BLACKSTONE VALLEY MEMORIES

July 16

1980 George Ajami belted a key home run and then came on to pitch the bottom of the sixth inning with the bases loaded and none out and proceeded to retire three straight batters to save a 2-1 win over the Dodgers by the Pirates in a Pawtucket Boys’ Club-Recreation Department Pee Wee Division nail-biter. In other Pee Wee action, Chris Crawley, Pete Thomas and Rich Ise shouldered the offensive load with two hits each as the Astros clipped the Bad News Bears, 4-1.

1990 Eddie Kirby of Cumberland is three shots behind the leader and defending champion, John Elliott, who shot 65 in the first round of the Providence Open at the improved Triggs Golf Club. Charlie Smith, well-known Pawtucket area pro, shot 71 and needs a hot round today to gain the first place prize of $6,000. In the RIGA Junior Championship at Valley Country Club, Cumberland’s Brad Adamonis didn’t make a putt and shot 76 anyway to finish one shot out of first place in the medal phase.

2000 Jay Rainville tossed a shutout, striking out 10 and walking none as the Pawtucket Boys and Girls Club’s 13-15 year-old RBI baseball team romped past Queens, New York 10-0 to win the Northeast Regional championship and earn a berth in the 2000 International RBI World Series in Disney World. Rainville, Dan Girouard and Ryan Dolan led the locals at the plate with a double and single each. The Pawtucket RBI squad had come close to winning the Northeast Regional the past two years, but the third time, apparently, was the charm for manager George Patrick Duffy’s nine.