Shannon View captures NSA Super World Series title

Matt Metcalf
Posted 10/8/15

The Shannon View men’s softball team became the first team from Warwick and the first team from Rhode Island in many years to capture the NSA Super World Series title over the weekend.

The team …

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Shannon View captures NSA Super World Series title

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The Shannon View men’s softball team became the first team from Warwick and the first team from Rhode Island in many years to capture the NSA Super World Series title over the weekend.

The team did so by rattling off six straight wins, including a comeback victory in its first game, at the tournament in Ohio to earn the national championship.

“They’re the first team from Warwick to win the whole thing,” RINSA State Director Bob Berard said. “There may have been one other team from Rhode Island back in the 90s that won it, but they’re definitely the first team from Warwick.”

Shannon View almost lost its opportunity to compete at Super Worlds, though.

There are three Super Worlds tournament sites – South Carolina, Ohio and Las Vegas. Shannon View was set to play in the South Carolina tournament, but it was canceled at the last minute due to inclement weather caused by Hurricane Joaquin.

Suddenly, Shannon View’s shot at a national title was taken from it.

That is, until Berard made a call to the tournament director in Ohio.

The tournament director initially insisted that his tournament was full, so Berard accepted the explanation, but told the director to give him a call if any team drops out at the last minute.

Just a day before the tournament, Berard got that phone call. A team had dropped out, opening up a spot for Shannon View.

Although it was short notice, the team wasn’t going to let the opportunity slip away, so they packed their bags and drove through the night to Ohio.

The decision ended up paying off in a big way.

Shannon View took the field at 4:30 p.m. that next day and faced a significant deficit late in its first game, trailing 8-2 in the sixth inning. However, it was able to rally and eventually win on a walk-off.

“After that first game, they won the next one 18-14, and just went on a roll after that,” Berard said. “They gave up five runs in their last four games and played unbelievable defense.”

Shannon View, which plays regularly in the Warwick Sunday Morning League and the Warwick Clegg Night League, won the NIT, state championship and the Northeast World Series just to qualify for Super Worlds.

Player-coach Derek Robins knew that this team was special shortly after coming together.

“The bottom line is this team was a team of destiny,” Robins said. “We came together midseason because another team didn’t work and we all gelled right away. We became family so quickly.”

Over the weekend, that family became a national champion.

“It’s just amazing,” Berard said. “I’ve never seen a team have a year like this. And it was just such a freak thing how they even got there to play. But they did it – it was amazing.”

Some individuals racked up accolades en route to the title too. John Brosnahan earned the tournament’s Most Valuable Player honor, while Nathan Lacroix, Jesse Cahill, Evan Hutson and Joe Nelson were named to the All-Tournament Team.

Shannon View coming out on top in the 30-team tournament is something that the players will never forget.

“For one small weekend, the smallest state in the country stood on top with our Shannon View team,” Robins said. “It was a moment that I’ll never forget.”

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