Reigning NE champs cruise

SCITUATE – The Lincoln All-Stars captured the pre-game coin toss, elected to be the home team and didn’t lose much else in their R.I. Little League District 4 11-year-old tournament opener against outmanned Scituate at Gordon Field on Saturday.

Lincoln exploded for 12 runs in the back half of the second inning and sailed to a 19-1 victory, and Donavon Lopez led the eruption, finishing 3-for-4 with two homers, a double, a whopping eight RBIs and two runs scored.

Jayden Champagne also went 3-for-4 with three runs, and Ryan Allen 3-for-3 with a pair of two-baggers, four RBIs and three runs.

On the hill, Champagne, a most effective righty, and relievers Ethan Gray and Joey Conti were just as explosive, as they combined for a no-hitter. Champagne fanned four over the initial two frames, while Gray fanned two Scituate hitters in the third before walking one. He eventually scored on a pair of passed balls.

Conti also whirled a perfect fourth.

“Donavon would have had three three-run homers; in his last at-bat, he dented the top of (the hard, yellow plastic covering extending around the chain-link) fence, but it bounced back into the outfield,” Lincoln skipper Joe Conti stated. “It was a really good start for the boys, and it was exactly what we needed in our first game.

“We’re still going to have to speed up our bats because the pitching is going to get progressively better as the tournament moves forward,” he added.

Lincoln will host Smithfield in its second contest at 6 p.m., Wednesday at Lonsdale Park’s Randy Hien Field.

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