By ALEX SPONSELLER The Warwick North 12-year-old team was one of the many clubs to participate in the state tournament last week. North won multiple games to advance all the way to the semifinals.

North kicked things off with an 8-0 win over Scituate. Michael Bryson pitched five innings and allowed just one hit and recorded 10 strikeouts. Dom Berry added three hits, while Bryson and Justin Cramer had two hits each.

North followed that up by earning a big 14-0 victory over Warren. The two clubs were tied at 4-4, but the North offense exploded for 10 runs in the sixth inning. Michael Mainelli had four hits including an inside the park home run.

From there, North entered bracket play and got started with a 6-0 win over East Greenwich. Bryson pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowing one hit and striking out eight batters. Berry hit a two-run homer, while Paul Doyle added two hits including an RBI triple.

Things got a bit tougher in the next round against Chariho, but North would grind out a 5-4 win in extra innings. Jack Cirelli tied the game in the fifth with a home run, and in the bottom of the seventh, Bryson would get on base with a single, stole second and advanced to third on an overthrow. Cirelli then hit a walk-off sacrifice fly for the victory.

North Kingstown would then cruise to a 6-0 win over North in the semis to advance to the finals.

“Cole Menning and Justin Cramer kept us in the game with solid pitching vs a very explosive lineup. Catcher Paul Doyle was a rock behind home plate, catching every inning of every game throughout,” said North coach Erik Bryson.

Erik Bryson added: “Overall, great team effort by our players, everyone contributed when their name was called, kids who didn't start stepped up when they got in. It was nice to play teams other than the usual District 3 powers, Coventry, NK, Warwick Continental. The highlight of the tournament was definitely the Chariho game, we played them on their home field, and to win it in a dramatic way is something I'm sure the boys will remember for a long time. These boys represented our league and themselves with class and showed they can compete with the best players in the state.”