Aquidneck B/R 15 y/o All Stars - 2017 finalists in State Tournament
UpdatedTuesday February 27, 2018 byWBB.Players from the Newport, Middletown and Portsmouth Babe Ruth leagues joined forces to form a 15 year old Aquidneck Island All Star team and participated in a week long State Babe Ruth Tournament held at War Memorial Field in Middletown during July 2017. Portsmouth Babe Ruth players selected and participating were OF Braden Anderson, 2B/P John Bliss and 1B Ryan Clarke; Coach George Anderson assisted the team.
The Aquidneck Island club finished with a 3-win and 2-loss record as the eventual Runners Up team for the tournament. The team started the week strong with a big 6 - 4 win over Warwick PAL (2-time defending state champs) and then a 17- 3 win against Coventry. They next faced North Providence-Smithfield and dropped that tight game 3 - 2 against the eventual tournament winners. The loss dropped the Aquidneck team down to the losers bracket where they again had to face Warwick PAL. Warwick PAL put up a good fight but behind strong defense, pitching and timely hitting Aquidneck Island pulled out a 4-2 win to advance to the state final.
Aquidneck Island battled in the championship game but fell behind early and was never able to catch back up against a well-disciplined N. Prov.-Smithfield squad. Catcher Dylan Stahl, from Newport, was awarded the outstanding sportsmanship player award for the tournament. RI tournament champs N.Prov.-Smithfield then competed in the New England Regional, finishing in second place.