Massabesic is leaning on this lucky charm ahead of Little League softball state tournament
Massabesic players wait for the Little League softball state tournament opening ceremonies to begin at Cornelia Warren Field in Westbrook on Monday. (Derek Davis/Staff Photographer) Purchase this image
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WESTBROOK — There’s a hobby horse that sits in Massabesic’s dugout.
Her name is HoneySlayNeighBae.
She makes galloping noises when you click the side of the stick on which her head is mounted and she wears green, star-shaped sunglasses.
“It just sits in the dugout and then after the game we hold it up,” said Aubrey Dissonnette.
The horse, appropriately named for the team’s mustang mascot, has become somewhat of a lucky charm for Massabesic – one of the five district champion squads competing in the 2026 Maine Little League softball state tournament – and was present when the team was introduced during the opening ceremonies Monday at Cornelia Warren Field.
“We’re the Massabesic Mustangs, so I got the horse,” Sadie Marcotte said.
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A pair of ducks named Giggles and Wiggles served as unofficial mascots for some of the players’ travel team, but in this instance it’s been HoneySlayNeighBae the horse who has clicked and clacked all the way to the state tournament alongside the Mustangs.
“We went undefeated (through the district tournament),” Cylee Graham said.
Massabesic’s team represents District 4, which covers Maine towns Alfred, Limerick, Lyman, Newfield, Shapleigh and Waterboro.
District 1’s team is Machias, District 2’s team is Camden, District 3’s team is Hambrook and District 5’s team is Gorham.
Massabesic and Camden – or Five Town, as its team is called – are two of the four teams who played Monday to kick off the tournament.
All five teams will compete in the double elimination-style bracket that runs through Saturday.
District 6’s Bonny Eagle secured the championship last year. Massabesic has been a contender recently.
This summer the Mustangs are back, horse and all, ready to compete.
“Two years ago we had most of the same girls and we made it to the championship game,” said Shawna Dissonnette, one of Massabesic’s coaches. “We forced a (if-necessary) game against Gorham. So we’re back and we have a lot of the same group and we’re ready this time.”
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Tagged: youth softball
Jimmy covers sports for the Sun Journal, primarily contributing to the Varsity Maine team. He is from Hagerstown, Maryland, and graduated from the University of Richmond in May of 2025 with a B.A. in journalism. More by Jimmy James
