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In a rematch of last year's Ten Year Old New England Championship, New Canaan (Connecticut) came from behind and defeated West Warwick (3-time Rhode Island Champion), 11-6, in the opening round of the Eleven Year Old New England Regional.

In the top of the first inning, West Warwick jumped out to a 1-0 lead, courtesy of four walks in the inning.  After Matt Grenier drew a walk to lead off the game, he advanced to second on a wild pitch.  David LaMountain followed with a walk to put runners at first and second.  After Tyler Boisclair walked, Trevor Lawton hit a line drive which was snared by second baseman Klye Levasseur, who dove to his right to make the "web gem" catch.  Joe Maynard, however, reached on a two out walk, scoring Grenier.

Starting pitcher, Ray Zincone, pitched out of a first and third situation in the bottom of the first inning. 

In the top of the second inning, Mitchell Moore walked with one out, but was thrown out at third base when left fielder, Colin Tyler, took Matt Grenier's double off the "Green Monster" and threw a "pea" to third baseman, David Giusti, for the second out of the inning.  Shortstop Jimmy Fahey continued New Canaan's flare for defensive gems by making a backhanded stop of David Lamountain's grounder in the hole and throwing the speedster out to end the inning.

Zincone worked through the next two innings by striking out four batters and allowing only one hit.  In three innings of work, Zincone, who had to leave the game because of arm soreness, struck out five and threw 36 of 60 pitches for strikes. 

In the top of the fourth inning, West Warwick rallied for one run.  With one out, Kyle Henseler hit a single off the wall, moved to second on Mitchell Moore's single to left, advanced to third on a walk to Grenier, and scored on LaMountain's hard grounder to first.   

West Warwick's lead, however, would be short lived as New Canaan, the defending New England Champions, scored seven times on five hits and two walks for a 7-2 lead after four innings. 

In the bottom of the fifth inning, New Canaan scored four more runs on three hits, one walk, and two errors to build an 11-2 lead. 

In the top of the sixth inning, West Warwick would not quit and rallied for four runs on hits by Matt Grenier (double to left-center), Dave Lamountain (single to left), Ray Zincone (r.b.i. single), Tyler Boisclair (two run triple to the 247 foot mark at the centerfield triangle).  Boisclair scored West Warwick's final run of the game on Trevor Lawton's r.b.i. groundout.

Offensively, West Warwick received contributions from Grenier (2/2, two doubles, two walks, and two runs scored), LaMountain (1/3, one run scored, and one r.b.i.), Zincone (1/3, one run scored, and one r.b.i.), Boisclair (2/3, one double, one triple, and two r.b.i.'s), Lawton (one r.b.i.), Maynard (one r.b.i.), Henseler (1/2, one run scored), and Moore (1/1).

Although the West Warwick contigent of players, coaches, and parents were disappointed with the outcome, they realize that this group of All Stars are still capable of making another run in this year's regional.  Tomorrow night, they play Marlboro (Mass.) at 6:00.

All Star Memories: 

Ray Zincone, who kept New Canaan's bats quiet for three innings, was named West Warwick's MVP of the game.

Matt Grenier recorded a feat that may not be equaled by anyone in the tournament.  The switch-hitting 11 year old had a double from both sides of the plate.  In the second inning, batting from the right side, Grenier doubled off the wall against lefty Alex LaPolice and in the sixth inning, Grenier, batting from the left side, doubled to left-center off righty David Giusti.

Tyler Boisclair had two extra base hits (double in the fifth inning and triple in the sixth inning) toward the 247’ triangle in centerfield. 

Kyle Henseler hit the famed left field wall in the fourth inning. 

The West Warwick Cal Ripken 11 Year Old All Stars continued their dominant play in Rhode Island by recently winning their third consecutive State Championship.  Over the past three years, the nucleus of this group has not only won 27 of 32 games, but has reached the finals of the New England Regional Tournament twice (2007 as 9 Year Olds & 2008 as 10 Year Olds).  

This year, West Warwick will be traveling to “Little Fenway” in Oakland, Maine to participate in the 11 Year Old New England Regional.  Ironically, West Warwick will be facing a familiar foe in New Canaan, the Connecticut State Champion. 

 The two teams, which are two of the tournament favorites, will play at 1:00 on Saturday afternoon.  Last year, after defeating New Canaan, 5-4, in the Winner’s Bracket Final, West Warwick needed only one win to advance to the Ten Year Old World Series in Abbeville, Louisiana.  New Canaan, however, defeated South Weymouth in the Loser’s Bracket Final and used that momentum to defeat West Warwick twice (11-5, 6-2) in one day to capture the New England Regional Championship.

West Warwick, who has a plethora of tournament experience, seems to be deeper and better prepared as they travel to Maine this weekend.  During the month of July, West Warwick won five consecutive games to capture the 11 Year Old Rehoboth Summer Slam and went on to win three consecutive games in the State Tournament to finish 8-0.

