The Cranston Western 10-year-old All-Star team topped Cumberland 15-7 to win the state championship in Chariho last week, punching its ticket to the regional tournament that will be held at the CWLL complex on Hope Road.

CWLL jumped out to a monster start, putting up 14 runs in the first inning. Cumberland would rebound with a strong five innings of work from there, but the early deficit was too much to overcome as CWLL earned the victory.

“We lost the coin flip and were the away team, but that is something that I have actually been leaning toward this summer because this team can hit. It worked for us and we scored 14 runs in the first which was key to getting out to a big lead like that. That Cumberland team is pretty good, they’re scrappy and they weren’t going to quit, but to get that kind of cushion was comfortable in that type of game,” said CWLL coach Sean Hart.

Aydenn Reyes and Nazlin Benzan led the team, each coming up with three RBI on three hits. Kameron Monahan would also get three hits with two RBI, while Jacoby Cruz, Ashton Pelagali, Nolan Winters, Brad Dempsey and Thomas Glasgow all knocked in runs as well.

JJ Hamilton got the win on the mound, going all six innings and picking up four strikeouts.

Next for the team will be regionals starting on Aug. 6 right in their own backyard at Briggs. Hart feels that the team is prepared for the next leg of the competition and was thrilled to see it rise to the occasion during a promising summer.

“They don’t realize how big the moment is which actually works in our favor. It helps them play really, really loose. They were obviously really excited and this was a goal at the beginning of the summer that we set for them. There was something really special with this group and I told them, ‘If you can win seven games in a row then you will win the state championship,’’ Hart said. “They really bought into that and for them to win districts then (the state championship), it meant a lot to them.”

Hart and company are also excited to be representing Cranston on their home turf.

“Being at home, playing in front of so many more people, it’s going to be a good experience for them and they’re ready for it. The competition level rises, but this group of kids are gamers and they live for that moment,” said Hart. “These kids know that they are playing at a great complex and will be playing in front of their friends and families. They realize that and are really excited about that.”