Saturday showdown
CALL, Lincoln meet in battle of title hopefuls
LINCOLN — The Cumberland American Little League and Lincoln Little League Major Division All-Star teams have been two of the most successful programs in New England over the last decade with numerous state titles and appearances in Williamsport, Penn. for the Little League World Series.
Today at 11 a.m. at Lincoln’s Hien Field, the two talented squads will meet in a District 4 winners’ bracket quarterfinal that feels almost like a state final.
Cumberland American comes into the game still basking in the glow of last season’s 11year-old state championship victory over Warwick North. Coach Tony Tarara returns the core of that squad, along with three talented players who played in District 4 title games last season.
“The team is definitely better than it was last year. All of the kids last year got better over the season and a lot of them play for me in AAU in the winter and spring.” – CALL coach Tony Tarara
“The team is definitely better than it was last year,” Tarara said Friday night. “All of the kids last year got better over the season and a lot of them play for me in AAU in the winter and spring. They’re ready to go. The goal last year was to win states and it’s the same thing this year.
“Our goal is to win districts, win states and just make it to regionals. If we get to regionals, I’m going to have to reset the goals.”
CALL opened up tournament play Monday against Burrillville at Peck Field. One of the team’s three newcomers, 11-yearold righty Jack LaRose, earned the victory on the mound. Charlie Tarara closed out the 8-3 victory and also went 3-for-4.
Burrillville hurler Carlo Aquisto, who was a part of Burrillville’s squad last season that reached the winners’ bracket final, held CALL in check until he reached 85 pitches. CALL received home runs from Dante Figueira and Joseph Cote.
“We have a great lineup that is very deep,” Tarara said. “Our No. 9 hitter is still a great hitter. Once we got some momentum, every kid got a hit or drew a walk or did something to help us.”
Tarara is blessed with a talented lineup led by Figueira, Tarara, catcher J.J. Sanzi, LaRose and two other newcomers to the squad. Scott Penney, who was on the Major Division squad that lost to Lincoln in the 2016 D-4 final, and 11-year-old outfielder/catcher Andrew Ray add to the depth.
Tarara indicated LaRose, who was impressive last season against Lincoln’s New England champion 10-year-old squad, will start again at Hien Field.
“I’m going to go with Jack again on Saturday,” Tarara said. “Jack plays a lot of ball with those Lincoln kids and he knows them very well. He’s a phenomenal athlete and he has very good pitching mechanics where he changes his speeds and has a plethora of pitches. My son will probably come in second or I will bring in one of my lefties.”
Lincoln is the two-time reigning District 4 Major Division champion, but the only person returning from last season’s team that lost to New England champion Warwick North in extra innings of the state title game is coach Ken LaBree. With the likes of Danny Fish and Cam Bernard playing on full-size baseball fields these days, LaBree is turning to the core of last season’s 11-year-old D-4 finalists along with a player who dominated Rhode Island and New England as a 10-year-old.
“It’s a sound defensive team with plenty of speed and plenty of kids who can hit,” LaBree said Friday night. “We feel pretty good about our team. They’re really coming along and we’re happy about the progress. The first game is big for all of us. It’s a big game and we’ll definitely prepare as hard as we can.”
Jake Foster (pitcher), Preston DeSousa (first base), Brady Mellen ( third base), Marcus Rodrigues (shortstop) along with a talented group of outfielders will be key to Lincoln’s success.
The most intriguing player on the squad is 11-year-old Ryan Thompson, who pitched Lincoln’s 10-year-old squad to the District 4, state and New England titles last season. Thompson was also a key cog in the lineup, along with Donovan Lopez and Jayden Champagne.
“There’s no doubt in my mind he can handle this,” LaBree said. “To have an 11-yearold on the team, he’s going to have to be an impact player and we see Ryan as one of those players. He belongs here and he would not be on this team if we didn’t believe he would make a big impact.”
LaBree wouldn’t indicate who he’ll start on the mound today, but it most likely won’t be Thompson, who will also see time at third base.
“This is a huge test,” LaBree. “We’re playing a great team, with great success and they have good players and good coaches. They’re coming off a year where they won the state championship, so it’s a huge, huge test. We’re looking forward to it. At some point, if we want to win the districts we have to play them, so why not the first game?”
There are two other District 4 Major Division games of local interest today. The winner of the CALL-Lincoln game will play the winner of Smithfield-Woonsocket. Those two squads will meet at Nap Lajoie Field at 7:45 p.m. On the other side of the bracket, North Smithfield and Cumberland National meet at Pacheco Park at 11 a.m.
Burrillville will play the loser of the Scituate-Glocester contest Wednesday night in an elimination game.