Editor’s note/update: The team finished the season with a loss to New Jersey Sunday night.
BURRILLVILLE – It was an exciting morning for a winning group of 11 and 12 year-old all stars on Friday as the Burrillville Little League team boarded a bus at the middle school to head off to Bristol, Conn.
After winning the state championship in a 6-0 victory over Coventry last Saturday, the team is headed to the Metro Regional Tournament to represent Rhode Island. There, they’ll take on the St. James-Smithtown Little League team from New York on Saturday, August 2.
It is the team’s first trip to the regionals since 1972, and the community support and excitement has been fittingly palpable, as Burrillville’s new local celebrities made the rounds for photos and fundraising at businesses across town over the past week. From blue and white twinkling lights that have shone for more than two weeks over Pascoag and Harrisville, to non-stop media interviews and fresh hair cuts provided by Kimatian’s Barber Shop to keep the boys looking sharp for the trip, players have been busy both reaping the benefits of success and preparing for the next challenge.
The celebration was at Elayna’s on Wednesday, where the players took photos, mingled with fans and raised funds with a raffle for a gift certificate to the Pascoag bar. On Thursday, the team held a rally during their final practice at Peck Park and got a phone call from Gov. Dan McKee, also receiving certificates recognizing their hard work.
“In commemoration of displaying sportsmanship, teamwork and a winning spirit, as you now represent the state of Rhode Island in the Metro Region of the 2025 World Series,” noted the certificates, signed by McKee.
Donation buckets to help support travel expenses have been set up at George’s Pizza, Spritzers, Pascoag Cafe, Elayna’s and Corkscrew Liquors, and an online fundraiser had brought in more than $10,000 as of Friday morning.
“This incredible opportunity gives these players a once-in-a-lifetime chance to compete at a higher level, gain unforgettable experiences, and proudly showcase the heart and talent of Burrillville baseball,” notes the fundraising page, set up by parent Candis Boucher.
IAFF Local 4908, Pascoag firefighters presented a donation, and the recognition continued Friday morning at Burrillville Middle School, where friends and family showed up for a sendoff that included donated and hand-decorated donuts, and an escort out of town from the Burrillville Police Department.
Before heading off, the team stopped to acknowledge those who had helped them achieve success.
“While the boys and coaches are on the road to Bristol, we have to take a minute to recognize a group of people behind us, both literally and figuratively… the team moms,” noted BLL in a post on social media. “They’re the backbone of this whole thing and without them, we’re not heading to Bristol right now. The work they’ve done this week alone is more than you could expect a group to do in a year.”
Now, the players head to the East Region Headquarters at the A. Bartlett Giamatti Complex’s Breen Field for a double elimination tournament to run through Friday, August 8, with one winning team to advance to the Little League World Series.
The Burrillville team will play in Game 2 of the nationally televised games with a matchup on Saturday starting at 7 p.m., to be shown live on ESPN and ESPN+. The winning team will play in the winners’ bracket final on Monday, August 4 at 1 p.m. on ESPN.
If you don’t have ESPN, don’t fret: you can be sure to catch the broadcast at more than a few bars across town.
