CLCF Kicks Off 2012 GALS Softball Season [Gallery]

Cranston's CLCF GALS Softball kicked off their 2012 season with a fun-filled opening day, featuring team introductions and activities including hitting, team relays and throwing. Most of the nearly 400 girls were on-hand to welcome the 2012 season.

The 2012 CLCF GALS Softball opening day festivities were a rousing success. Ranging in ages from 5-18, GALS Softball offers instructional Mini-GALS though to under-18 slowpitch and now includes many fastpitch tournament teams. Most of the nearly 400 girls attended the opening day events, participating in the team introductions and showing off their skills in the running, hitting and throwing activities. Several dignitaries, including Mayor Allan Fung, were on-hand to be recognized by the league for their continued support and dedication for our Cranston girls. Good luck to all players, parents and coaches for the 2012 softball season. These and more photos can be found on www.CranstonSports.com, dedicated to the youth sports of Cranston, …

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POLL: Are Kids Getting Priced Out of Baseball and Softball?

A NY Times article explores the era of the $250 baseball bat

Did you have to buy a new baseball glove for your Little Leaguer this year? Did you pay more than $100 for it? How about a $250 bat? A New York Times story headlined "Big Price Tags Attached to Even the Littlest Leagues," looks at the big business of equipping youngsters for participation in youth baseball and softball leagues, quoting those costs and more. "A batting helmet protects tiny heads for $39.99," the Times reports. "A pair of Nike Jordan Black Cat cleats will make your child fast and fashionable at $51.99 until he or she outgrows them." So what do you think? Has the cost of bats and gloves taken our kids too far from the simpler days of sandlot and playground ballgames? Or have you had better luck finding more modestly-priced …

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Five Cranston Runners in Boston Marathon Today

It's Patriots Day in MA, and five city residents are getting ready to Marathon.

It's a particularly hot day to be running a Marathon, but that's what city residents Robbie Blinkhorn, 59 (#23780), Susan Burgoyne, 48, (#20272), Daniel A. Anter, 40 (#7621), Heather A. Chapman (#19630) and Dan Gentile, 45, (#5873), are about to do at the starting line in Hopkinton, MA. There's a heat advisory issued for the area today, which is nice for sipping lemonade, but not so great if you're planning to run 26.2 miles in a marathon. "This will not be a day to run a personal best," according to the Boston Athletic Association's statement about the conditions. "If you choose to run, run safely above all else. Speed can kill,” they said. “Recognizing symptoms of heat illness in yourself and others is critical, this may include …

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Patch Readers' Choice

Readers' Choice: Best Place to Buy Sporting Goods

The weather is warming up - where are you going to get geared for adventure?

  It's warming up out there as summer gets closer on the calendar. Maybe you're looking to replace the sneakers you cross trained your toes right through, or you're getting ready to take on a new game. Perhaps you're planning a big camping trip or want to see the neighborhood via kayak. This week, we want to know: where do you go to get equipped for sports? Do you prefer Bennett Sports, Eastern Mountain Sports, 2nd Time Around Sports, Elmwood Sports Center, Players, Continental Arms, Spargo Golf, REI, Strike FX Pro Shop, M-F Athletic Co., UVEX, or Ocean State Job Lot ? Vote in our poll below, then share your thoughts in the comments section. If we left your favorite service off the list, note that in the comments as well. We'll leave the …

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Holton Dismissed From URI Following Additional Charges

According to the university, basketball player Jonathan Holton has been charged with robbery by Miami-Dade Police, and also faces additional Rhode Island charges.

Freshman Jonathan Holton is no longer registered with the University of Rhode Island announced today following additional charges two days after he was charged with felony video voyeurism. According to URI officials, Holton was arrested at 7:54 a.m. today at his campus residence and charged with being a fugitive from justice in connection with a Miami-Dade Police warrant. URI police said that when executing a search warrant Tuesday, related to the video voyeurism charges, they seized a laptop computer from Holton’s apartment. URI police said a check of the computer’s serial number revealed that it had been reported stolen from a URI dorm common area on July 26, 2011. Based on the information, URI police charged Holton with possession of …

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URI Basketball Player Charged With Felony Video Voyeurism

According to University of Rhode Island police, two women have accused freshman basketball player Jonathan Holton of taping them having sex without permission.

University of Rhode Island freshman basketball player Jonathan Holton has been charged in Fourth Division District Court with two counts of felony video voyeurism following a complaint from two students. According to an arrest affidavit filed by URI Police Major Stephen Baker, on March 20 they received two complaints of Holton filming sex acts with two different women, and then posting the videos on Facebook. Holton, 21, appeared in Fourth Division District Court on Tuesday morning for arraignment. He was released on $10,000 personal recognizance, which is typical for non-violent felony offenses. Both women said the sex was consensual. A felony screening date has been scheduled for April 27. Holton did not enter a plea, which is the …

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Kimberly Manchester

7:56 pm on Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Athletes behaving badly. What a shocker.   more ›

Season Wrap-up: Missed Playoffs and First Round Exits

No playoff wins on the hardwood or the ice for the city of Cranston.

Cranston East Boys Basketball finished the season with an 8-10 record in Division I, earning the 19th seed in the State Tournament. But the Thunderbolts ran into Hope High School in the first round and were eliminated, as Hope would go on to advance all the way to the Championship game, falling to Central in the Tournament Finals. The Bolts will lose seven seniors and five captains to graduation, including 6'7" starting Center Patrick Marchand, Forward Albert DeRobbio, and Point Guard Christopher Kpahn.  Cranston West Boys Basketball won two of their last six games, but could not secure a playoff spot, finishing with a disappointing 3-15 record in Division I West. The Falcons offensive woes prevented them from winning many games, as …

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Pagano, West Baseball Star, Commits to Marist College

Matt Pagano was a baseball and hockey star at Cranston West. He has recently committed to attending Marist College in the fall on a partial baseball scholarship.

One Cranston West graduate is showing that success can come both on and off the field. Matt Pagano was a key member of the 2011 Cranston West Division I championship team and was named the Providence Journal Honor Roll male from Cranston West — an award given to the senior who has demonstrated both athletic and academic prowess. Pagano is now heading to Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York, in the fall on a partial baseball scholarship. He is now attending Bridgeton Academy in North Bridgton, Maine, where he is doing a year of post-graduate studies. There, he played hockey in the winter and is getting ready for this spring's baseball season. At West, Pagano not only played baseball. He was a member of the varsity hockey team and was …

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