Kyle Andersson isn’t the biggest athlete on the field, but he managed to lift an entire team of all-stars this summer.

Andersson led Bedford’s 11- and 12-year-old District 1 baseball champions at the plate and on the mound, earning him the Indian Head Athletics Athlete of the Month honor for July.

The signature moment of the summer for Bedford came Saturday, July 11, against Windham in the District 1 finals.

Bedford erased a fiverun deficit to tie the score at 8-8, then Andersson dug in and worked a 2-0 count in the bottom of the sixth and final frame.

“It’s not just the coaches on the team who wanted Kyle up in that spot,” said Bedford’s manager, Henry Veilleux. “Even the other players knew he was the right guy at bat. He can lift a team up, and that’s impressive at age 12. To be able to do that demonstrates that he’ll be a great baseball player.”

With one swing of the bat Andersson kept his team’s tournament hopes alive, blasting a walk-off home run for a 9-8 win and setting up a decisive third game the next day, during which he hit a critical threerun home run to help Bedford advance to the state championship.

The summer of highlevel, high-energy competition was a learning experience for Andersson.

“I did a lot of things I had never done before – I hadn’t hit a walk-off before, I almost threw a no-hitter. It was a great summer,” said Andersson. “I also learned a lot about not giving up, that anything can happen until that last out. It really helps in not getting down on yourself.”

During his free time throughout the tournament, Andersson worked closely with his father to build his arm strength, and it paid off. The young pitcher threw deep into games nearly every time he took the hill.

Veilleux said one of Andersson’s strengths was his ability to maintain composure in difficult spots.

“He’s very mature, and he never got rattled,” said Veilleux. “He learned a lot this summer and will be an even better player as he moves on.”

Andersson said he is looking forward to one day playing at Bedford High School, then trying to continue his career at the college level.

Veilleux said Andersson has the skills and work ethic that often translate into success on the 90-foot diamond, and added he looks forward to watching him work toward that goal.

“I know he’s going to do very well beyond Little League,” said Veilleux. “He’s going to be fun to watch.”

(Editor’s note: The Athlete of the Month receives a $50 gift certificate courtesy of Indian Head Athletics.)