Burrillville Little League readies for first shot at state title in more than 50 years

BURRILLVILLE – The last time a Burrillville Little League team won the state title, President Richard Nixon had just announced his re-election bid. The boys would ultimately fall that summer of 1972 in the quarterfinals in New York to a team from Orange, Conn.

This Friday, July 25, the league will finally get another shot, when the all-star baseball team takes on Coventry at Richard Peck Park with a game starting at 6 p.m.

The District 4 champion team of 11 and 12 year olds began hosting the State Little League Tournament on Saturday, July 19 with opening ceremonies recognizing the man for whom the field is named, Richard Peck, for his 57 years of service. Peck threw the first pitch kicking off a win over Rumsford, with BLL taking down the group from District 2 in seven innings. The game marked Burrillville’s first win in a state tournament for the age bracket since 2002.

On Monday, July 21, the still undefeated Burrillville team won over North Providence, securing a 7-3 victory and advancing to the title game in the double-elimination tournament.

If the BLL team wins on Friday, they’ll advance to the Eastern Regional Tournament in Bristol, Conn.

It’s a challenge some 53 years in the making, and the community has shown apt support with gestures such as twinkling lights of blue and white, now shining over the downtown areas in both Pascoag and Harrisville. The league has served area youth since 1952 with programs for youth ages 4 through 16, and under manager Steve Detonnancourt and coaches Steve Luttge and Dave Pendleton, now sits just one game away from advancing to the regionals.

The Burrillville team enters the game with an advantage: Coventry would have to beat the group twice to come out ahead. If BLL doesn’t take home the win Friday night, the teams will return to the field on Casino Avenue in Mapleville Saturday night at 6 p.m. for a rematch.

It’s one game at a time for the Burrillville team, with the ultimate goal of reaching the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Penn.

Best of luck to the following players: Easton Boucher; Owen Brown; Jaxson Constantineau; Jace Detonnancourt; Jayzeon Doire; Landon Hammond; Cole Henault; Geoffrey Luttge; Gavin Murphy; Logan Rourke; Joey Switzer; and Wyatt Taylor.