The experience at the Cal Ripken Babe Ruth 10U World Series in Winchester, Va., had been terrific through the first two games for the CLCF all-star team, with memories to last a lifetime, but CLCF was missing one thing – a win.

In its third game, it crossed that off the list

CLCF defeated Williamsburg, Va., 10-4 on Wednesday to break into the win column and give itself a chance to advance into the final six in the 10-team tournament. Though it lost the next day 5-0 to Honolulu, Hawaii to end its summer, CLCF accomplished almost all it set out to do at the tournament.

And at the end of the day, it was an incredible journey, from the first day to the last.

“We went into the World Series with that idea, that we’re just going to play as best we can, enjoy ourselves and play baseball the way that we know how to play baseball – which is to have fun and do the best that we can,” said CLCF manager Craig Barbarino. “The kids did that. They understood that some of these teams are really good.”

But winning is always nice, and the game against Williamsburg was definitely one of the highlights. CLCF finally broke out offensively, as it had scored just six runs in its first two games before grabbing 10 against Williamsburg.

It led only 3-2 in the bottom of the fifth before putting up seven runs in the inning, turning a close game into a blowout and giving the team its best inning of the tournament.

Evan Dacey and Matthew Barbarino opened the inning with walks. Andrew Travieso got on base by a fielder’s choice, Alex Marot added a hit, Tyler DiNezza smoked a two-run double, Cole Carbone had a hit, R.J. Fatorma hit a two-run triple, Ruben Fernandez got an RBI hit, Preston Kermen walked, Mike Panichas brought home a run on a sacrifice bunt and Jacob Chin walked. 

“I was hoping for it, because in the previous inning Virginia scored two runs to make the game close,” Craig Barbarino said. “For us to come back and score that many runs, it showed how much heart the kids have.”

Virginia scored two runs in the top of the sixth, but it was nowhere near enough, as CLCF was free to celebrate its win against one of the nation’s best teams.

Marot pitched four shutout innings on the mound, while Kermen pitched the final two.

“They showed that they could play with a lot of the teams across the country,” Barbarino said. “It showed that we could pitch and we could play defense against a lot of the teams across the country.”

The next day, CLCF took the field against Honolulu but couldn’t pick up where it left off at the plate. It managed just four hits in the loss, yet was in the game the entire way. Honolulu scored two runs in the first, one in the third and two in the fourth on its way to the 5-0 win.

DiNezza threw a complete game for CLCF, allowing five hits and just one earned run. CLCF’s hits on the day came by Travieso, Marot, Matthew Barbarino and Fatorma.

As it turned out, CLCF went 1-3 in its four games, but all three of its losses came to teams that ended up in the World Series Final Four.

“I thought the kids did well,” Craig Barbarino said. “We faced some really good competition. The kids did as best as they could. I thought the experience of playing teams from across the country was a really great thing for the kids too.”

Mid-Atlantic champion Marlton, N.J., went on to win the championship.

When the tournament ended, there was even more to celebrate for CLCF, as Matthew Barbarino made the all-defensive team for his play at third base, as did Marot at shortstop.

Offensively, DiNezza led the way with a .600 average.

“A lot of these kids, they went in there just thrilled to play in a World Series,” Craig Barbarino said. “They came out of it with such great memories. To have a couple of these kids win an award and make a World Series team is just icing on the cake.”

It’s not quite over, either.

The team will attend a Pawtucket Red Sox game on Sept. 1 and be honored on the field at McCoy Stadium, and then will go to Fenway Park on Sept. 7 to see a Boston Red Sox game and be honored on the field there.

It’s a fitting way to cap off what has been as memorable a summer as any – at any level – for CLCF baseball.

“Everything coming in just excites the kids even more,” Barbarino said. “That they’re home and it’s not over.”

The CLCF 10U team would like to thank their parents and friends, CLCF, House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello, Warwick Mall owner Aram Garabedian, Elmwood Sports Center owner Steve Marrocco, Mayor Allan Fung, the city of Cranston and everyone that contributed and funded the team on its way to the World Series.