EAST PROVIDENCE — Rumford Little League rebounded from its first setback of the summer to reach the final round of the Ron Silva/District 2 AAA Baseball Division All-Star Tournament.

The locals suffered a 15-5 loss to host Barrington in the winners' bracket final of the event played at Sherwood Field Saturday afternoon, July 20.

Three nights later at home, Rumford edged visiting Bristol-King Phillip 9-8 in the losers' bracket final played Tuesday, July 23, at the Rock Complex.

Rumford advanced to the championship round where the locals would have to defeat the same Barrington team twice, beginning with the first game Sunday, July 28, back at Sherwood at 5 p.m. A win and the teams would return to the Rock Complex Monday night, July 29, for a winner-take-all finale. First pitch is set for 5:45 p.m.

In the winners' final versus Barrington, the locals built a quick 2-0 lead following a Cal Connolly one-out single and Kingston Deleon-Spitaleri's run-scoring double. Deleon-Spitaleri was caught out at third trying to stretch the hit into a triple. Jack McBurney reached on an infield hit, went to second on the throw then stole third before scoring on a delayed theft of home.

Barrington, however, had an immediate answer and then some. The hosts leveled the score with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first then exploded for five tallies in the home half of the second to take the lead before adding four more in the third to build a commanding 11-2 edge.

Rumford got three of those back in top of the fifth. Mason Ferreira singled to start the rally. Finn Park-Schoener walked. Ferreira stole third and Park-Schoener second. Both then scored on Andrew Mitchell's base hit to left. Landon Melo reached on an infield single. He and Mitchell moved up a base on the throw. One out later Gabe Yaffe walked. Mitchell then stole home prior to the inning coming to a close.

But Barrington didn't budge. The hosts scored four times themselves in the bottom of the fifth to immediately end the game due to the 10-Run Rule.

Against Bristol, the locals bolted to a 5-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Charlie Costantino and Ferreira drew free passes. Deleon-Spitaleri was hit by a pitch. With the bases loaded, McBurney doubled to bring two runs around. Melo followed with a RBI-single then Mitchell bringing two more in with another base hit.

The visitors responded in the top of the third, plating five of their own to level the score.

Rumford answered with two in the bottom of the frame to go back on top 7-5. Ferreira walked then moved to second on a groundout and to third on a steal before scoring on a wild pitch. McBurney and Elijah Cabral also walked. Each moved up on a double steal. Melo drew the fourth free pass of the frame. Mitchell drove in the second run with a bloop single to center before the rally fizzled.

Bristol, though, wouldn't go away. The visitors did their hosts one better in the top of the fourth, scoring three times to take an 8-7 edge.

Rumford, again, needed to answer, doing so with two down in the bottom of the fifth by scoring the tying tally. Deleon-Spitaleri singled to left, stole second and came around on a McBurney single to center.

The sequence set up a tense six and final inning.

Mitchell, who steadied the ship on the mound for Rumford after entering the game in relief in the fourth, set down the first two Bristol batters in the top of the frame, but then allowed two runners to reach. He next went to a full count before recording a strikeout on his 57th pitch of his stint to end the potential threat.

Rumford next quickly put the game to rest in the home half. Melo singled and stole both second and third with Mitchell at the plate. The latter, who earned the pitching decision, eventually stroked a RBI-single to left to bring Melo home with the winning run.

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