By STEVE MAZZONE

Sports writer

CUMBERLAND – Cumberland National coach John Brodeur likes the make-up of this year’s All-Star team. Despite not having what he considers a “power” pitcher on the staff, he believes his young squad has all the tools for success.
“We’re young, but the boys know how to play,” he said. “We got guys that can hit the ball in play. We rarely strike out. We put pressure on the defense the entire game. We make the plays when we are out there and can count on teammates to make plays. We are always ready.”
Doing all those things on Thursday night and also getting a superb outing from pitcher Dante Baldelli, unbeaten Cumberland National clinched the top seed in Pool B for the upcoming District IV semifinals, defeating North Smithfield, 13-3, at Garvin Memorial Field.
In the shortened contest, which was called after four innings due to the mercy rule, Baldelli limited the NS bats to just three hits, while striking out six. The offense behind him also did their job belting out 10 hits, including home runs from Josh Brodeur and Jax Domonte.
“It was a great team win. Fighting for first place was important,” John Brodeur said. “Dante pitched an excellent. We played solid defense (no errors) and had timely hitting. The guys that we put in (off the bench) also did their job.”
Cumberland National, which finished pool play with a perfect 4-0 mark, was coming into the game after a come-from-behind 10-9 win over Smithfield on Wednesday night. It was also battling for first place against a North Smithfield squad that entered the tilt with just one loss.
Right from the first inning, Cumberland National put the pressure on their opponent from the north. After Baldelli, the youngest brother of Red Sox outfielder Rocco Baldelli, shut down the North Smithfield bats in the opening inning, Cumberland National responded with three runs off of pitcher Ian Lough. Lough was given a preview of what to expect on the first batter he faced when Josh Brodeur smacked a solo homer over the centerfield fence. Just three batters later, Domonte connected on his dinger, cracking a 1-1 pitch that cleared the fence in left centerfield by at least 40 feet.
“He hit one yesterday (against Smithfield) that was just as far and twice as high,” John Brodeur said.
Cumberland National made it 6-0 in the bottom of the second with three more runs. Spencer Ross began the frame by drawing a walk and Justin D’Abrosca followed with the first of his two doubles for the night.  With runners on second and third, both runners came home on a pair of errors by North Smithfield. Baldelli would drive in the sixth run with his groundout.
North Smithfield was able to cut the deficit in half in the top of the third, managing all three of their hits of Baldelli in the inning. With two out, C.J. Dandeneau connected on a solo homer to end the shut out. Matt Ethier followed by reaching base on an error when his fly ball was dropped by centerfielder Ryan O’Neil and Mike Cicerone put runners on second and third with a double. Ian Pascoe then delivered a two-run double to make the score, 6-3.
That productive frame would only be a tease for North Smithfield as the victors put the game away with seven runs and six hits in the third. The inning featured a two-run double by D’Abrosca (2-for-2, two runs, two RBI), a run-scoring single from Leo Lake, an RBI double from Domonte (2-for-3, three RBI) and a two-run double by Tyler Calabro.
“They’re a good hitting team,” said NS manager Michael Cicerone. “They put the ball in play, they’re quick and they don’t make mistakes.”
“We do what we need to come out with the ‘W’,” added John Brodeur. “We have guys that have pop in their bats.”
With the verdict, the two teams will extend their season next Tuesday night in a pair of cross-over semifinal contests at Randy Hien Field. In the twinbill, North Smithfield and Lincoln (4-0), the top seed from Pool A, will face each other at 5:30. Cumberland National will tangle with Scituate-Foster (3-1), the No. 2 from Pool A, at 7:30.
In its game against Lincoln, NS will be going with its ace Dandeneau, one of the top pitchers in the state.
“We got to do our job,” Michael Cicerone said. “We got a good pitcher on the mound, but we have to do our job at the plate. We got to make the plays.”
Cumberland National will also have to battle a fierce hurler on the mound in Scituate-Foster’s Tyler Schemeck.
“That’s going to be another challenge for us,” John Brodeur said. “We are familiar with Tyler Schemeck. He’s a very good pitcher, a very good ballplayer. I’m sure he’s up to the challenge.”
***
EXTRA BASES: Cumberland National manager Rocky Baldelli was unable to be in the dugout for Thursday’s game. Baldelli was not permitted to manage the game after he unintentionally left his pitcher past the required 85-pitch limit against Smithfield.
***
North Smithfield 003 0 – 3 3 2
Cumberland National 337 x – 13 10 0
Dante Baldelli and Justin D’Abrosca. Ira Lough, Mike Cicerone (3) and Cicerone. 2B – NS, Cicerone, Ian Pascoe. CN, D’Abrosca, Jax Domonte, Tyler Calabro. HR – NS, C.J. Dandeneau. CN, Josh Brodeur, Domonte.