by Bill Kirk, Eagle Tribune
The Lawrence American Legion Post 15 baseball team, which won the state championship last Thursday, is on to Worcester, where they will play in the New England regional tournament starting Wednesday and ending Sunday when, hopefully, the team of 16- to 19-year-olds will be playing for another championship.
If they win there, it's on to North Carolina, for the American Legion World Series.
Monday afternoon in what Mayor Dan Rivera described as a "quick" ceremony to honor the players and coaches of Lawrence Post 15, the team and their supporters gathered on the first floor of City Hall to receive medallions and certificates of appreciation from their chief supporter.
"Baseball is important for Lawrence and America," Rivera said. "A lot of kids in this city are orphans and they go on to do well. You guys represent an orphaned team and you have gone out to show what Lawrence is all about. I want you to know we love you guys."
The players, standing behind Rivera as he addressed a small gathering of team supporters, applauded several times as Rivera spoke.
"When you're playing in Worcester, you're playing for the whole city," he said. "When you win, the city wins."