The respective 2024 Rhode Island District 2 Little League All-Star tournaments started earlier this week, including the vaunted Major Baseball Division that ultimately concludes with the World Series in Williamsport, Penn., near the end of the summer.

Rumford and a combined East Providence Central/Riverside squad represented the city in the event and actually played a survival game in the second round of the tourney.

Rumford played a tight contest with nearby Barrington, falling on the road at Sherwood Park by a 2-1 score Monday night, June 24.

Logan Silverio was the tough-luck loser on the hill for Rumford. He went five innings and allowed just two hits, one being a two-run homer in the first inning. Rumford's run came after Luke Neilson reached on a bunt single, went to second on a passed ball and scored on Wyatt Vanech's single to right field.

That same evening, the Central/Riverside club also lost on the road 4-1 to Darlington-Pawtucket at Ted McConnon Field in Slater Park.

The next night, June 25, the two local entries met in a losers' bracket contest at Pierce Field in city where visiting Rumford earned a decisive 13-0 victory over the Central/Riverside squad to remain alive in the event.

Jared Machado was the winning pitcher for Rumford in the game that ended after four innings instead of the usual six due to the 10-Run Rule. He allowed just one hit and struck out 10.

Rumford scored six times in the first inning to take immediate command of the contest. Silverio ripped a two-run homer to highlight the spurt. Ryan Pita scored ahead after drawing a walk.

Rumford awaits the loser of the winners' bracket game between Bristol-Warren and Newport for a contest to be played Sunday, June 30, at a site and time to be determined.

In the Senior Baseball Division, East Providence, playing in collaborative with Pawtucket sides from Darlington and Pineview, defeated the Bristol/Warren outfit 9-7 on June 25 in a best-two-out-of-three series between the only two leagues fielding teams in the age group. The teams met in a rematch June 26 in Darlington for Game 2. If Bristol/Warren wins, a third game would be needed to determine the district champ.

Local sides are involved in three other District 2 events, beginning with the Major Baseball 10U Division in which Rumford opens place at home against visiting Portsmouth at the Rock Complex Thursday night, June 27. First pitch is 5:45 p.m.

Over the weekend, the Rumford and EP Central squads begin play Saturday, June 29, in the Ron Silva Minor Baseball Division tourney, named in honor of the long-time Riverside and district contributor.

And Monday, July 1, the city-wide EP Central-Riverside-Rumford Minor Softball Stars play host to Middletown at Pierce Field in an opening round contest set to start at 5:45 p.m.

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