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The Reporter September 2020
Spotlight on Sports By Bob Rodericks
Two Area Teams Snag State Titles
Post 10 ATC-Townies Win State Championship
Going 4-0 in the playoffs after a successful regular season, The Post 10 ATC-Townies won the Rhode Island Elite Junior Baseball League state championship last month. With traditional American Legion Baseball halting action due to the pandemic, ATC-Townies baseball was organized by Frank DeVall and EPHS coach Bobby Rodericks. “We lost our last baseball season to the Covid-19 virus and these kids haven’t had much baseball or sports lately,” said Rodericks. The teams played before socially distanced crowds and followed recommendations as set forth by the health department. The Rhode Island Elite Junior Baseball League sanctioned the tournament with teams from around the state participating. The ATC-Townies Post 10 team cruised through the regular season with a 15-2 record. Staying undefeated in state playoff action, the team took both games of a doubleheader against Upper Deck-Cumberland Post at Pierce Stadium. The local nine won by scores of 8-0 and 12-7. “These past 2 months I have been blessed to work alongside a group of tremendous young men. A team of 18 put together of many ball players committed to various teams, leading to an everchanging lineup,” said coach Frank DeVall after the championship game. “Over the past weeks this team bought into the “we over me” mentality, came together and played their best baseball at the end.” Post 10-ATC-Townies went 6-0 in the last 5 days of the season vs 5 different teams to win the State Championship 17U Elite Baseball League. “Thank you to all parents, friends and family that have supported this team. Pierce Field had a great atmosphere with a socially distanced crowd. I was very fortunate to be surrounded by committed coaches in Bobby Rodericks, CJ Woods, Andrew Rodrigues and Kevin Leftridge,” added DeVall.
Post 10 ATC-Townies East Providence High School head coach, Bobby Rodericks was glad to get a little baseball in for some of the Townies. “Congrats to all of the players and the very successful first-time coaches Andrew Rodrigues and Cristian CJ Woods who directly impacted this team immensely,” said Rodericks. “Coach DeVall held the fort down day-in and day-out, while I got a preview of the 2021 EPHS Townie Baseball spring season to come.”
Post 10 ATC-Townies Roster
Oliver Andrews, Dylan Palombo, Jack McKnight, Manny ‘Chico’ Santos, Kyler Lorenz, Eli Barber, Vinny Enright, Mike Sabourin, Billy Roche, Ryan Heatherton, Jake Palumbo, Tim Robitaille, Matt McDuff, CJ Hess, Colin McCarthy, Xavier Botelho, Grayson Sparr, Brandon Landry. Coaches; Frank DeVall, Bobby Rodericks, CJ Woods, Andrew Rodrigues and Kevin Leftridge.
Jaguars Romp in 10U Championship
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In addition to the Post 10 champs, a group of mostly East Providence ball players on the 10U (age ten & under) AAU Jaguars finished a successful championship season. Also playing under social distancing guidelines (no handshakes, etc.) the New England Jaguars finished 12-0 and breezed through a playoff bracket to win the AAU 10U state championship. Along with the East Providence based team, tourney participants came from Westerly, South Kingstown, Tiverton, Wakefield, Cumberland, Providence, Johnston, Pawtucket, Bristol and others. AAU baseball was established in 1991 and competes against teams from CT, MA, ME, NH, RI and VT. There are 10-14 regular season league games and playoffs. The locals, the New England Jaguars, were 12-0 in the regular season and the number one tournament seed in the playoffs. The Jags played in the ‘pool game’ on Saturday August 22nd at Kim Rock Field in Rumford and defeated the Shorline Surfers of Westerly 7-2. Finn Loverme pitched 5 great innings and JJ Renaud came in to close out the game in the 6th. Alex Enright had a hot bat with two hits including a home run. Cam Beaudreau also contributed with two hits. In the second game of the Saturday doubleheader, the Jags beat the RI Bandits of Pawtucket 3-1. “Our kids played
