddie Cuddahy spent his Friday nights causing fear and havoc as one of the state’s best lineman, playing on the Blue Devils’ powerhouse football team.

On Sundays, though, Cuddahy, also a captain on the Leominster baseball team, puts on display his softer side, as do many of his teammates, when the Blue Devils volunteer with the city’s Little League Baseball Challenger Division, which affords children with mental and physical challenges the opportunity to enjoy the game of baseball.

“I look forward to Sundays; it makes my weekend better,” said Cuddahy, who, after wrapping up his final season on the diamond, will prepare to play Division 1 college football at Sacred Heart University. “The kids we play with are so nice, and just playing baseball, you can tell, makes them so happy. It’s rewarding.”

The No. 9 Blue Devils, who are off to a 4-4 start, long have had a commitment to community service, a notion that was enhanced when Rich Barnaby became the coach three years ago.

“We’re blessed to play baseball in a city that’s supportive of its program and its players,” Barnaby said. “Part of what makes our high school program competitive is the work that is done with the kids in our youth leagues, so we wanted to find a way to pay some of that back if we could.”

In the fall, Barnaby said, players from throughout the Leominster program — freshman, junior varsity and varsity — donate time to cleaning up the city’s Little League fields, but it’s the spring Sundays volunteering in the Challenger Division that provides lessons that can't be learned between the lines at fabled Doyle Field.

“There’s not a better environment to be in than with the kids in (in the Challenger Division),” Cuddahy said. “It’s as fun for us as it is for the kids, but it also puts sports into perspective.

“I think we’ve all complained about sports — the coach was too hard on us today, or I struck out three times. But it puts all of that in perspective when you realize how lucky you are to be able to just go out and play sports whenever you want, and realize everybody isn't as lucky.”

Cuddahy, who also played on the Leominster basketball team, is 1-0 on the mound this year and no doubt gets a mental edge thanks to his 6-foot-4, 260-pound frame.

But Cuddahy is far from an intimidator in his volunteer role.

“There’s just something about Eddie and his ability to relate to kids,” Barnaby said. “He’s just a natural working with them. He’s volunteered at different (sports) camps, and with the Special Olympics. He’s a big teddy bear.”

Players from the Blue Devils program typically serve as a “buddy” during games to players from the Challenger Division, and often the same duos pair up week after week, leading to friendships.

“Obviously, our guys all love to be outside playing baseball,” Barnaby said. “More than anything, they’re helping to pass that enthusiasm on to the kids from the Challenger Division. It’s awesome to see the bonds that develop. At the end of the day, everyone out there is just a kid enjoying the game of baseball.”

The Blue Devils’ collective commitment to doing good for others isn't exclusive to Sundays.

At 6 p.m. Saturday, Leominster hosts North Middlesex in the Blue Devils’ third annual Coaches vs. Cancer game.

“We suggest activities to the kids, but it isn't like we take attendance,” Barnaby said. “Our players want to give back. They realize that people are very good to them, and it’s important for us to be visible in the community doing positive things to pay that back.”

Pioneers ride high

As the season nears the halfway mark, St. John’s High may be the best team in the state and, if the Pioneers keep up the pace, they’ll get a chance to prove it.

As it stands now, the 9-1 Pioneers, who are ranked atop the Hometeam media poll, are a lock to be selected for the MIAA’s third Super 8 Tournament.

While the selection process is subjective and not without its flaws and perceived Eastern Mass. bias, St. John’s résumé already is one that cannot be ignored by the committee.

The Pioneers have knocked off BC High and Xaverian thus far, teams that also have an excellent chance at being selected.

St. John's was on the initial watch list of 25 schools released by the MIAA Super 8 baseball committee. Other Central Mass. school included were St. Peter-Marian and Oxford. 

—Contact Tom Flanagan at sports@telegram.com. Follow him on Twitter @tgsports.