Cranston Bulldogs add second Connie Mack team

Posted 6/21/17

When the Cranston Bulldogs Connie Mack (19U) program started in 2012, coaches David Ciolfi and Bob Santos not only never thought that they would still be coaching going into the program's sixth year, but also never thought they would have enough players

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Cranston Bulldogs add second Connie Mack team

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When the Cranston Bulldogs Connie Mack (19U) program started in 2012, coaches David Ciolfi and Bob Santos not only never thought that they would still be coaching going into the program’s sixth year, but also never thought they would have enough players from Cranston to fill two teams – the only town or city in the 18-team, state-wide Connie Mack league to accomplish that.

“In the fall, when Little League decided to terminate its Big League Division, a light bulb went on in my head,” Ciolfi said. “What about trying to field two teams in the league?”

Once Ciolfi double-checked his sanity, the entire staff went to work recruiting players. The result is a program that is broken down into two teams with 18 players on each roster. The Dirt Dawgs is the name of the second team.

“I’m pretty proud of the fact that out of the 36 kids involved in the program, 32 live in the city of Cranston,” Ciolfi said.

Considering the Connie Mack program has grown state-wide from 12 teams in 2012 to 18 teams in 2017, Ciolfi, with strong support from his good friend Santos, thought it was worth a shot to expand.

“The Connie Mack program is very user-friendly for teenagers,” Santos said. “For the most part, it is 16 innings a week (Wednesday and Saturday), so kids who need to work can and they still have time to enjoy their summer.”

After being Little League President of Edgewood South Elmwood/Cranston East Little League for seven years, Ciolfi understood you first build a team with your coaching staff. “What good is having players without anyone there to develop, teach and lead them?” he exclaimed.

Doing that for the Dirt Dawgs is Bob Blackburn, an icon in local league lore who has been with ESE/CELL for over 35 years. A Professor at Roger Williams University, he is clearly a “student of the game.”

Besides Santos and Ciolfi, the Bulldogs’ coaching staff is anchored by gentlemen like Steve Cerep, Kevin Barbero and Mike Pagano. The Bulldogs’ program has had one coaching change in the last five years.

“That is remarkable as opposed to other summer baseball programs,” Ciolfi said.

This all-volunteer coaching staff combines old school baseball mentality with the ability to communicate to today’s teenagers. Pagano became available this winter and the Bulldogs quickly scooped him up. His son Matt recently played in the NCAA Division I Tournament for Marist. Mike has taken two Cranston Babe Ruth teams to Nationals.

Regarding the players for this summer’s baseball program, it begins with Cranston East standouts Jake Palazzo and Justin Neary. As Ciolfi puts it, “they are the perfect bulldog players – fearless, humble and hard-nosed.”

Martin Goldberg, who had a very successful year at Moses Brown, Cranston East pitcher Luis Paulino and Anthony Melise will anchor a very strong pitching staff.

“Anthony Melise is the best pitcher in Cranston that no one has heard of,” Santos said.

In the Bulldog program, no one is a “pitcher only,” unless they request it, and that applies to the aforementioned players.

However, over the last five years, this program has been about the kids who don’t make the headlines in the Herald sports section during the baseball season – the kids who were cut from their high school team, kids with something to prove, who have a chip on their shoulder and love the game of baseball.

“I’ve been around Cranston baseball now for the last 18 years and if people think the only good players are in the high school programs, they are mistaken,” Ciolfi said.

He believes because of the geographical area and the little time coaches are afforded to try out their potential prospects, mistakes are made.

In just a short span of time, the Cranston Bulldogs have accumulated an impressive list of players who have gone on to play college ball, such as Matt Lonardo, Andrew Ciacciarelli, Anthony Cofone, Taylor Pacific and Cody Lindell, just to name a few.

But, it has been the unheralded players who have won them championships in 2012 and 2013, players such as Kyle Whitney, Jeff Ragosta and Stevie Manfredo.

Santos says the players to watch out for this year are Brendan Lanigan, Daniel Estman, Jordan Lugo and Michael Cuddemmi.

The Bull/Dirt Dogs realize it will be tough to compete this year with two teams. The more teams, the more the talent is spread out, but Ciolfi feels this group of kids is up to the challenge. “This is a tough group of kids,” Ciolfi said.

Combine that with an experienced and knowledgeable coaching staff, and anything can happen.

“My goal in the fall was to replace Big League and ensure that kids who are serious and love the game of baseball had a place to play,” Ciolfi said. “I think we accomplished that. Now let’s go win a state championship. We have two tries.

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