PAL 15's open title defense with lopsided victory

Posted 7/15/14

Certainly the favorites coming into the state tournament, the Warwick PAL 15-year-old Babe Ruth team backed up its lofty status with a convincing performance in its opener Sunday night.

Warwick …

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PAL 15's open title defense with lopsided victory

Posted

Certainly the favorites coming into the state tournament, the Warwick PAL 15-year-old Babe Ruth team backed up its lofty status with a convincing performance in its opener Sunday night.

Warwick took down Portsmouth 15-5 behind solid pitching from Sean Creamer and Robert Garceau and a lineup that produced timely hits all the way through.

For a group that won the state championship each of the last two summers as 13’s and 14’s, getting the 15-year-old tournament off on the right foot was nothing new, but still important.

“We’d love to get the hat trick, but we’re going to take it one game at a time,” said manager Bob Creamer. “The last two years are the last two years. That’s in the rearview mirror.”

Warwick took some time to get going offensively, struggling through the first two innings before the bats started to come around.

When they did though, they were relentless.

“Once we got used to the pitching, everyone from our No. 1 hitter to our No. 10 hitter started hitting the ball really hard and got some timely hits,” Creamer said.

Defensively, Warwick took a few innings to get its feet under itself, but like the hitting, it eventually came around.

“We took a little time to get it together in the field, but once we did we were solid,” Creamer said. “Pitching was strong.”

On the mound, Sean Creamer pitched into the sixth inning, before Garceau came on to finish that inning and handle the duties in the seventh as well.

“Both those guys pitched very well,” Bob Creamer said.

Team members this season are Jarrel Barton-Johnson, Alec Bloominburgh, Chris Cahill, Creamer, Garceau, Eric Howell, Jordan Huntoon, Steven Johnson, Damien Mendoza, Daniel O’Brien, Anthony Russo and Cameron Skruce.

Most of the players have been on the team the last two summer, and while there are a few notable omissions from those successful, there are some newcomers on this year’s roster who Creamer expects to contribute in the same way.

“The boys came out excited, ready to play,” Creamer said. “It’s not exactly the same team we’ve had the last two years, but it’s just as good.”

The win moved Warwick into the winner’s bracket final in the six-team tournament, but continuing on won’t be easy. Warwick’s next opponent is Cranston, which has already won two games in the tournament. It beat North Providence 6-1 in its first game, then shutout Coventry 13-0 Sunday.

Over the past two seasons, Cranston has been one of Warwick’s toughest opponents during its march to the state title.

“It’s a natural rivalry that we’re looking forward to,” Creamer said.

With a win in that game, Warwick would be in the driver’s seat for a third straight crown. A loss would put it behind the eight ball, as it would need three consecutive wins after that to claim the title.

As of now though, Warwick is simply focusing on the task at hand. It still has a ways to go.

“We’re taking it one game at a time this year,” Creamer said. “That’s it.”

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