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After two victories in the first two games of the New England Regional, the 12 Year Old All Stars of West Warwick find themselves in a position that they have never been in.  West Warwick is now only two wins from a trip to Winchester, Massachusetts for the 12 Year Old World Series (60').  With a win over Burlington (Massachusetts), West Warwick will advanced to the New England Championship. 

Coach Ron Roy's remarkable nine have put themselves in this position by simply outlasting their first two opponents with timely hitting and some quality pitching. 

West Warwick 10 New Fairfield (Conn.) 7

In the opening game of the New England Regionals, West Warwick defeated New Fairfield (Connecticut), 10-7.   

After falling behind 2-0 via back to back home runs in the first inning, West Warwick came back with four runs on on error, and hits from Ben Roy (double), Nick Motroni (double), Greg D'Ambrosca, and Mike Carley (bunt single). 

Down 7-4 after four innings, West Warwick took control of the game with a five run fifth inning highlighted by a home runs by Kurtis Quinn (three run home run to take the lead) and Nick Motroni (lead off home run).  Also getting hits in the inning were Rich McNeil (single), and Mike Carley (single).

While relief pitcher was setting down the New Fairfield line up, West Warwick added one more run in the top of the sixth inning for a 10-7 lead.  Nick Motroni doubled with one out, stole third, and scored on D'Ambrosca's timely double with two outs. 

Offensively, West Warwick was led by Motroni (3/4, two doubles, one home run, and three runs scored), D'Ambrosca (3/4, two doubles, and one run scored), Carley (2/2 with one run scored), and Quinn (2/3, one home run, and two runs scored).

West Warwick 5 Bellow Falls (Vermont) 4

Led by the solid pitching of Anthony Indeglia, West Warwick advanced to the Winner's Bracket final against Burlington (Massachusetts).

In six innings of work, Indeglia allowed only four runs on four scattered hits, while striking out six batters and walking none.  In fact, Indeglia was at his best the last two innings of the game by recording four of the final six outs via strikeouts. 

After falling behind 1-0, West Warwick took a 2-1 lead in the top of the second inning. Greg D'Ambrosca singled, moved to second on a walk to Nick Morel, advanced to third on bunt single by Mike Carley, and scored on a bases loaded walk to Indeglia.  Carley scored one out later on a Ben Roy single.    

West Warwick continued to show their resiliency by coming back again in the top of the third inning with one run on three hits (McNeil, D'Ambrosca, and Indeglia) to cut Bellow Falls lead to 4-3.

While Indeglia was baffling the batters of Bellow Falls, West Warwick forged ahead with two runs in the top of the sixth inning.  Providing the key hits of the inning were Ben Roy (double) and Evan Barrera (single).

The 11/12 Year Old All Stars completed the Rehoboth Summer Slam Tournament by going 1-2.  After losing a tough 2-1 game to Tiverton in the opening round, they defeated Maplewood, 3-1, on Saturday.  Seth St. George pitched the complete game victory for West Warwick.  Providing hits for West Warwick in the victory were Josh McAllister, Cullen Kirchmeyer (3/3), St. George, Max Mullins, and Matt Hopper (2/3).  

It was ten years ago when the West Warwick Babe Ruth League had a team advance to the New England Regionals.  Some of the last names back then were Alves-Kelly-Kennedy-Legault-Politelli-Ray-Reisner, former Wizards who went on to win State Championships for West Warwick High School in 2001 and 2002.  Coming out of the loser’s bracket, West Warwick captured the 14 Year Old State Championship. 

This year, Don Mariani, President of the WWBRL, finds his league in unchartered territory, because he may have two of his All Star teams participating in the Babe Ruth New England Regionals.  The 14 year old All Stars, who participated in the 14 year old State Tournament two weeks ago and played four games in Dan Duquette’s Sports Academy Summer Blast U14 tournament this past weekend were given an automatic spot in the New England Regional, because they will host the 2009 tournament from August 5^th-11^th. 

The 13 year old All Stars, however, seem to be a cinch to qualify for the 13 year old New England Regional the old fashion way by winning on the field the past two weeks.

Although the 13 Year Old State Tournament has had several cancellations due to rain and the wet field conditions at Ray Silva Field, the sun has been shining on the 13 year olds of West Warwick for most of that time.  West Warwick is one win away from becoming the first West Warwick All Star team in ten years to advance to the New England Regional. 

After winning on consecutive Saturdays, West Warwick defeated Warwick PAL, 6-3, on Monday night to advance to the 13 year old State Championship on Thursday at 5:30 (Ray Silva Field).  West Warwick will face teams (Cranston, Warwick PAL, or South Kingstown) which have to battle through the loser’s bracket to earn the right to play West Warwick.  If West Warwick wins on Thursday night, they will play in the New England Regional which will be held in Leominster, Massachusetts from August 6^th-12^th. 

Opening Round Game – July 18^th:  West Warwick 14 Cumberland 4

Led by aggressive base running, timely hitting, and solid pitching, West Warwick breezed by Cumberland, 14-4, in six innings. 

In the top of the first inning, West Warwick jumped out to an early 3-0 lead on three hits and two errors.  Andrew Hebert led off the game with a double to left field, moved to third on a passed ball, and scored on Troy Lavoie’s single to centerfield.  Lavoie, then, stole second base and moved to third after back to back walks were issued to Matt Peterson and Matt Masse.  Lavoie and Peterson scored when R.J. Leso’s ground ball to third was mishandled in the infield.

After giving up one run in the bottom of the first inning, West Warwick scored two more runs in the top of the second inning when Hebert (walk) and Lavoie (walk) scored on a sacrifice fly by Masse and a passed ball.

