Warwick North to represent New England in Williamsport

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Warwick North Little League has a knack for making history.

It has certainly made a name for itself on the national softball scene, earning two World Series trips over the past two summers. But now, Warwick North is set to make an appearance in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

Its 11/12-year-old baseball all-stars secured the first-ever berth for a Warwick team in the Little League World Series with a 5-1 victory over Fairfield, Connecticut, on Saturday in the New England final.

On a steamy day in Bristol, Connecticut, ace Colin Lemieux dominated on the mound while also driving in three runs at the dish. He tossed five innings, yielding six hits and one unearned run while striking out six. Lemieux also delivered a mammoth 2-run home run deep into the trees beyond the left field fence in the bottom of the third to put Warwick North in front for good.

“I think this is the first Warwick team, so that’s pretty cool,” Warwick North manager Ken Rix said.

It was evident from the start that Warwick North would have to earn its victory on Saturday, as Fairfield American came into the title matchup scoring 36 runs in its previous three games.

And after a pair of scoreless innings to start the game, Fairfield struck first thanks to a Warwick North miscue.

Shortstop Michael Iannazzo got things started in the top of the third with a one-out double off Lemieux. Iannazzo advanced to third on a ground out by Matthew Sawyer, and Lemieux drilled No. 4 hitter Richie Kerstetter with a pitch to put runners at the corners.

One pitch later, Kerstetter wandered off first, looking to draw a throw from catcher Chase Pariseau to score Iannazzo from third. Instead of letting Kerstetter take second, Pariseau took the bait and his throw to second sailed over the head of shortstop Domenic Brazeau, allowing Iannazzo to trot home and make it 1-0.

Fairfield’s lead was short-lived, though.

With one out in the bottom half of the third, Dylan Bourret worked a walk after a tremendous at-bat against Fairfield right-hander Matt Longo.

A ground out by Aaron Narcavage pushed Bourret into scoring position, and Brazeau came through in the clutch a couple of pitches later, ripping a single up the middle to score Bourret and tie the game at 1.

That brought up Lemieux, who crushed a ball to left field that was still ascending when it hit the trees to push Warwick North out in front, 3-1.

“He’s a man,” Fairfield manager Brian Grady joked after the game about Lemieux. “He’s not like a 170-pound kid, he’s a man.”

Taking the mound with a lead for the first time all game, Lemieux responded with a crucial shut down inning in the top half of the fourth, retiring Fairfield in order while mixing in a pair of his six strikeouts.

With Lemieux’s pitch limit nearing in the fifth, however, Fairfield’s lineup applied some pressure.

With one out, Ben Gaffney and Iannazzo notched back-to-back singles. Sawyer then hit a grounder to Kenny Rix at third, who fired home trying to throw out Gaffney at the plate. Initially, the home plate umpire called Gaffney safe, saying that he got under the tag.

Ken Rix wasn’t buying it, though, and he challenged the call. The decision was overturned shortly after, and Lemieux got Kerstetter to ground out to Brazeau at shortstop to escape the inning unscathed.

Warwick North was able to add a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the fifth, as Lemieux roped an RBI double down the left field line and Sean Gallagher added an RBI single to increase the lead to 5-1.

Cullen McGrew then came on in relief of Lemieux in the sixth, needing just three outs to secure his team a spot in the Little League World Series.

Fairfield would put two on after a pair of singles from Longo and Ryan McIntosh.

However, McGrew was unfazed.

Right fielder Martin Merturi stepped to the plate with two outs and McGrew challenged him, throwing three consecutive strikes – with the third being a called third strike on the outside corner that sent Warwick North players, coaches and fans into a frenzy.

“It was just crazy, it’s like a dream come true,” McGrew said of the feeling he had after the final strike call. “We’re going to Williamsport, it’s just crazy. I still can’t believe it.”

Even though Grady’s Fairfield team won’t be advancing to the Little League World Series, he noted that he and his squad will definitely be rooting for Warwick North.

“I hope they win it all,” Grady said regarding Warwick North’s chances in Williamsport. “Nice kids and I loved their coaches – really nice guys.”

Warwick North is set to play New York, the Mid-Atlantic representative, on Thursday at 3 p.m. in Williamsport. But, after the win, Ken Rix wasn’t worried about the next game. Rather, he was focused on letting his team unwind for a day following an emotional roller coaster.

“Tonight, we’re just going to enjoy our win,” Ken Rix said.

There will be a viewing party at 3 p.m. on Thursday at Bo’s Bar and Billiards at 33 Lambert Lind Highway.

Warwick North is continuing to raise funds for the trip, with Brad Bento at Anchor Seafood Market pledging to donate 10 percent of Friday’s profits to the team.

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