Road to regionals commences
Defending New England champs rolling into states
LINCOLN — A Lincoln Little League all-star team overcomes a Cumberland squad in the District 4 final at Peck Field to advance to the state tournament in Pawtucket.
Does that scenario sound familiar? It should.
One season after claiming the state title at Pawtucket’s Pinewood Little League on its way to the 10-year-old New England title, the Lincoln 11year-old all-stars make the short trek to Pawtucket’s Slater Park Saturday to begin the journey to what they hope is another trip to regionals.
“The difference between last year and this year is the strength of my team,” Lincoln coach Joe Conti said during Tuesday night’s practice at Hien Field. “These kids are 11 and they’re a lot stronger. I’ve got five or six of them who can hit the ball out of the ballpark.
“I am missing one of my top-tier players in Ryan Thompson – that leaves a mark – and these kids are stepping up. We’re a deep team. We have 13 kids who can do some damage at the plate.”
Even though Thompson, who played for the district runner-up Major Division squad, was a big part of last season’s team – and will be a big part of next season’s quest to return the league to Bristol, Conn. – Lincoln did just fine in the District 4 tournament. After coming from behind to defeat Cumberland National in the winners’ bracket final, Lincoln crushed CNLL, 16-1, in the district championship game.
Lincoln will be joined at Slater Park by a couple of familiar foes and a surprise district champion. Portsmouth (District 2) and Cranston Western (District 1) were both at the state tournament last season, while East Greenwich won the District 3 title, beating Coventry.
Last season, Coventry handed Lincoln one of its four summer losses. Conti is taking the transitive property approach to East Greenwich. If EG defeated a team that beat Lincoln, then EG must be pretty good. Conti will find out how good EG is at 10 a.m. today when Donovan Lopez takes the mound against the District 3 champions.
“East Greenwich beat Coventry, so that means they have to be legit,” Conti said. “Coventry merged their Little Leagues last year, so that means they were even stronger this season. If East Greenwich beat them, you have to respect that. The good thing is we face them right off the bat. I want to face the best first.”
As good as Lopez has been on the mound, he’s been even better at the plate. The 11-yearold has already belted 10 home runs this season. Ryan Allen has hit four and Will Denio has hit three. Jayden Champagne, Joey Conti and Carter Tillson also hit well in the undefeated run to the district title.
“Will Denio has turned into a tremendous first baseman and he still hasn’t pitched yet and he has filthy stuff on the mound,” Conti said. “Will Bowler and my son, Joey Conti, have really progressed since last season. Ryan Allen is also so strong because he swam his whole life, he’s hitting ball into the parking lot.”
Champagne and Conti are lined up to pitch in Sunday’s game, which will take place at 6 p.m. with a victory on Saturday. A loss on Saturday will set up an elimination game at 4 p.m. against the loser of the PortsmouthCranston Western game.
Conti believes his team is battled tested and won’t be flustered by the state tournament stage. After all, the group already has two district titles, a state title and a New England title before they’ve entered Lincoln Middle School.
“On the ride over to the district championship game, my son said ‘You know, Dad, I’m not really nervous. I’m excited to play,’” Conti said. “The other two kids (Boller and Champagne) in the car said the same thing. There’s no nerves. It’s just business as usual.”
The carrot at the end of the stick for Lincoln this season is for the first time there will be a New England regional for the 11-year-old division. That tournament will take place in Beverly, Mass. in August.
Conti said if Lincoln wins the state title, he will miss his 14-year-old daughter’s softball tournament in Virginia.