Coventry American Little League 11/12 All-Stars Soar to Top

The Coventry American Little League 11/12 All-Stars will be in the brilliant glare of the local and regional spotlight after .

The squad has advanced to the 2012 Little League Baseball East Region Tournament in Bristol, Connecticut, after defeating Cranston Western, 4-3, in the Rhode Island Little League Majors Division state championship last week in Lincoln. Coventry earlier overwhelmed competition in winning the District 3 title.

Coventry now contends for the New England championship when they play Fairfield, CT, on Friday, August 3 at 8:15 p.m., following Opening Day ceremonies. The regional winner advances to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, PA. (See team schedule below.)

Their state title victory was the first one captured in the 11/12 division by any Coventry Little League team. And their championship comes a year after a strong Central Coventry LL squad made it to the state semifinals when they were defeated by Cumberland, eventual state champs.

Coventry American LL team members include Josh Andrade, left field; Joey Barter, first base; Manny Bjorklund, pitcher/shortstop; Cam Black, left field; Kyle Brown, second base; Nick D’Ambra, catcher; Quentin Dearden, third base; Mike DePrete, third base; Jared Grossguth, shortstop/pitcher; Eric Kortick, second base, Devin Hall, right field; Will Janikies, center field and Jack Lacombe, center field.

The head coach is Mark Barter and assistant coaches are Charlie Brown and Dave Kortick.

“They never lost their composure,” said coach Barter of his elite squad which swept through the districts and state playoffs without a loss. “And every player- starter or reserve- has come through with a big contribution in the districts or state playoffs.”

The wins over Cranston Western (4-1), Barrington (8-1) and finally the clinching state title win by Cranston Western (4-3), featured more dominant pitching performances by Bjorklund and Grossguth and stellar play by each team member.

“We are fortunate to have two pitchers- Jarred Grossguth and Manny Bjorklund- who could be #1 pitchers on any other squad,” said coach Barter. “Overall we have a potent offense with solid pitching and great defense.”

And the defense had to meet some stiff tests, too. In the first game of the state finals and with a runner on second base, Grossguth fielded a grounder at short and threw to Joey Barter at first for the out. Barter wheeled and threw the ball across the diamond to Dearden at third for a double play. “That set the tone for the state playoffs,” said coach Barter.

 In the championship game, yet another Coventry fielder came through. “Jack LaCombe made an absolutely outstanding play on a high line drive catch in the sixth inning. That was a game-saver.”

“It was great I could help the team out,” said Lacombe of his catch. “That ball came like a rocket at me.”

Dearden, or “Q”, stroked his second homer of the contest in the seventh to finally clinch the state title after a great pitching and defensive duel.

Bjorklund, Grossguth and other members of the squad were part of the Coventry Little League 11 year-old All-Star state championship squad last year. “We knew we could be a lot better this year for the older division with the leagues combining,” said Bjorklund.

“We knew we were good and we were going to go somewhere when they put the team together,” said D’Ambra. “But we are confident, not cocky.”

“We can count on any player on the squad to come up with the big plays,” said Grossguth. “Everyone has made a huge contribution already.”

“l loved it when “Q” hit that walkoff homer,” said Janikies. ”This has been a lot of fun and we’re all such good friends.”

"I was looking for a middle-in fastball and that's what I got," said Dearden of his game and state-title winning blast. "It felt great. I hope we go far because this may never happen again."

“It’s been amazing,” said Hall. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

“It’s pretty cool going to Connecticut,” said Eric Kortick. “I hope we can win, but even if we lose I’ll be happy we made it so far.”

“We’ve got to play harder because we’re going to see their best pitcher,” said Andrade, who caught the last out, a fly ball against Barrington in the state playoffs.  “So we’ll have to get our bat speed up.”

Mike Madonna and Paul Fernandes have shared the duties as League President after the leagues merged this year. “This validates all the work we’ve done in combining the leagues with so many dedicated volunteers,” said Fernandes, explaining the league was split into American and National Leagues. "We made the teams a good cross section of the players in the two former leagues.”

At their Tuesday practice session between raindrops, players and coaches were wearing red T-shirts with the words, “Why Not Us.” And that is the attitude they are adopting for the upcoming competition, too.

“This is a special team,” said Barter. “When our bats are going right and with our deep pitching and great defense we are tough to beat.”

2012 Little League East Region- New England Championship - @ Leon Breen Field in Bristol, CT

• Connecticut vs. Rhode Island- Fri., August 3, 8:15 p.m. 
• Rhode Island vs. Maine- Sunday, August 5, 11:00 a.m.                       
• New Hampshire vs. Rhode Island- Monday, August 6, 2:00 p.m.         
• Rhode Island vs. Vermont (NESN)- Tues., August 7, 10:00 a.m.

The four teams with the best records in pool play will compete in the semifinals on Thursday, August 9, at 10:00 a.m. or 1:00 p.m. Semifinals winners then play for the New England championship on Sat., August 11 at 6:00 p.m. on ESPN. The champion will represent New England at the Little League World Series in Williamsport, PA.

Editor's Note: There will be a champions send-off for the team on August 1 at 6 p.m. at the Wood Street field. Come cheer on your champs!