City comes together for Warwick North softball

Jacob Marrocco
Posted 8/20/15

More than 100 family members, friends and fans poured into Dave’s Bar and Grill on Post Road for a viewing party to watch Warwick North’s 5-4 victory over Iowa in the Little League Softball World …

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City comes together for Warwick North softball

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More than 100 family members, friends and fans poured into Dave’s Bar and Grill on Post Road for a viewing party to watch Warwick North’s 5-4 victory over Iowa in the Little League Softball World Series semifinals on Tuesday night.

Warwick North t-shirts were passed out and small signs were given to fans with the Warwick North logo on one side and “East Champions” on the other. Some people, including Hailey Mackinnon’s No. 1 fan Brian Carpenter, made a shirt of their own for the occasion.

Since Warwick North secured its spot in the semifinals on Monday afternoon, the event had to be put together in just more than a day.

“We wanted to show we were all in support and in unity for them,” Warwick North Co-President Dave Palumbo, who helped to organize the party, said. “So we wanted to all get here and watch the game together. [Krissy] Haroian helped out and through Facebook and social media, Dave’s Bar and Grill was very good to us and they were able to put it together quick.”

The Facebook event, which was set up by Danielle Fisher, showed the anticipated attendance to be around 50. However, more than double that number turned out as Dave’s continued to fill to the brim with fans.

The entire back section of the restaurant was reserved for Warwick North and its fans while the outpouring of support extended well into the dining room. Balloons and a food spread were placed on tablecloths over the pool tables in the backroom.

“I think it’s important [because] a lot of the family members couldn’t go there [to Oregon] and watch the kids,” Palumbo said. “So I think it’s important for them to come here and know the league is behind them.”

Also in attendance were several members of the Warwick North baseball team, vigorously chanting support for the softball team all night. A couple of direct relatives also brought out the black and white to cheer on Warwick North. Mackinnon’s mother, Carrie Benoit, and Maddy D’Amato’s sister, Jenna, were also on hand.

“I thought this [party] was great,” Benoit said. “I invited everybody I knew. I was like ‘Let’s go! We have to be there!”

“It’s really cool,” Benoit said with a smile on what it’s like to see her daughter in the World Series. “I went there for a few days, but only could stay from Thursday to Sunday, so it was a great experience. They are having a blast out there. They’re having so much fun. They’re just not stressing, they’re just playing like they always do and they’re having a great time.”

Not stressing helped Warwick North stay cool under pressure on Tuesday. The East representatives led 5-2 going into the sixth before Iowa plated two runs in the home half of the inning. With one out, Iowa had the tying run at second and the winning run at first. Warwick North starter Emily Carter battled back, though, and struck out the next two batters to end the game.

Warwick North was scheduled to meet Rowan Little League out of Salisbury, N.C., in the World Series final on Wednesday at 9 p.m. EST. Should Warwick North win, it would be the second champion to come out of the Ocean State and the first since North Providence in 1979. Results for the game were not available at press time.

“[The players] are loving it,” Warwick North manager Kevin DeTroia said about all of the support. “They’re finally realizing that all these people are starting to support them and give them the recognition that they deserve. Showing them all the posts on our phones, what’s going on and they’re excited [about] the fans that are here and the fans back at home, and they’re enjoying it. They’re really enjoying this moment.”

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