Latest news with #Burrillville
Yahoo
09-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Here's how Burrillville Little League baseball is preparing for the Metro Regional
BURRILLVILLE — The Burrillville Little League baseball All-Stars earned a new title last week. Rhode Island Little League champions. The 10- to 12-year-old Little Leaguers will unveil their new moniker in the Metro Regional tournament on Saturday night in Bristol, Connecticut. Burrillville's appearance in the regional tournament will end a 53-year title drought as the Rhode Island club meets St. James-Smithtown Little League, the New York state champions, at 7 p.m. Burrillville had its final practice on Thursday night at Peck Park before departing for Bristol on Friday morning. It'll have a day to settle into its new home and toe the perfectly manicured infield dirt. It's all in pursuit of more history for Burrillville. 'The tournament has been on our minds, but it's also sad because this is our last time on [Peck Park],' Logan Rourke said. 'But at the same time, we're ready to play, have fun and hang out with the guys.' New Jersey and Connecticut have the early game on Saturday — giving the Rhode Island champs a preview of the regional game speed. If Thursday night's ending was any indication — a batting practice walk-off home run by Jayzeon Doire — Burrillville is ready for the next stage. Saturday's game will be on ESPN+, 'I watched it a couple of days ago and I said that I wanted to be there,' Doire said of the Little League World Series. 'This is my last year and it's been a great experience. 'I'm just looking forward to having fun, playing baseball and hanging out with my friends.' Easton Boucher echoed that sentiment. The left fielder is excited for the drive to Bristol and that extra time with his teammates. 'It's been fun winning districts and then states, and then going on a bus ride to Bristol,' Boucher said. 'It's been my dream since 2020. Now I finally get to go experience it with my friends.' Jace Detonnancourt began batting practice on Thursday with a few home runs that'll certainly help if it carries over into Connecticut. The ace shut out Coventry in a 6-0 triumph for the Rhode Island championship. He will likely take the mound against New York. But win-or-lose, Burrillville is already playing with house money. It climbed the state's mountain in a fashion that would make the 1972 squad proud. If the summer continues, and back-to-school shopping is delayed, these Burrillville boys won't complain. 'Winning states was awesome,' Doire said. 'We all sat for a minute and then we talked about it in our group chat — that was pretty cool.' The light rain that broke the recent heat wave, a phone call with Gov. Dan McKee and fresh tacos were part of the sendoff for Burrillville. Family and friends watched closely before confirming the final details for the weekend. They'll all be part of the festivities, as is the entire state, to support the latest Little League stars. 'It does mean a lot to us,' Rourke said of having family there. 'It might not seem like it when we're on the field, but it really does mean a lot.' This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Burrillville Little League baseball is ready for the Metro Regional
Yahoo
09-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
After loss to NY, Burrillville Little Leaguers play elimination game Sunday night
With its 6-0 win over Coventry on July 26 in the Rhode Island final, the Burrillville Little League baseball team All-Stars earned their right to compete at the Little League World Series Metro Regional in Bristol, Connecticut. It didn't go as planned for the Rhode Island state champions on Aug. 2, as they fell to New York's St. James-Smithtown Little League team in their first game of the tournament, 18-0. Burrillville held the New York state champions to a 1-0 lead in the first two innings, but St. James-Smithtown was able to grow its lead starting with a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch followed by a two-RBI single. It scored 11 runs in the sixth inning to put the finishing touches on the game. The game marked Burrillville's first appearance in Bristol in 53 years. It did so by winning all but one game since July 17. It had dominating performances like its 7-3 showing against North Providence on July 21, where Detonnancourt struck out 12 batters. Burrillville now heads to the elimination bracket, where it will face New Jersey's Jackson Holbrook Little League team Sunday, Aug. 3 at 7 p.m. The New Jersey state champions lost to Connecticut, 2-1, Saturday afternoon. A win means Burrillville will advance to Wednesday's semifinal match against the loser of Connecticut and New York's contest. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Burrillville Little League loses to NY 18-0, will face NJ Aug. 3
Yahoo
09-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Burrillville Little League cherishes special season after leaving Metro Regional tourney
The Rhode Island state champion Burrillville Little League baseball team's run is over, but the team leaves Bristol, Connecticut, with a big milestone to look back on. Burrillville lost to New Jersey's Jackson Holbrook Little League squad, 15-0, on Sunday, Aug. 3. It was their second loss in the Metro Regional, a double-elimination tournament. Despite the loss, Burrillville manager Steve Detonnancourt looked back on the experience in a positive light. 'It was incredible,' Detonnancourt said on Monday, Aug. 4. 'Great for our Little League, great for our team. It was a tough weekend, obviously, but to be there and get these kids on ESPN and win the first state [title] in 53 years is no short of an accomplishment. We're just very proud and grateful that we had the opportunity to go do it.' As Detonnancourt mentioned, Burrillville made history. The 53-year mark was one players were well aware of throughout the state tournament, with the manager being sure to let the kids know what they were playing for. The kids were excited to be on ESPN, so getting to the Metro Regional in Connecticut was an accomplishment in itself. It gave them a chance to not just continue to play together, but also grow. 'Even though it didn't go as we hoped and certain things fell into place, they remained proud as a unit,' Detonnancourt said. 'The run had to end at some point – whether it was later in the week or down the road. We knew that there was going to be an end, whether it was with winning or losing.' Despite the disappointing ending, Burrillville quickly began reflecting on its special season. Nearly winning out in the last two months, three 10-run performances and strong pitching throughout — the unit dominated en route to representing the state the Metro Regional. Detonnancourt told his team to 'be proud' and 'think about all that they did, not what they didn't do.' It's one of the many lessons the Little Leaguers learned during their run. 'A lot of our games were won just by playing as a unit and creating that team instead of just worrying about your average and your stats,' Detonnancourt said. 'I think the biggest thing they learned is how to work with each other and rely on each other.' Though the team is done hitting the diamond for the season, Detonnancourt and his crew have events planned to celebrate the squad's accomplishments in the near future. Even without the win-loss record, Detonnancourt said it was "incredible" to see his team never quit. That fight is exactly what helped the Burrillville Little League team come together and leave their mark on Rhode Island Little League baseball history. 'Sixty-five hundred teams started this tournament, 900 on the East Coast alone. And they were down to the final 12 out of those 900 and the final 50 in some capacity out of the 6,500,' Detonnancourt said. 'That's a hell of a run.' This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Burrillville Little League eliminated, cherishes special season
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
High School Roundup: West Warwick boys hold off Burrillville to advance to D-II state final
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Four high school basketball teams punched their tickets to their respected state finals on Friday night. In Boys D-II, 4-seed West Warwick held off 8-seed Burrillville 69-67. The Broncos were looking to continue their Cinderella run after upsetting No.1 seed North Providence last week. The Wizards will play 3-seed Moses Brown who took care of 10-seed East Greenwich 61-53. The Boys D-II state final will be played on Thursday March 6 at 8 p.m. at The Amica Mutual Pavilion. In Girls D-I, top seed North Kingstown defeated Westerly 47-40. NK will play 3-seed Ponaganset who cruised past 2-seed Barrington 39-20. The Girls D-II state final will be played on Tuesday March 6 at 8 p.m. at The Amica Mutual Pavilion. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