With the score 5-2 after three innings, West Warwick tacked on another run when Masse walked and scored on two consecutive sacrifice bunts by Chris Stafford and Leso. 

In the top of the sixth inning, West Warwick broke open the game with eight runs on four hits, four walks, and two errors.  Getting key hits in the inning were Peterson (single), Leso (single), Stafford (single) and Dan Chambers (single).  Picking up the victory was Peterson, who struck out four batters and gave up only three runs in four innings of work.  Masse gave up only one run on two hits over the last two innings of play.

Winner’s Bracket Semi-Finals – July 25^th:  West Warwick 16 North Providence 2

After waiting one week because of several rain cancellations, West Warwick took full advantage of the rest and coasted by North Providence, 16-2. 

Benefitting from the 16 run outburst of West Warwick was Matt Peterson, who started and picked up his second win of the tournament.  In three innings pitched, Peterson struck out two and gave up two runs on two hits.  Kyle Beck did not allow a run in the final two innings of play. 

Offensively, West Warwick received contributions from Hebert (2/4, two runs scored), Lavoie (2/3, three runs scored), Peterson (1/3, one run scored), Masse (2/3, three runs scored), Ryan O’Kelly (3/3, one run scored), Stafford (2/3, one double and one run scored), Leso (1/3, one run scored), and Kyle Beck (2/3, one run scored). 

Winner’s Bracket Final – July 27^th:  West Warwick 6 Warwick PAL 3

In the Winner’s Bracket Final of the 13 year old State Tournament, West Warwick edged perennial Babe Ruth power, Warwick PAL, 6-3, and advanced to the championship game which will be held on Thursday night (5:30) at Ray Silva Field. 

After falling behind 3-0 in the top of the fifth inning, West Warwick opportunistically came storming back with three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning on three Warwick errors, a walk (Drew Doran), and a single (Kyle Beck). 

After Matt Masse pitched out of a bases loaded jam in the bottom of the fifth inning, West Warwick took a 4-3 lead in the top of the sixth inning when Drew Doran reached on a hit batsmen, advanced to second on a passed ball, and scored on Warwick’s sixth error of the game on a Kyle Beck’s grounder to third.

  Warwick loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning, but West Warwick ace, Matt Peterson, then, got Warwick’s number three hitter, Mann, to ground out.

In the top of the seventh inning, West Warwick scored two insurance runs and built a 6-3 lead. Troy Lavoie doubled to left field and scored on an errant throw to third base.  Matt Masse, then, reached on a single, moved to second on a wild pitch, advanced to third on a fielder’s choice, and scored on Chris Stafford’s r.b.i. ground out to short.

Matt Masse, who picked up the victory, gave up three runs on six scattered hits in five innings of work.  Matt Peterson, who has won two games for West Warwick, picked up the save with two scoreless innings of relief.

After going 3-1 in the Rehoboth Summer Slam Tournament, the West Warwick Cal Ripken 9 year old All Stars went 1-2 in the State Tournament.

Opening Round:  West Warwick 11 Apponaug 7

In the opening game of the State Tournament, West Warwick defeated host, Apponaug, 11-7. 

Earning the victory for West Warwick was Michael DeFusco.  In three innings of shut out and no hit work, DeFusco struck out six of the nine batters he faced.  Jared Shibley, who pitched two innings of middle relief, allowed only one run on two hits. 

West Warwick jumped out to a 1-0 lead courtesy of Chris Gaipo's opposite field home run to left field in the top of the second inning.

In the top of the third inning, West Warwickscored three more runs on two walks (DeFusco and Nick D'Ambra), one hit batsmen (Andrew D'Ambrosca), and a r.b.i. single by Brogan Guilmette.

In the top of the fifth inning, West Warwick built a 9-0 lead when they scored five runs on hits by Andrew D'Ambrosca, Chris Gaipo (two run double), Jared Shibley (r.b.i. double), and a r.b.i. groundout by Jared Rossignal.

In the top of the sixth inning, West Warwick scored two more runs on hits by DeFusco, Gaipo, one walk, and one error. 

Offensively, West Warwick was led by D'Ambrosca (1/2, two runs scored), DeFusco (1/3, two runs scored), D'Ambra (1/2, three runs scored), Guilmette (1/2, one run scored), Gaipo (3/4, two runs scored, and 3 r.b.i.'s), and Shibley (2/4, one run scored, 1 r.b.i.).

Winner's Bracket Final:  Darlington 6 West Warwick 3

In a well played game between both teams, Darlington edged West Warwick, 6-3.

After falling behind 4-0 in the top of the third inning, West Warwick came back with three runs in the bottom half of the inning. 

Andrew D'Ambrosca led with a single, moved to second on Mike DeFusco's single, and advanced to third on a walk to Nick D'Ambra.  Brogan Guilmette and Chris Gaipo followed with back to back bases loaded walks to score two runs.  Jared Shibley, then, reached on a fielder's choice to score D'Ambra. 

In the top of the sixth inning, Darlington's Adrian Torres belted a two run home run for a 6-3 lead.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, West Warwick rallied for one run on a walk to D'Ambra and a r.b.i. single by Chris Gaipo.

Loser's Bracket Final:  CLCF 11 West Warwick 1   

After playing solid ball for six consecutive games, West Warwick could not overcome several walks and a few fielding miscues in an 11-1 four inning loss to CLCF in the loser's bracket final.

Offensively, West Warwick received contributions from Andrew D'Ambrosca (one double), Brogan Guilmette (run scored), and Jared Shibley (single and one r.b.i.).