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District IV playoff title up for grabs |
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Monday, 07 July 2008 |
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By TERRY NAU Sports writer CUMBERLAND – The District IV Major Division playoffs used to be a slam-dunk for Lincoln Little League.
“We’ve won the district title 10 times in the last 12 years,” Lincoln manager Charlie Hien was saying on Sunday afternoon. “Cumberland National won the title last year and from what I have seen of the teams this year, there are several strong contenders, teams that can pitch, hit the ball and have some speed.”
Lincoln is 1-0 thus far in the “pool” format favored by District IV. East Woonsocket and North Smithfield are 2-0. Cumberland Ameri-can and Smithfield are also unbeaten at 1-0.
The district took a break for the July 4 holiday weekend and resumes action tonight with two games. Lincoln visits Cumberland Ameri-can for a 7:30 p.m. game at Garvin Field while Glocester (0-2) hosts Bernon (0-1).
“We’ll have had a nine-day break since our first game,” Hien admitted. “We’ve been practicing really hard every day. This team is very loose and seems to enjoy playing and practicing the game. We have no returning starters from last year.”
Hien takes over as manager this year, the first time he has done the job since his father Randy passed away in the summer of 2006. Charlie spent many years assisting his dad, helping Lincoln win six state titles and earn two trips to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa.
All of that is very far away for Hien and the Lincoln squad, which once (and possibly still does) strike fear into the hearts of opposing teams all over Rhode Island.
“I don’t think today’s players remember any of that,” Hien admitted. “They were five or six years old when we last went to Williamsport a few years ago. Kids are just worried about what’s happening right now in their lives. Every all-star team we put together is different than the one from the year before.”
Lincoln buried Woonsocket’s Bernon squad by a 17-3 score in its tournament opener back on June 28. East Woonsocket served notice on the same day that it would be a force to contend with, drilling Glocester 15-0. Three days later, EWLL routed Bernon 13-1.
“East Woonsocket has scored 28 runs in two games,” Hien said. “That’s pretty impressive. They also have very good pitching to go with their hitting. And from what I have seen, they have plenty of speed on the bases.”
Unbeaten North Smithfield has outscored Burrillville 10-0 and Scituate/Foster 11-1 in its two games thus far. They host Cumberland National, which is 0-2 thus far, on Tuesday evening.
The tournament should heat up on Wednesday when Lincoln hosts East Woonsocket in a 5:30 p.m. Pool A game at Sam Moore Field. The best game in Pool B should occur on Saturday when North Smithfield visits Smithfield.
“Smithfield’s team has been together for a few years,” Hien said. “They contended for the title in every age group. I expect them to be very solid district title contender in this tournament.”
Saturday’s games will complete the first round of the District IV playoffs. The top two teams in Pool A and Pool B will meet in the semifinals on Tuesday, July 15. The two winners meet for the District IV title on the following evening. The winner heads to the state tournament the following week.
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 10 July 2008 )
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