The Rhode Island River Dogs 11-U AAU baseball team had a fantastic spring season and won the state championship, followed by winning the New England title last month in Rehoboth, Ma.

Over 100 AAU teams from New England made the trip to compete in this round robin tournament, and the River Dogs would finish the weekend unbeaten to capture the championship after falling in the championship round last season.

The River Dogs would walk off in the bottom of the sixth to win the title in the deciding game on a Nolan Winters single. The River Dogs mounted a seven-run lead, but would see it evaporate in the top of the fifth and sixth before regaining the advantage on the walk off.

Winters and Eli Ozbek led the River Dogs with three RBI each while Drew Barron also knocked in a pair of runs. Brad Wayland finished as the tournament MVP while he and JJ Hamilton were named to the All-Tournament team.

The River Dogs finished the season with a 19-2 overall record and also won the Saratoga Memorial Day Tournament for the second straight season. The River Dogs are made up of Cranston kids from each side of the city, with many of them competing in the ongoing Little League All-Star tournaments.

“It’s awesome because we work year round. They’ve become such a close team coming from both sides of the city to be one. They had a great year. It’s very impressive and we’re very proud of the growth. To see them come together is awesome,” said coach Andy Barron.

Members of the RI River Dogs included: Ashton Pelagalli, Brad Dempsey, Brad Wayland, Bryce Polubinski, Declan Croke, Drew Barron, Eli Ozbek, Jacoby Cruz, JJ Hamilton, Logan Saraiva, Nolan Winters. Coaches were Dan Dempsey, Andy Barron, Jack Ellison, Jeffrey Hamilton and Keith Winters.