Allen and Cheryl Tomasello, leaders of Lincoln Little League for the past two decades, have taken their final at bats.

Allen has coached for the past 23 years at all levels from T-ball to Farm Team to the Majors and has headed up the American Legion Little League baseball team for 16 seasons.

Cheryl has headed up the league as its president for the past seven seasons and has been heavily involved with Lincoln Little League for 15 years. Liz Storer is Cheryl’s successor as the league president.

Allen coached Babe Ruth in New Jersey before settling in Maine and starting a family. He and Cheryl had five sons, and Allen has coached all of them on the Legion team. He has also coached the Damariscotta Lions Babe Ruth team for the past 14 seasons.

Over his 16 years as coach of the Legions, his teams have played in 15 Lincoln Little League championship games. They won nine league titles. Of their six losses, four were by walk-offs.

“My oldest son Alex and his group of 12-year-olds got the championship games streak started,” Allen said.

Overall the Legion team went 188-35, including playoffs, during Allen’s tenure.

Allen has also coached Lincoln All-Stars for 13 years. While stepping away from coaching Little League, as his youngest son, Jacob, is aging out after this season, Allen said he will remain involved as a member of the board.

Although his sons have been a driving force to coach, Allen said he loves to coach because it impacts the kids and teaches life lessons through sports.

“If they learn to play baseball on a little field, then they will be able to play on a big field, and be able to compete,” he said.

His favorite memories involve when players really got a vision, the idea for striving for excellence, and not about winning. Rather than remembering special games, he recalls watching his players playing their hearts out, doing all that they can.

“Going for excellence, and being the best you can be,” Allen said. “Pursue excellence — that is what life is all about.”

His low-key but focused approach to baseball has earned him the respect of players and parents alike. He has always involved willing parents to help with coaching, both in practices and in games.

“It has been a long time since I have had an issue with parents. They have been supportive,” he said.

At this year’s championship game, during the pre-game team huddle, Allen was making sure everyone was ready for the big game.

“Everyone was tense and nervous about the upcoming game. Indy Robinson was wearing a big pair of yellow sunglasses. When someone asked him why he responded, ‘Because I am the biggest bird.’ The whole team started laughing and relaxed,” Allen said.

The biggest play he has seen as a Little League coach came five or six years ago when his son, Micah, was playing. The Legion team pulled off a five-four-three triple play in its season opener. In the four years Micah played, the Legion team only lost three games.

Another amazing play came in a playoff game with the score tied. A hit ball ticked off a first baseman’s mitt, but the second baseman was there to make a bare-handed catch off the tip and then ran to first to get the out.

“It was a super awesome play,” Allen said.

A season when two of Allen’s sons played for the Legions was special to him. During Micah’s first year on Little League, he was at third, and his 12-year-old brother, Joshua, was at the plate. Micah scored on a passed ball.

“One scored the winning run while the other was at the plate,” Allen said.

The best hitter he ever had in his years of coaching Little League was Travis Creamer, who hit 12 home runs over the fence in 12 games. There was only one game he did not hit a home run, but he “doubled up” in another, Allen said.

When his son Matthew was a 10-years-old catcher, he threw a runner out at second in a championship game against the Lions. Although the Lions did not attempt to steal again, they won the game 8-7 on a walk-off.

His youngest son Jacob, wrapped up his Little League career this spring.

“From the time he was old enough, he would squat down behind the backstop and watch his brother Matthew catch,” Allen said. “He just loved it. It was no surprise that he ended up being a catcher. He was enthralled with the game.”

“I love the game. I love teaching life lessons through sports. The perseverance, efforts, preparation, hard work, determination, and loyalty as well to teammates,” Allen said.

Cheryl has been a volunteer for Lincoln Little League for 15 years, starting as an assistant T-ball coach to her husband. She has served on the board for 13 years in various capacities including team parent, concessions manager, secretary, fundraising coordinator, and president.

The Tomasellos’ children have also had a heavy involvement in Little League, whether it be as players, like Alex, Matthew, Joshua, Micah, Anna (softball), and Jacob, keeping scorebook, like Laura, or singing the national anthem before championship and tournament games.

“All of our kids have put in many hours dragging and raking fields, cleaning dugouts, helping to build mounds, sorting equipment, running concessions, etc. It’s been a fun 22 years,” Cheryl said.