Seniors claim another district title, eye states

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The Johnston Senior League all-star team captured another district title Monday, knocking off Elmwood 3-1 to bring home the banner.

It was the fourth straight District 1 championship for this particular group, which won two consecutive Junior League titles as 13 and 14-year-olds and have now added consecutive Senior League titles to their total.

Johnston had a bye to start the tournament and played its first game in the three-team bracket against Elmwood, where Johnston took care of business 11-0.

Elmwood came back out of the loser’s bracket and played Johnston much tougher the second time, but Johnston still found a way to get it done. Korey Fijal pitched six innings on the mound, while Jake Coro closed out the game with a scoreless seventh.

In the sixth inning, with the game tied at one, Coro laid down a suicide squeeze bunt to score Marc Conte with the go-ahead run. From there, Johnston finished it off.

Johnston will now play in the state tournament, which is being held in North Kingstown. It has a bye in the three-team tournament and will play the winner of Saturday’s game between District 3 champion East Greenwich and District 4 champion Smithfield, on Sunday. Johnston’s game is at 4:30 p.m. at Davisville Middle School.

With a loss in that game, Johnston would play Tuesday. With a win, it would play Wednesday for the state title.

Team members are: Michael Caparco, Kevin Ciprian, Austin Conte, Marc Conte, Coro, Fijal, Jordan Gillheeney, Armani Henderson, Daniel Kennedy, Matt Kennedy, Joe Michael, Jake Podmaska, Jake Pratte, Emelio Rodriguez, Nick Raposo and John Willette. The team is managed by Joe Santilli, with coaches Jerry Coro and Gary Gillheeney.

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