Big win for Cumberland
Matt Maher drove in a run and pitched a complete game in CNLL’s 2-1 District 4 victory over Cumberland American Saturday.
CUMBERLAND – The Cumberland Major Division (11-12) all-star team has completed the first phase of its mission to claim the Little League state title, doing so with a thrilling 3-2 extra-inning victory over Lincoln in the District IV championship game.
Head coach Jeremy Jenkins’ bunch now is preparing for Phase II – the state event; it will face the District II champion in the tourney opener at 5:30 p.m., Monday, July 9 at the Warwick-West Side complex.
“The best thing, or what surprised me most, was how we well the girls came together,” he stated. “They’ve been playing together for the past two years, so they know each other so well, but they really jelled during the district tournament.
“Whether it was cheering from the bench or picking each other up after a strikeout or groundout, they really came together; I was impressed,” he added. “They were ready to play, and they showed that they were ready.”
In the title tilt, Lincoln had jumped out to a 2-1 advantage entering the bottom of the fifth inning, but Allie Casavant led off with a single, took second on a fielder’s choice and scored after Caitlyn Flynn smoked a double to center to tie it up.
Then, in the back half of the seventh, Casavant reached on a one-out hit, hustled to third on C.C. Lanzi’s infield single and scored on Hannah Michalski’s sacrifice fly. When Lanzi tagged up and hit the plate, Cumberland had secured the D-IV crown with an unbeaten 3-0 record.
In the circle, righty phenom Reily Martin whirled a four-hitter and yielded two walks and hit a batter while whiffing an exorbitant 14 batters.
Martin happened to be just as impressive when Jenkins and Co. opened the event at Diamond Hill State Park with a 4-1 triumph over Lincoln. She allowed just one hit and four passes while fanning a dozen.
Cumberland’s bats came alive in the fourth, producing three runs to put the game on ice.
Austin walked, and Kaitlyn Berger immediately bashed a two-run homer before Lanzi doubled. Not surprisingly, Michalski followed with a RBI triple to cushion the lead.
Lanzi finished 2-for-3 in the verdict. The Cumberlanders faced Johnston at Woodlawn Park in the second contest, and they made quick work of their foes, erupting for a 14-0 mercy-rule victory in a game that lasted only five frames.
Lanzi earned the verdict in the circle, surrendering only four hits and striking out nine.
Cumberland produced 10 runs in the top of the fifth to nail down the trip to the championship game. Offensive stalwarts included Jillian Ryone (two hits) and Lacie Grenier (inside-thepark, two-run dinger).
“We’re going to be practicing between now and Day One of the state tournament, and we’ll be working on everything – the things we did well and not-so-well at the districts,” the elder Jenkins said. “To e honest, they’re only 12 years old, so we’re going to keep it simple, but they should be learning how to get even better and more competitive at this point.
“My girls are smart, love to play and they want to win,” he added. “All of the girls deserve recognition for what they’ve accomplished so far. They all work hard, and I’m proud of all of them. We’ll be ready for states, without a doubt.”
Team players include Juliana Jenkins, Julia Emery, Lindsay Molis, Julia Raymond, Erin Bessette, Ryone, Berger, Flynn, Austin, Lanzi, Casavant, Grenier and Michalski.