EAST PROVIDENCE — Fittingly the last one was the toughest victory to get, but the Rumford Little League 10U Baseball All-Stars captured the 2024 District 2 Tournament title at its very own Rock Memorial Complex with a tight, 5-4 win over Bristol-King Phillip last Friday night, July 12.

Rumford had previously cruised to the championship round with dominating performances. The locals pummeled Portsmouth 20-6 in their opener. Next, they dominated Darlington-Pawtucket 17-1, then blasted the same Bristol side 11-0 in the winners' bracket final.

Off 10 days due to the Fourth holiday, Rumford returned to the field against a King Phillip club that advanced to the championship round by defeating Darlington 11-1 in the losers' bracket finale.

Last Friday night, the visitors immediately showed things would different from the first meeting between the teams back on July 2 by using three singles to plate a run and eventually load the bases in the top of the first inning off Rumford starting pitcher Donovan Bazar.

The locals, however, ended the rally when left fielder Kingston Deleon-Spitaleri charged another base hit then threw to teammate Tripp Audette at third base for a force and third out of the frame.

Rumford answered back in bottom of the first to tie the score, then took the 2-1 in the third. Bristol responded with the tying tally in the top of the fourth before the locals broke the game open a bit with three runs in the bottom of the inning.

Tegan Smith led off with a single. Deleon-Spitaleri was hit by a pitch. Charlie Costantino followed with a base hit to load the bases. Julianna Carroll next singled to left, driving Smith home with the go-ahead run.

The sacks still full, Deleon-Spitaleri scored when Bristol made a miscue during Mason Ferreira's at-bat. Bazar then helped himself with a RBI-single to plate Costantino with the third to put Rumford up 5-2.

King Phillip made things interesting by getting two of those runs right back in the top of the fifth off of Bazar and Smith. Audette shut the door by throwing 12 pitches to just three batters, including a strikeout, to earn the save in the sixth.

Rumford advances to the 2024 Rhode Island State Championship Tournament, which takes place at Lee Romano Field in North Providence, hosted by North Providence East Little League.

The locals begin play against the District 1 champions Saturday night, July 20, at 7 p.m. The District 3 and 4 champs play the opener at 4 p.m. The winners play Monday night, July 22, at 7:45 p.m. with the losers meeting earlier that same evening at 5:30.

The Rumford roster included Tripp Audette, Kingston Deleon-Spitaleri, Kasen Barros, Mason Ferreira, Donovan Bazar, Vincent Fisher, Jameson Bazar, Joey Houlihan, Charlie Costantino, Jack McBurney V, Julianna Carroll, Tegan Smith. Mike Fisher is the manager with coaches Sam Bazar, Rick Audette and John McBurney.

— East Providence Post and eastbayri.com contributing photographer Julie Furtado shot the accompanying gallery of photos.