By Cary Shuman
Aedon Leydon received the St. Mary’s High School junior varsity coaches award Tuesday night, his last bit of baseball business before heading to North Dakota for the Babe Ruth World Series.
Aedon shared the honor with his proud father and lifelong baseball coach, Sean Leydon, just as he has shared his entire career with him dating back to his days as a T-Ball participant in the West Lynn Little League. Kerry Cook has also been a big part of her son’s baseball journey.
A second baseman for the Lynn Babe Ruth 15-year-old All-Star team, Aedon is the only graduate of the West Lynn Little League on the team. Aedon is hoping to cap off his most memorable of summers with a world championship.
“All the players are very excited about the World Series,” said Aedon following the St. Mary’s awards banquet at the Marina at the Wharf in Revere. “It’s going to be huge. Hopefully we can bring back a championship for the city.”
Leydon said it’s extra special to have his father on board the Lynn express as a coach of the team. Manager Leon Elwell and his son, Zach Elwell, and coach Ryan Boiselle, and his son, Luke Boisselle, also make it a true family affair for the New England champion Lynn contingent.
“Having my father as one of the coaches adds a lot more emotion to the achievement,” said Aedon. “He gives me signals and I know what he’s talking about on the field so it gives me an advantage. Our coaches are huge. We couldn’t have done this without them. They’re great leaders. On and off the field, they teach us a lot.”
Aedon was a second baseman and pitcher for the St. Mary’s junior varsity team He was promoted to the varsity at the end of the season.
An honor roll student at St. Mary’s, Aedon is learning some new geography about Williston, North Dakota which is located 60 miles from the Canadian border.
“I know Williston is near Canada and there’s not much to do except play baseball,” said Aedon.
Sean Leydon said the trip to the World Series “is a culmination of everything my son has worked for since he was 4 years old playing T-Ball in West Lynn Little League.
“Everything Aedon has dreamt since he was a young boy, this is the biggest thing – everyone wants to go to the Little League World Series; this is the Babe Ruth World Series. It’s a really big deal.”
Sean Leydon said the Babe Ruth team is made up of players who are also friends off the field.
“The players wanted to win the state title. They wanted to win the New England title. Now they want to win the World Series together. We’re one big family.”