March 29, 2024

Rumford Little League Majors All Star Team wins the 2021 Wounded Warrior Invitational Championship

Posted

After a nice post season run came to an end in the District 2 semi-finals of the mid summer RI State All Star Tournament, The Rumford Majors All Stars took to the field for one last weekend of great baseball for RLL’s Annual Wounded Warriors All Star Invitational Tournament at the Kimberly Rock Complex (Sept. 10 -12, 2021). This gritty, determined team of 11 and 12 year old’s gave it their all over a 3 game stretch against some very talented 12 U teams and took home the championship trophy when the infield dust cleared on Sunday afternoon.

Game 1 versus Silverlake on Saturday morning was a hard-fought contest with Rumford setting the tone early on the base paths. Lead off walks to Max Correiro in the 1st and Beckett Keough in the 2nd led to both crossing the plate later in the inning and a quick 3 – 0 lead for Rumford after 1 ½ innings. Silverlake came back to score 2 runs in the bottom of the 2nd to tighten things up but Rumford came right back for 2 more runs in the 3rd with Sean Smith’s lead off single and steal of 2nd getting things started. Silverlake threatened again in the 4th with two singles and an error at 2nd to score a run but any further damage was negated when Beckett Keough fielded a hard chopper at 3rd and started a bang bang double play to end the inning. A clutch pitching performance by starter Sean Black (5 innings / 8 K’s / 5 hits) and Max Correiro’s 3-4 outing at the plate led the way to Rumford’s 5-3 victory.

Game 2 on Sunday morning was a rematch against Silverlake with Rumford scoring 3 runs right out of the gate and never relinquished the lead in an eventual 8-5 win to reach the championship game. Silverlake tried to cut into the Rumford lead in the 5th and gain some momentum but that was snuffed out as catcher Jack Pawlik threw out a runner attempting to steal 2nd base with a perfect throw to end that threat. David Murphy (3-3 / 3 RBI), Sean Black (2-3 / 2 RBI) and Will Haggerty (1-2 / 2 RBI) got the job done on offense while the trio of Max Correiro, Will Haggerty and Cole Beattie kept the opponent at arm’s length with solid and timely pitching.

Next up for Rumford in the champion game early Sunday afternoon was a strong East Bay squad who cruised through their opponents to get to the finals. After a quiet 1st inning for both teams, East Bay struck for 3 runs in the 2nd but Rumford came roaring back in the 3rd with 4 runs. Jack Pawlik’s lead-off walk and Cole Beattie’s 2 out single set the stage for Will Haggerty’s monster 3 run homer to left center that left the park in no time flat. David Murphy followed with a triple and strode home on a single by Gerry Gagnon to complete the 4 run inning and Rumford never looked back while tacking on 3 more runs over the next two innings keyed on by solid hits from David Murphy, Gerry Gagnon and Sadie Gagnon. Will Haggerty tossed a gutsy 5 innings, striking out 7 while holding East Bay to 3 runs and 3 singles and Jamison Sydney struck out the side in order to end the game cementing Rumford’s 7 – 3 win for the championship.

Coach Dave Murphy had this to say after the game. “I could not be prouder of all of the children. I have coached all of them in some capacity since tee ball and to watch them put it all together while being good competitors and teammates to end their little league season and for some their little league careers as champions is something I will always cherish for them and myself as well”

Team picture: Front row l to r: Jamison Sydney, Gerry Gagnon, Jack Pawlik, Beckett Keough / 2 row standing l to r: Sadie Gagnon, Sean Smith, David Murphy, Will Haggerty, Sean Black, Max Correiro / 3 row coaches l to r: Dave Murphy Jr., Scott Haggerty, Bill Keough / not pictured: Cole Beattie

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here

Share!
Truly local news delivered to every home in town