In 2019, I had another fantastic Rhode Island Baseball Experience tour of RI Baseball fields, leagues, tournaments, and special events. I traveled to Block Island to see Heinz Field. I visited Lajoie Field in Woonsocket. I watched games in the RI Little League 10U, 11U, 12U, and Juniors District and State Tournaments. I caught the Newport Gulls in Newport and the Ocean State Waves in Martha’s Vineyard. I touched home plate at Fenway Park for the Run To Home Base 5K. I threw out a first pitch at McCoy Stadium. My RI baseball community friendships grew week by week, as I got introduced to players from North Providence/Smithfield Babe Ruth, CLCF, West Warwick, Washington Park, and more. Here is a short list of what made of my Rhode Island Baseball Experience this year, so far…
- Rumford Little League – Wounded Warrior Tournament
- JoHnston Little League – RI Little League Juniors State Champs
- MOunt Pleasant Little League – Host of the Providence Mayor’s Cup Tournament
- Darlington Little League – Host of the Andreozzi Tournament
- Elmwood Little League – RI Senior Little League Champions
- RI Challenger Division 2 – Met this group through Cody Ortega and RI Prospects
- Silver Lake (Olneyville) Little League President Richard Hemphill, got to shake his hand
- CLCF – Multiple Cal Ripken League State Titles this summer
- WAshington Park Cal Ripken – 12U State Champs and Mayor’s Cup PVD Winner
- North Kingstown/Wickford Little League – 11U State Champs
- Deerfield Park – Host of the RI Little League 11U State Tournament, Smithfield Little League
- Barrington Little League – 12U District 2, Rhode Island State, New England Champions
- Apponaug Cal Ripken Babe Ruth – Warwick Mayor’s Cup Winners for Minors and Majors
- GloceSter Little League – Took over the St. Gregg’s Tournament and hosted it this summer
- WEst Warwick Baseball – 9U RI Cal Ripken State Champs
- Burrillville Little League – 12U District 4 Champs
- WCALL – Warwick Continental American LL – Great fans who love baseball
- ELmhurst Cal Ripken – Field, Park, and Playground Are Just Incredible
- GuLls – Newport’s Summer Collegiate Baseball Team – Met Don O’Hanley, Chuck Paiva
- WavEs – Traveled to Martha’s Vineyard and Wakefield to see this NECBL team
- JaXon Morrocco Tournament – Great tournament hosted by Warwick North Little League
- CaPe Cod League – 3 RI players played there this year – Wurster, Webb, and Sears
- HomE Base Program – An emotional 5K for raising awareness for Veterans and PTSD
- CRagen Field – East Greenwich Little League home field, host of the RI 12U States
- WIckford Middle – RI Middle School Baseball State Champions
- HEndricken (Bishop) – High School Division 1 Baseball State Champions
- North Providence/Smithfield – 13U, 14U, 15U RI Babe Ruth State Champions
- Cranston Western Little League – 10U State Champions, New England Regional Champs
- Exeter West Greenwich Tee Ball Field – Where the joy of baseball is cultivated at 4 years old
I thank every fan, player, coach, and parent for being a valuable part of the Rhode Island Baseball community. And, I am looking forward to writing about more Rhode Island Baseball Experiences this fall and for years to come.
