Sean Murphy’s talk to team helped play key role for Maine
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Two days before Gray/New Gloucester/Raymond Little League left for Bristol, Connecticut and the New England regional, manager Brad Shelley brought out a motivational speaker.
And it completely caught his players by surprise. The surprise, though, was not the speaker himself since the players already knew him as Mr. Murphy, their health teacher at Gray-New Gloucester Middle school this past school year.
The big surprise was when Sean Murphy told the players he had played at the Little League World Series 18 years ago. Murphy shined as a pitcher, infielder and hitter for the Westbrook, Maine team which became the first from its state to reach the Series. But despite having him as a teacher the past year, none of the students knew that part of his story.
Now, teacher and students share similar stories and Murphy's talk may have played a key role. GNG/Raymond not only captured its first district and state championships but reached the Little League World Series. These players and Murphy are linked as the only in Maine history to ever reach South Williamsport.
"They had no idea about this connection until two days before we headed to Bristol. He was on the only other team from Maine to do it and they just know him as Mr. Murphy," Shelley said. "To know that side of him and look up to him as a teacher and then have him provide that insight to it really helped the boys."
Right on cue, GNG/Raymond went undefeated at regionals, handing Massachusetts its only two losses this summer, while defeating New Hampshire in extra innings. Maybe GNG/Raymond would have reached the Series without learning about Murphy's baseball achievements but it certainly did not hurt hearing his stories and advice.
Now, Murphy feels like a 12-year-old again and shares the excitement his students are experiencing. Nearly two decades later, it feels like his life has come full circle.
"I was so happy for them when they won it (regionals). All of us that we're on that Westbrook team were texting each other and talking about the times we had and I'm so excited they get to share their own stories like that now," Murphy said. "It's really cool to see them go from where they started at districts to the Little League World Series."
Murphy's speech was one part motivational, one part insightful and one part educational. All aspects provided a lift. Having watched the players compete, Murphy knew how good they were and told them to show the region what Maine baseball was all about. Having gone through everything that the players do from an on and off the field perspective, Murphy also could prepare them for what they would see in Bristol.
Lastly, Murphy could speak from experience and remind those players how special this journey is and how it will link them forever. Put it all together and Murphy now has made a strong impact for both Maine Series qualifier. He and some of his former teammates were there, too, to witness GNG/Raymond join Maine's select Series fraternity, congratulating them following the regional championship win.
"Seeing them win and giving them high-fives was awesome," Murphy said. "I just kept telling them to enjoy everything."
"That was such a special thing for the players to be able to high-five Sean after the game," Shelley said. "He will have a special connection now with these kids he taught in middle school for the rest of their lives."
They also are bonded through the odds their teams overcame. GNG/Raymond had never won a district championship before this season, but continued making history with every victory after earning that elusive title and entered the Series undefeated.
Murphy's Westbrook team became Maine's first Series participant and also slayed some giants along the way. After advancing out of pool play at the 2005 New England Regional, Westbrook was given little to no shot against undefeated Farmington, Connecticut in the semifinals.
Not only had Farmington dominated the competition all summer, but it was backed by 5,000 crazy fans who filled every section possible at the stadium in Bristol. At first pitch, those fans made it hard for the players to hear themselves think. By game's end it was near silence as Westbrook vanquished Farmington before winning the championship two nights later and reaching the Series.
Westbrook's teammates have gone their separate ways since high school graduation but memories like those keep them linked wherever they go. And seeing GNG/Raymond write a similar story has all those great memories flooding back strong this summer.
"Silencing 5,000 people in Bristol was awesome. That's a great memory," Murphy said. "Williamsport was a treat on top. There was just so much memorable stuff."
And Murphy knows as well as anyone that the memories will continue being made following the Series. GNG/Raymond has not been home since leaving for regionals and will receive a hero's welcome when it does return. Murphy said when Westbrook hit the Gray exit and saw the police escort waiting and so many fans eager to congratulate them, that is when the magnitude of what his team did started sinking in.
Everything is a blur right now since GNG/Raymond has been going from tournament to tournament in seemingly the blink of an eye. Soon, things will start slowing down but the memories will likely only grow stronger, especially if GNG/Raymond seems a fellow Maine team take the baton and reach the Series again down the road.
Either way, Murphy and his students are now permanently connected and it goes beyond health education. And they sure can share some wonderful stories.
"We finished school and I didn't know if I'd ever see those kids again," Murphy said. "It's incredible that they made it and that we are connected in some way.
"It's a small world."