On to Championships for 9-10 All-Stars

Relentless and unstoppable, thus far.

The Barrington Little League’s Major Division 9-10 All-Stars advanced to the championship round of the Rhode Island District 2 Tournament by powering past the Portsmouth Little League, 9-3, Thursday night at Chianese Field in Barrington in the tourney’s winners’ bracket final.

Barrington scored seven runs in the final three innings, drilled 13 hits, and its three pitchers combined to strike out 11 batters while posting its third straight District 2 triumph. Barrington now moves on to the final round of the double-elimination event Monday night at 5:45, with the District final (if necessary) to be played Tuesday, also at 5:45 p.m.

After suffering its first defeat in three tournament tilts, Portsmouth will return to action Saturday at 5:45 at home against the survivor of Thursday night’s losers’ bracket tussle between Tiverton and Rumford. The victor of Saturday’s contest must beat Barrington twice to earn the District 2 crown.

That will not be an easy task. Flashing a solid defense (no errors) to complement its potent offensive attack and pitching depth, Barrington pulled away against Portsmouth after being held to a 2-2 draw after three innings.

Barrington plated three runs in the top of the fourth chapter when Kevin Gower’s infield out rescued Scott Dickervitz from third base, Nico Salvaggio tripled in Deven Connors and Salvaggio counted on a wild pitch. Barrington added two more scores in the fifth stanza on a run-scoring bunt single from Bo Vanier followed by Dickervitz’ sacrifice fly to right field to assume a 7-2 edge.

Barrington produced its final two runs in the sixth inning when Salvaggio doubled home Connors and later came across on Will Panarello’s single.

Portsmouth tallied the game’s final run in the bottom of the sixth inning when Kyle Bicho beat out on infield hit, scoring Brian Hamilton.

Salvaggio topped the winners with three hits and teammates Gower, Panarello, Colin Scorpio and Connors all ended with two safeties. For Portsmouth, Bicho finished with three hits (including a monstrous home run in the third inning) and two runs batted in, while Andrew Preuit concluded with two hits.

Salvaggio was also the winning pitcher as he scattered five hits over the first three innings, walked two and fanned seven. He was followed by Scorpio (who passed four and whiffed two in 1.2 frames) and Cabot Maher (who struck out two).

Jack Skrzypiec started on the hill for Portsmouth and allowed two runs in the first two innings while notching a pair of strikeouts. Bicho was charged with the loss after yielding six runs in three frames (while also fanning four) and Hamilton finished up, giving up two runs and whiffing one in the last chapter.

Barrington took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when Salvaggio reached on a fielder’s choice and later sped home on a wild pitch. Portsmouth knotted the count at 1-1 in the second stanza when Hamilton drew a bases-loaded walk, but Salvaggio averted further damage when he caught Skrzypiec looking at a third strike.

Barrington took a 2-1 lead in the top of the third chapter when Gower singled and later scored on a wild pitch. That advantage lasted for just one pitch in the bottom of the same inning when Bicho launched a Salvaggio offering far over the fence in left-center field, forging a 2-2 tie.

Barrington catcher Tucker Flint threw out one Portsmouth baserunner attempting to steal at second base and picked off another straying too far from thee bag at first base. Portsmouth right fielder Sean Kelley made a fine running catch of a sinking line drive to end the second inning and combined with first baseman Skrzypiec and third baseman Preuit to execute a 9-3-5 twin-killing concluding the fifth frame.

In its first two tourney outings, Barrington disposed of Newport 5^th Ward (11-1) and Bristol (3-1), while Portsmouth defeated Rumford (10-3) and Tiverton (12-5).

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