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Cranston’s CWLL Bombers win 10U Girls Softball State Championship
With the pop of the catcher’s mitt and the umpire emphatically calling strike three, members of the CWLL/CLCF Bombers 10U team ran to embrace each other and celebrate becoming USA Softball Rhode Island State Champs. The competitive travel team, which has been together for four seasons, defeated a very good Snapdragon Riptide Black team out of North Kingstown on Monday, June 24, to secure the title as the Ocean State’s top 10-year-old girls softball team. It is the team’s second USA Softball Rhode Island state title as they were 8U champions in 2022.
“This is an incredibly special group of girls who always have each other’s backs and who always leave it all on the softball field – every single one of them contributes to the success of this team,” said Bobby Arrighie, manager. “But what’s most impressive are their friendships; these are girls who go to school together and have known each other for years. They’ll never forget these experiences.”
This year’s USA Softball Rhode Island State Tournament kicked-off on Monday, June 17 at field locations across the state and featuring 10U, 12U, and 14U divisions. The 10U Bombers began their journey facing NESC 10U Black in an opening pool game at Warwick’s Winslow Park, where they won by mercy rule, 13-0, and held NESC to just two hits. The team then won its next two pool games on June 18, defeating Riptide White 10U and RI Crush Red 10U at Ryan Park in North Kingstown.
The State Tournament moved into bracket play on Saturday, June 22, when the Bombers eliminated RI Crush Red 10U by a score of 4-0. In that game, pitcher Emma Gomez went the distance, tossing a no-hitter and striking out 7. On Sunday, June 23, the Bombers defeated RI Storm Black in the semi-finals to earn a trip to the championship game against SD Riptide Black. The Bombers were up 11-4 going into the top of the 6thinning when thunder forced umpires to halt the game. Play resumed the following day, with the Bombers upping the score to 20-4 by the time it ended.
The CWLL/CLCF Bombers 10U team features Emma Arrighie, Mila Castillo, Hayden Cerio, Alyssa Chatelle, Dylan Damato, Rosie Gariglio, Emma Gomez, Melania Morse, Aubrey Riker, Eva Taveras, Mackenzie Taveira. It is coached by Bobby Arrighie, Michael Cerio, Bill Chatelle, and Mike Taveras. Overall, the team is 29-4 on the season, with tournaments in Billerica, MA; Warwick; Cranston; and Taunton, MA remaining.