West Warwick’s pitching core is solid, experienced, and deeper.  Leading the way are West Warwick’s two aces, Matt Grenier and Ray Zincone.  In three years of tournament play, the duo (21-4 with two saves) has combined to strike out 168 batters (Grenier – 93 in 64 1/3 innings & Zincone – 75 in 48 2/3 innings) in 113 innings of work.  Ray Zincone, who struck out 7 batters and gave up 7 hits in 4 2/3 innings of work in last year’s tournament, has dominated opponents this year and will start against New Canaan.  In 14 innings of work, Zincone (3-0) has struck out 27 batters, walked 5, and allowed only one unearned run.  Matt Grenier (2-1 in last year’s regional), who faced New Canaan twice last year, allowed only one earned run on 8 hits while striking out 18 batters in 11 innings.  This year, Grenier (3-0) has struck out 15 batters, walked 5, and allowed only four earned runs in 15 innings pitched.  Trevor Lawton, who remains one of Rhode Island’s finest backstops, has had solid outings on the mound.  In seven innings of work, Lawton has struck out 12 batters, walked 2, and allowed only two earned runs.  Joe Maynard, who struck out 15 batters in 7 innings of work in last year’s tournament, has continued his hard throwing by striking out 13 batters and allowing only 2 earned runs in 8 innings of work this year.  Finally, Tyler Boisclair, who struck out 7 and allowed only one earned run in 4 1/3 innings of pitching, last year, adds additional depth to this year’s squad.Offensively, West Warwick

Manager, Dana Boisclair, has more depth and options when writing out his batting line up.  West Warwick’s offensive juggernaut includes Mitchell Moore (11 hits over the past two years in tournament play), Kyle Henseler (.347 batting average with 3 doubles and 25 runs scored in two years), Joe Maynard (16 hits, two doubles, 18 runs scored, and 14 r.b.i.’s over the past two years), Caleb Hoyle (.417 OBP this year with 1 double and 3 runs scored), Andrew In (.533 OBP this year with 4 runs scored), David LaMountain (.476 OBP this year with 2 doubles, 5 runs scored, and 4 r.b.i.’s), Mike Pellerin (.500 OBP this year with 5 hits and 6 r.b.i.’s), Trevor Lawton (.607 OBP & .440 batting average this year with 5 doubles, 8 runs scored, and 6 r.b.i.’s), Matt Grenier (.633 OBP& .455 batting average this year with 2 doubles, 12 runs scored, 8 r.b.i.’s, and a team leading 8 walks), Ray Zincone (.750 OBP & .476 batting average this year with 2 doubles, 2 home runs, 13 runs scored, 8 r.b.i.’s, and 7 walks), Tyler Boisclair (.481 batting average this year with 4 doubles, 1 triple, 7 runs scored, and 5 r.b.i.’s), and Brian Moretti (.700 OBP with 3 singles and 5 runs scored). 

West Warwick 5 CLCF 2

Led by the pitching of Ray Zincone and Matt Grenier, West Warwick defeated CLCF, 5-2, in the opening round of the State Tournament. 

Zincone, who did not give up a run in three innings of work, struck out six batters, walked two, and allowed only two hits.  Grenier, who picked up the win in relief, struck out two and allowed two runs on two hits. 

After CLCF tied the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the fifth inning, West Warwick came back with three runs on a two run single by Ray Zincone, a wild pitch, an error, and one walk (David LaMountain).Offensively, West Warwick received hits from Grenier (1/3, one double, and one run scored), Zincone (2/3, one home run, two runs scored, and three r.b.i.’s), Tyler Boisclair (1/4, one triple), and Kyle Henseler (1/3). 

 West Warwick 11 Apponaug 1

Backed by an eleven hit attack and solid pitching from the trio of Joe Maynard, Trevor Lawton, and Tyler Boisclair, West Warwick breezed by Apponaug, 11-1. 

 Maynard picked up the victory by striking out five and walking five in three complete innings.  Lawton struck out five batters and allowed only one hit in two innings of relief. 

 Offensively, West Warwick received contributions from LaMountain (2/4, one r.b.i.), Brian Moretti (1/1, one run scored), Mitchell Moore (one run scored), Caleb Hoyle (r.b.i. double), Mike Pellerin (1/2, one run scored, and one r.b.i.), Lawton (3/3, one double, two runs scored, and one r.b.i.), Boisclair (1/4, one run scored, and one r.b.i.), Zincone (1/1, one home run, three walks, and two runs scored), Henseler (one r.b.i.), and Grenier (1/2, two runs scored, and two walks). 

West Warwick 13 CLCF 3

West Warwick wasted little time in booking their trips to Maine in a 13-3, four inning victory over CLCF.Ray Zincone, who struck out five batters, picked up the victory with three innings of two hit ball.  In the one inning of work, Matt Grenier, who struck out the first two batters he faced, allowed two unearned runs on one hit and three errors.

Offensively, West Warwick was led by Grenier (3/4, one double, one run scored, and four r.b.i.’s), Zincone (2/2, two runs scored, and two r.b.i.), Boisclair (2/3, one double, one run score, and one r.b.i.), Lawton (2/3, one double, two runs scored, and one r.b.i.), Joe Maynard (1/1, one run scored), Brian Moretti (1/2, one run scored), Andrew In (1/1, one run scored, and one r.b.i.), Mitchell Moore (1/2), and LaMountain (1/3, one double, two runs scored, and 2 r.b.i.’s).

The 12 Year Old All Stars lost a heartbreaker to Burlington (Massachusetts) last night, 9-8, in the Winner's Bracket Final.  Needing only one more out with an 8-5 lead, West Warwick could not finish off a tough Burlington team who scored four runs with two outs in the top of the sixth inning.  Tonight, West Warwick will try to win in the Loser's Bracket Final and advance to the New England Championship tomorrow afternoon.