The Rhode Island Little League District All Star Tournaments have concluded and we now have a clear picture as to which teams will face off in the Rhode Island State Tournaments. For the past week or so players, coaches, fans, and family members have battled the raindrops and downpours, postponed games due to weather and even darkness, moved games from one field to another and another, got down to their last at bats, some even to their last STRIKE, and through it all managed to make it through to the States. The excitement at a District All Star Game is a few clicks above that first time you rode Space Mountain at Disney or the first time you jumped off the cliffs at Fort Wetherill in Jamestown. Or simply imagine the most exhilarating, the most stress filled, the most nail biting moment in your lifetime and multiply it by a few hundred – that is what living, playing, and being a fan in the Rhode Island District All Star season can be like.

It was a great turnout statewide for the Rhode Island District All Star Tournaments and I was happy to see a few games. My nephew Finley played for the Narragansett Little League 12U team and I was lucky enough to catch his game versus Westerly National. And I was lucky to catch the Warren vs King Philip Little League game at Veterans Park in Bristol. Fans packed both parks and cheered/screamed at every pitch. Every at bat was important and every hit was huge. And because Little League fields are relatively small spaces, the fans lined the fields from home plate down the first base line around the perimeter of the outfield fence then down the third base lines and back home again. Most fans stood the entire game, some elected to sit in their lawn chairs, while others just paced around their section of the park. The players and coaches were well supported in these games with hundreds of adoring and stress filled fans watching their every move and cheering as loud as they could.

So, 5 Rhode Island Little League Age Divisions started District Tournaments to determine who would play for the chance to be named Rhode Island State Champion. Here is a list of the teams who were crowned District Champs that will compete in each division and where the State Tournaments will be played:

Rhode Island Little League 10U Champs:

• District 1 – Cranston West
• District 2 – Darlington American
• District 3 – Narragansett
• District 4 – Smithfield

Rhode Island Little League 11U Champs:

• District 1 – Cranston West
• District 2 – King Philip (Bristol)
• District 3 – Warwick Continental American
• District 4 – Lincoln

Rhode Island Little League 12U Champs:

• District 1 – North Providence
• District 2 – Riverside
• District 3 – Warwick Continental American
• District 4 – Smithfield

Rhode Island Little League Juniors Champs:

• District 1 – Cranston East
• District 2 – Barrington
• District 3 – South Kingstown
• District 4 – Cumberland

Rhode Island Little League Seniors Champs:

• District 1 – Johnston
• District 2 – Barrington
• District 3 – Coventry
• District 4 – Smithfield/Woonsocket
• Rhode Island State Champions – Coventry Little League

Here are a few photos of teams and their banner celebrations sent it to me by fans and family members. Thank you for sharing your photos and your special moments with me, so I can share them with others.

Congratulations to Coventry Little League, who is the first Rhode Island Little League Champs for 2021. Weather permitting, the Rhode Island State Tournaments will be begin later this week. The host fields – Rumford Little League, Westerly National Little League, Cumberland Little League, Fay Field – will all be ready with the grass trimmed, base paths lined, snack bars stocked, and with open arms. I am so excited for the players, coaches, fans, and families who have made it this far in the journey and wish all of you the very best of luck this week in your Rhode Island Little League State Tournament.

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