Otis Caron, 12, and Andrew Lewis, 11, met when they were about 7 and playing on opposing baseball teams. Instead of a rivalry, they found so much in common they immediately bonded.

They were both rabid New England sports fans. The Red Sox, Bruins, Celtics and Patriots gave them plenty to talk about. Going to Portland Pirates games, playing paintball at Lost Valley and doing lots of swimming and outdoor activities helped forge their friendship. 

Add Camden Poisson, another 12-year-old classmate, and within a few months the three were inseparable.

“It’s amazing how close these boys are,” Otis’ mother, Tammy Caron, said. “They look after each other, stick up for each other and are just the nicest boys you ever want to meet.

“But not only do they look out for each other, they are always sticking up for the underdogs or those being left out,” she said. “We hear all the time about them coming to the aid of somebody on the playground at school or in the neighborhood.  They will stick up for the kid being teased or left out. The three of them are a team that has a lot of influence on what other kids say and do.”  

So when Andrew found out he was moving to Bentonville, Ark., he and the other boys were devastated. His father is being moved to Wal-Mart corporate headquarters next month.

Talking about it last month, they looked at each other and shrugged.

“Yeah, we’ll miss each other,” Otis said, but the looks in their eyes said more.

A big party is scheduled for the weekend before they leave.  

Otis and Andrew play on the Blue Goose Little League baseball team and decided to do something special for last week’s playoff game. They had their hair cut short, a goose neck and wings shaved into the back and each other’s team number shaved into the side. They lost the game, ending their season.  

“It’s not like that’s it and we won’t ever be able to see each other again,” Andrew said. “We can Skype and Instagram on our iPods.”

Cam and Andrew have them and Otis has been working to earn money to purchase one so he can join in on the conversations.

“I told him that if he earned enough money to pay for half, I’d pay for the other half, Tammy Caron said. “He has been mowing lawns, washing cars and helping out at the family bike shop to raise the money. It really means a lot to him.”