Johnston LL 9/10’s finish as state runner-up

Connor Kennedy makes a pitch for the Johnston Little League 9/10-year-old all-stars during last week’s state tournament game against Lincoln.

Sun Rise photos by Leo van Dijk / rhodyphoto.com

Jake Martino gets in front of a ground ball on the infield.

Isiah DeBritto squares around to bunt.

Posted Thursday, July 31, 2014 3:07 pm

The Johnston 9/10-year-old all-stars battled out of the loser’s bracket at the state tournament last week, but couldn’t get past Lincoln in the championship round.

Needing to defeat Lincoln twice, Johnston lost 7-5 to end its season as the Rhode Island runner-up. Lincoln advanced to the 9/10 Eastern Region Invitational in Cranston.

Johnston’s berth in the championship round came after it lost to Lincoln in the winner’s bracket final 8-2 earlier in the tournament. That dropped Johnston to the loser’s bracket final opposite Portsmouth, and Johnston gutted out a 3-2 victory.

It then gave Lincoln a much tighter game than the first time the two teams squared off, but it wasn’t quite enough to pull off the win.