CLCF 10Us Raising Money for World Series Trip in VA

CLCF Manager Craig Barbarino finally gets the dump he’s been waiting for from Coach Steve DiNezza after the team won the New England Regionals this past weekend.

The boys, parents and coaches of the CLCF 10U team will never forget being at the New England Regionals last year and losing two in a row to a strong team out of Plymouth, Mass.

“It bothered us for a year until tonight!” said CLCF Manager Craig Barbarino after the team made history and took home the trophy at the Cal Ripken Babe Ruth 10U New England Regional Tournament in Exeter, N.H. over the weekend.

The win came after a nail biting 8-7 win in the final winner-take-all game against Exeter, who had home field advantage and came one swing away from taking the game. But Alex Marot of CLCF got a strikeout with runners on the corner to end the game and earning the team a berth at the World Series in Virginia in just a few weeks.

“Every player contributed and fought for all we got this year, they never quit and that is what makes this group of kids different,” Barbarino said. “They play the full six innings until the last out. At the end of the game, we have to remember they are only 10-year-olds.”

Getting to the World Series is the long-term goal for every scrappy group of boys who start the season. It was hard fought but the team seemed to pick up where it left off and by the time they were in state championship play, there was no doubt they were in it to win it, dominating every team as they cruised to victory, scoring 40 runs against opponents’ 1.

But now that they’ve reached the World Series goal, there’s a few new ones. Obviously, they want to win the Cal Ripken Babe Ruth World Series this year, but they now have another tough task: paying their way there.

The team is looking to raise $36,000 to cover the costs of travel, room, board and food for the families of each player for nine days. They’ve got a Pasta Dinner planned on Aug. 5 at the St. Mary’s Feast Society and launched a Gofundme campaign to raise the money, and so far, they’re gaining momentum.

Each boy has put in time and effort to be both a good ballplayer as well as sportsman. And for the parents who’ve signed them up year after year, watching their success is a true reward. But with it comes the expense of getting to Virginia and staying there for the entire tournament. Not every family can pull it off. And can you imagine the difficulty in telling a 10-year-old boy that he can’t go? After coming so close last year and actually getting to the World Series this year?

Already, as of Wednesday afternoon, the campaign has raised $2,710 with donations rolling in of $10, $50, $25.

Getting to the World Series wasn’t nearly as easy as winning the state tournament.

After beating Quincy, MA 7-5 and Seacoast, NH 12-3, CLCF lost a critical game three to Exeter, NH 10-4, putting them in the loser’s bracket.

The team came back strong the next day winning over Seacoast 9-6 putting them in the championship game.

Preston Kermen got the start for CLCF on the mound going 4 and 2/3 innings. Andrew Travieso came in relief to pitch and closed out the game on five pitches. Owen Smith went 2 for 2 with a key RBI after being sick with a 103 fever along with an outstanding catch in the outfield. Jacob Chin also had an outstanding diving catch in the outfield in a crucial game.

In game five against Exeter, NH, Tyler DiNezza got the start on the mound and went the whole distance giving the CLCF 10U team the win 8-4 and into a final game winner take all game right after.

Game five summary: CLCF went up 4-0 at the top of the first. Matthew Barbarino lead off with a base hit, Travieso followed with a sacrifice bunt moving Barbarino to second base won scored on a hit by DiNezza, who scored on a base hit by Carbone. RJ Fatorma walked and Ruben Fernandez followed with a bases clearing double.

Exeter scored two runs in the bottom of the first making it 4-2 CLCF after one inning of play. The score remained the same until the top of the fourth inning, when Carbone led off with a base hit and scored on an RBI double by RJ Fatorma, who scored on an RBI hit by Evan Dacey.

In the top of the fifth, Travieso lead off with a base hit, Alex Marot followed with a double and both came in to score after a 2 RBI double by DiNezza. This gave Cranston 8-2 lead. In the bottom of the fifth inning Exeter scored three runs making it an 8-5 game and that is how the game ended.

In the championship game, Marot got the start on the mound and went the distance.

Exeter got on the scoreboard first going up 1-0 after a half inning of play and 5-0 at the top of the third.

In the bottom of the third, Barbarino lead off with a base hit, Travieso followed with a base hit, Marot got a base hit followed by a DiNezza RBI single scoring Travieso.

Carbone then grounded out to score Marot and Dacey got an RBI hit scoring DiNezza, Making the score 5-3 in Exeter’s favor after three innings.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, Fernandez lead off with a hit, Kermen got hit by a pitch, and Barbarino beat out a throw to first for a hit. This made it bases loaded and with two out, Travieso delivered a bases clearing 3 RBI triple giving CLCF the lead 6-5 for the first time in the game and erupting the CLCF bench and fans.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, CLCF scored two more runs with two outs. Fatorma got a base hit, Fernandez walked and they both scored on a 2 RBI double by Kermen, giving CLCF a 8-5 lead after five innings.

Exeter did not go away quietly. With two outs, they scored two runs, making it 8-7 Cranston and with runners on the corner.

Marot got the last out on a strike out, ending the game and making history for CLCF. It’s the first ever New England championship in the history of CLCF.

“ The entire CLCF organization tips its caps to our champions who have made us extremely proud,” CLCF said in a statement.

To donate, visit: www.gofundme.com/c3tnjc.

The pasta dinner is Tuesday Aug. 5 at 6:30 p.m. at the St. Mary’s Feast Society at 15 Phenix Ave. On the menu is pasta with marinara sauce and meatballs and sausage and peppers.