Warwick North honored by city at “The Pit”

Matt Metcalf
Posted 8/27/15

The whirlwind of a summer that brought the Warwick North softball All-Stars all the way to Portland, Ore., for the Little League Softball World Series came to an end last week.

But although the …

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Warwick North honored by city at “The Pit”

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The whirlwind of a summer that brought the Warwick North softball All-Stars all the way to Portland, Ore., for the Little League Softball World Series came to an end last week.

But although the team fell just short on the diamond in the championship game, fans, family and friends gave the girls a champion’s welcome during a ceremony held for the team at “The Pit” on Monday night.

With the stands packed on both sides of the concession stand, each girl was announced and received a roaring ovation from the crowd.

The team was then addressed by a series of speakers, highlighted by Mayor Scott Avedisian and Senator Michael McCaffrey.

Avedisian, in particular, spoke of the girls giving the people of Warwick a reason to come together.

“I had people stop me in the bank or the supermarket and say ‘Isn’t it wonderful that those girls are giving us something to really rally around and be proud of,’” Avedisian said. “Girls, I want to say a great, big thank you from everyone in the city for giving us the opportunity to believe in something so real.”

But for Warwick North Co-Presidents, Dave Palumbo and Carlos Rodas, this was a dream that they were hopeful for after merging Warwick West Side and Warwick National at the start of the year.

Palumbo joked on Monday that when he met with Rodas to merge the leagues, Rodas noted that they had a softball team that could make it to the World Series.

That became a reality.

When Rodas took the microphone, he expressed the surreal feeling that he endured when he saw the ‘Warwick North’ name receiving national recognition – a name that he and Palumbo had come up with just months prior.

This wasn’t a mistake or luck, though.

The hard work and dedication of those girls made it happen.

“For the last four years, these girls have eaten, lived and breathed this sport,” Rodas said. “This wasn’t an accident.”

Warwick North breezed through state competition, before continuing that dominance at the East Regional in Bristol, Conn., to secure the state’s first World Series berth since 1979.

The team also made unprecedented history as the first team from Warwick to make it to the pinnacle of Little League Softball.

Warwick North lost its first game in Oregon to Uganda, 3-2, before rattling off four straight wins to secure not only the top spot in Pool A, but a spot in the finals following a 5-4 win over Central Iowa.

But unfortunately, Salisbury, N.C., proved to be too much for Warwick North, as the Southeast Region representative claimed the World Series title with a slim, 4-2 victory.

Now that the pressure of the limelight is behind Warwick North, it can now enjoy the few days left of summer before going back to school.

And Manager Kevin DeTroia had a pair of surprises for his team.

The first of which was the team would be making an appearance on ‘The Rhode Show,’ which airs on WPRI 12 on weekdays at 9 a.m.

DeTroia then left the girls in shock when he informed them that they will be making an appearance on the field before an upcoming Boston Red Sox game.

“These girls deserve it, from the bottom of my heart,” DeTroia said.

Although every team wants to come in first, finishing second in the world is a tremendous accomplishment.

“They fought and gave up their summers,” DeTroia said. “To me, they’re champions anyways. It’s an experience that they’ll always have, and I’m happy that the kids are getting all the recognition that they’re getting. It’s great.”

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