Last year, the Dartmouth Youth Activities League’s Red Sox may have lost the championship to  the Mets, but they came back this year with determination and left the field Thursday, July 18 victorious.

The Red Sox defeated the Giants in the instructional league championship Thursday evening, in what many would call a nailbiter — winning the game by one run, 15-14.

“We won a tough game in the semi-finals, but nothing was harder than this tonight,” said Adam Mathes, member of the DYAA Board of Directors and coach for the Red Sox, after the game. “They were very good. They were well coached — made all the plays they should have made.”

Mathes emphasized how great the Red Sox win is for the players in their second year of instructional. The program was created a few years prior and now, “We’ve kind of got into a groove with it,” Mathes said.

Kevin Silva cheered on the Giants from the sidelines, but was especially celebrating the efforts of his son, Adrian Silva, 6, who was competing in his final game of his first year in instructional.

“It’s been amazing,” Kevin said. “He’s come a long way with the great help of the coaches that we have here.”

Kevin emphasized the value of the people who volunteer their time to do this work. “It shows in the kids,” he said.

Courtney Steele was watching the championship game in support of her son Nash Steele, 7, a player on the Giants.

Courtney said Nash has been playing baseball with the DYAA since t-ball and said their experience has been “great,” adding how her husband, Jeff Steele, coaches in the league every year. 

“Instructional — it’s a big change when coming from t-ball,” Courtney said. With the additional use of a pitching machine and counting of runs, she said, “It becomes competitive.”

“It’s been a great season,” she added, highlighting the work of the many parents involved and their additional efforts on projects such as updating the fields. “It’s been really fulfilling.”

Mathes said, “We’re proud of all the kids in the league for participating. Baseballs a little bit of a dying sport, but try to make it fun.”

He added how the turnout for the championship had a “pretty amazing atmosphere” given it was a game for 6 and 7 year olds.

Red Sox players Parker Kaplan, 7, and Austin Snell, 7, said winning the championship was a great way to finish off an already “amazing” and “fun” season, but at the end of the day, they said their favorite thing about baseball was spending time with their friends. 

The two said they had a great time playing this season and look forward to working on their hitting in the seasons to come.

In regard to the season as a whole for the DYAA, Mathes said, “We saw incredible improvement throughout the league — all the kids that played in it improved from start to finish.”

He added, “It’s kind of sad to see it end, but thrilled with the way it did end.”

The older teams will be finishing out their seasons in the weeks to come. Keep an eye out on the DYAA Facebook page for game updates.