So Close — CLCF Ends NE Regionals as Runners Up

The CLCF Cal Ripken 9U baseball team came to the New England Regionals in Walpole, N.H., with the goal of being the first CLCF team ever to win the tournament. 

When they left, they didn't quite meet that goal, finishing as runners up, but they earned well-deserved respect from other players, coaches and even the folks who run the Quality Inn in Brattleboro, VT, who said the boys were always on their best behavior.

It began on Aug. 3 for the opener with a 13-1 win over Skowhegan, Maine.  The pitchers did what they had to do: Alex Marot, Andrew Travieso and Matt Barbarino combined to pitch a one hitter and 10 strike outs in four innings for the CLCF 9U team.  

The offense was alive. In the top of the first, Barbarino reached second base on an error by the shortstop throwing to first base and scored on a RBI double by Marot to give Cranston a 1-0 lead.  In the top of the second, Cole Carbone walked and scored on an RBI hit by Devante Vivieros, Mike Panichas got a single, Travieso walked, Barbarino had a 2 RBI hit and Marot had a 2 RBI triple. 

In the top of the third, Carbone got a hit, Preston Kerman had an RBI double, Vivieros singled, RJ Fatorma walked, Travieso had an RBI single, Barbarino had a 3 RBI triple, Marot a RBI single and Ruben Fernandez smacked a RBI double.  Showhegan scored their only run on a passed ball in the second inning.  

On Aug. 4, the team handily defeated Seacoast, NH by a score of 11-5 in the second round of championship play. Marot and Kerman both pitched three solid innings each only allowing 7 hits to a strong New Hampshire team. CLCF scoring started in the top of the first with Barbarino walking and and scoring on a RBI hit by Marot, who then scored on a passed ball. 

In the top of the second, Vivieros reached first on a fielder’s choice, Panichas hit a single, Travieso bunted for a RBI hit scoring Vivieros, Barbarino walked and Marot doubled for 2 RBI’s. In the top of the fourth, Fatorma lead off with a double, Travieso bunted for a hit and both scored on a wild ball.  Barbarino walked and scored on a RBI single by Alex Marot.  In the sixth, Travieso walked, Barbarino singled, Marot singled for an RBI and Tyler DiNezza hit a 2 RBI double.

The defense gloves where working with nice outfield catches by Evan Dacey and Ruben Fernandez and Travieso with seven put outs from second base.

The following game was Aug. 7, when the team beat Danbury, Conn., by a score of 8-4 in a game that had it all. 

Marot started the game and pitched two innings recording four strike outs and allowing four hits.  DiNezza came in to pitch the final four innings recording seven strike outs and giving up two hits.  CLCF scoring started in the bottom of the first down 1-0, Travieso lead off with a walk, Barbarino followed with a walk, moving Travieso to second base, who stole third and scored on a pass ball making it a 1-1 game.  DiNezza walked, Barbarino scored on an RBI single by Fernandez, aCarbone walk and an Owen Smith hit a 2 RBI single, making the score 4-1 and Cranston had the lead after one inning.  Danbury fought back in the second to tie the game at 4-4.  In the bottom of the frame, Travieso hit a single, Barbarino followed with a walk, DiNezza had an RBI double and Fernandez hit a 2 RBI single giving Cranston a 7-4 lead. In the bottom of the fifth inning Ruben Fernandez beat out a throw to first for a hit and stole second and third and scored on a pass ball by the catcher, Cranston had an 8-4 lead which was all they needed to head to the NE Cal Ripken Baseball 9U finals.  RJ Fatorma and Andrew Travieso both had great games in the infield making the defensive plays when needed.

The two-game finals began on Aug. 9, when the team hit a bump, losing to Plymouth, MA, by a score of 9-4.

Marot started the game and pitched the first three innings. Plymouth was on the scoreboard first after their top of the first. CLCF scored in the bottom of the first when Travieso lead off with a double, stole third and scored on an RBI double by Marot. 

Facing a 3-1 deficit, CLCF entered the second inning with a Carbone walk. He reached second base on a sacrifice bunt by Smith and scored on an RBI hit by Evan Dacey.  Plymouth got another run in the next inning. 

In the bottom of the third, Marot reached first on a fielder’s choice and scored on a RBI hit by Fernandez.  CLCF made it a 5-4 game after four innings and Barbarino stepped on the mound to pitch for Cranston in the fifth and had a 1-2-3 inning. But in the top of the sixth inning Plymouth scored four runs and ended up winning the game 9-4 forcing game two for winner take all.

In game two, the CLCF 9U team saw their hopes of becoming the first CLCF team of any age group to become a NE Regional winner, losing to Plymouth, MA, by a score of 7-1. 

DiNezza started on the mound for Cranston pitching the first three innings.  Preston Kerman came in relief to pitch innings four and five.  Cranston’s only run came in the top of the fifth inning when Marot walked and reached second base on a walk by DiNezza and scored on a sacrifice fly to the outfield by Fernandez

By the time the NE 9URegional’s were done, New England and Walpole, NH knew CLCF’s mantra by heart:

“What time it was, GAME TIME”

“What we came up here to do, represent the City of Cranston and the State of Rhode Island.” 

The team spent the week at the Quality Inn in Brattleboro, VT and had to travel back and forth everyday for games and practices.  The Quality Inn was very happy to have a RI baseball team staying there and kept mentioning how well behaved and good the kids were, said Alfred Travieso of CLCF.

“They accommodated all our needs, opened the pool late for the boys and really gave us the royal treatment,” he said.  "This was a great experience for the boys and families."