CNB 9/10's cruise to district win

Posted 7/16/14

The Cranston National Budlong 9/10-year-old all-star softball team expected to win the District 1 championship, but it still had to go out there and actually get it done.

CNB did just that – and …

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CNB 9/10's cruise to district win

Posted

The Cranston National Budlong 9/10-year-old all-star softball team expected to win the District 1 championship, but it still had to go out there and actually get it done.

CNB did just that – and then some.

With only two teams in the district, CNB played a best-of-three series against Elmwood and emphatically punched its ticket to the state tournament. It won 19-1 in a mercy-rule shortened, four-inning game Thursday, then came back and won in four innings again on Sunday 17-1 to clinch the title.

“I’m glad the girls didn’t play down to the competition,” said CNB manager Tom Lewandowski. “Sometimes that happens. The girls stepped up and I’m glad they did what they did. They’ve been looking for this since last year.”

The victory gives CNB a chance to avenge last year’s defeat in the state championship game, as it will try to out-last the winners of the other three districts this weekend when play opens in Elmwood.

“We’re definitely looking forward to states,” Lewandowski said. “We want to win this. We don’t want to look too far ahead, but we’re looking forward to the next step.”

If the district tournament was any indication, CNB is in good position as it gets ready for the step up in competition.

After blowing the doors off Elmwood on Thursday, CNB scored nine times in the first inning on Sunday to immediately seize control. The first four batters – Mackenzie Bessette, Elizabeth Lewandowski, Sophia ferry and Ava Brandow all walked against Elmwood’s Courtni Beaulieu, and Sydney Casale, Emily Bessette, Delaney Doidge and Emily Durigan all reached base as well before the first out was recorded.

CNB added one more in the second on an RBI single by Durigan, and then finished its scoring with seven additional runs in the third. Emily Bessette and Doidge had consecutive triples to drive in run.

“They weren’t all hits, but when they’re throwing strikes our girls make contact,” Tom Lewandowski said. “They love diversity. They love challenges.”

Elizabeth Lewandoski started the game on the mound and pitched the first two innings, surrendering just one run, and Sophia Ferry came on for the final two and struck out four batters without allowing a hit to close the door.

The performance of those two on the mound helped highlight CNB’s pitching depth, as it used Brandow and Josie Ditroia in the first game. CNB also has Sophia DiPippo, who was instrumental in the team’s run at states last year, but she is currently sidelined with an injury.

The team also uses three catchers with Doidge, Durigan and Avery Izzi.

“They all throw strikes, it’s great,” Tom Lewandowski said.

CNB’s next challenge should be greater, as it will open the state tournament Saturday against the winner of District 2 at 11 a.m. If it wins that game, it will play at 1 p.m. Sunday, while a loss on Saturday will send it to the loser’s bracket where it would play 11 a.m. on Sunday.

Understandably so, CNB has high hopes.

“These girls are up for the challenge this year,” Lewandowski said.

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