Barrington Little Leaguers Geared Up For World Series Opener

BARRINGTON, RI — Barrington Little League coach Chris Promades said the league's goal for every All-Star team each summer is to "create memories that last a lifetime." Those memories are still being formed for this year's New England champions as they prepare to play their first game in the Little League World Series Thursday afternoon in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

The Rhode Island state champions will take the field as Team New England when they face off against Virginia with a 3 p.m. first pitch.

"It's been awesome," Promades told Patch following the second practice of the day and prior to the Little League World Series Parade in Williamsport late Wednesday afternoon. "It's like a dream come true being here. This place is like baseball heaven. Lamade Stadium is what I call: 'The Field of Dreams.' It's an absolutely gorgeous scene with mountains in the background and a river running through town."

The team stayed over in Bristol, Connecticut following its 6-4 victory against Goffstown, New Hampshire in the New England Championships and left for Williamsport the next morning. Coaches and players arrived in Pennsylvania Sunday afternoon and have spent the past three days preparing for the World Series opener.

"It was nice to have a little break," Promades said. "We've been able to get in two practices a day and have been just getting ready to face Virginia. Now the kids are chomping at the bit to get out there and play baseball."

While the players were concentrating on getting ready on the field, the focus of the team's game against New Hampshire was taken into the media on Tuesday when Goffstown manager Pat Dutton accused Barrington players of sign stealing. Barrington Little League president Fletcher C. Thomson rushed to the squad's defense — calling it "a team made up of dedicated volunteer coaches and 13 exceptional young players" in a statement late Tuesday afternoon.

Promades said the potential distraction was discussed with the players, but that the team has put the public back-and-forth behind it.

"We did mention it," the coach allowed. "But now we're 100 percent focused on Williamsport and representing Barrington, Rhode Island and New England the Little League World Series."