Warwick North secures top spot in Pool A with win over Oregon

Mike Weber
Posted 8/20/15

Rhode Island’s state and East Regional champion demonstrated that it has the potential of possibly adding a third title to its impressive list of accomplishments. Warwick North won Pool A and …

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Warwick North secures top spot in Pool A with win over Oregon

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Rhode Island’s state and East Regional champion demonstrated that it has the potential of possibly adding a third title to its impressive list of accomplishments. Warwick North won Pool A and advanced to the Little League Softball World Series semifinals with a 5-0 win over Oregon on Monday.

Warwick North’s Sierra Ricci hurled a two-hitter with five strikeouts and two walks to help lead her All-Star softball team to the win at Alpenrose Stadium. The win by Warwick North (14-1 overall, 4-1 LLSWS) propelled it into Tuesday’s nationally televised (ESPN 2) semifinal versus Central Region champion Central Iowa (a 5-4 Warwick North win).

“It’s so exciting to be playing on national television now in the semi’s,” said Ricci, who utilized a screwball, curveball, changeup and fastball to keep Oregon batters off balance. “I was nervous at the beginning of the game, but then when we started hitting well, I knew that we could pull out the win.”

“I felt confident throughout the game and I had no doubts in my mind about our chance to come out and get a win. I was able to relax a little more after we got the lead and then I was able to just pitch my best. They (Oregon) appeared to get pretty frustrated most of the time at the plate.”

Warwick North, guided by manager Kevin DeTroia, broke a scoreless tie with a five-run fourth inning rally to take control of what was a highly intense and close contest.

“We’re very proud of these kids, because after coming into the tournament and losing our first game, we knew we had a battle,” said DeTroia, whose assistant coaches include Carlos Rodas and Brian D’Amato. “We knew we couldn’t go 2-2 in pool play games. We told the girls to just play your game, stay focused and just go out there and do your best. We didn’t think it was going to be a tough game, but Oregon sure gave us a good battle and they held us without scoring for three innings. It’s great to be in the semi’s, but we’re hoping to go all the way to the championship game, which would be even better.”

Warwick North capitalized on two Oregon errors to put runs on the board. Kelsey Burr (1-for-3, single) ignited the offense after reaching base on an error. Pinch runner Olivia Murray then proceeded to steal second and third base with her solid baserunning. An RBI single by Sydney Bigelli (1-for-2) gave Warwick North a 1-0 edge.

Emily Carter then drew a walk from Oregon pitcher Emily Harms. Consecutive singles by Sophia DeTroia (1-for-3) and Hailey Mackinnon (1-for-2) loaded the bases. Bryanna Rastella (1-for-2) then connected for an RBI bunt single, driving home Murray. Bigelli and Mickey Capicotto, a pinch runner for Carter, both scored on infield throwing errors to make it 4-0. Rastella then scored on an RBI sacrifice groundout by Madison D’Amato for a 5-0 lead after four innings.

“I’m really, really excited to be in the semi’s,” said Rastella. “This was definitely the best game that we’ve played so far in the tournament. It’s so much fun to be playing in the World Series and I’m definitely going to have many happy memories about the tournament for a long, long time. Our team was on a local television station after we won the East Regional in Bristol, Connecticut, but it’s going to be so much more exciting being on national television. It’s so cool because all my family members can watch us play at home on TV.”

Two scoreless frames followed as Warwick North’s stellar defense stifled Oregon’s offense to get the impressive shutout. The diminutive Rastella, a shortstop who is the smallest player on the team at 4-foot-6, had perhaps the biggest defensive highlight of the game. Rastella scooped up an infield grounder and stepped on second to get a baserunner out and then threw to first baseman Alyssa Richard for an assisted putout of another runner on the impressive game-ending double play.

For Warwick North, it marks the first time that a team from Rhode Island has advanced to the LLSWS since North Providence West Little League qualified for the tournament in 1979.

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