WEST WARWICK — The ATC/Riverside Post 10 Junior Division club earned a spot in the 2023 Rhode Island American Legion Baseball League championship round after dispatching South Kingstown Post 29 by a 7-3 count in the losers' bracket final played on a steamy Saturday afternoon, July 29, at McCarthy Field.

The locals, sparked by the bottom of their batting order, broke a scoreless stalemate by plating four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning.

James Lynch reached on a throwing error by the SK shortstop to start the inning, but was erased when Gavin Palombo's pop-up to second was also misplayed, though with enough time to complete the force out at at the bag. Jayden Healey next flew out to center before John Vaughan, Riverside's seven hitter, drove a double to the right-centerfield gap to score Palombo with the game's initial run.

Dillon Vieira was safe on Post 39's third error of the inning. Max Correiro, batting ninth, drove in Vaughan with a single to right for the second run. Aiden Martins drew a walk to load the bases, then Nolan Lorenz sharply singled to right to bring two around and give Post 10 a 4-0 edge.

The locals added another run in the fifth. Cole Kepner, Lynch and Palombo each singled to bring the tally around.

In the sixth, Riverside tacked on a pair of insurance runs. Vieira singled and Correiro was hit by a pitch. Lorenz and Kepner each added RBI-singles that didn't reach the outfield.

In between, Post 39 scored twice in the top of the fifth as Riverside starter Healey began to tire in the extremely hot conditions. Kepner entered the game in relief with two down, needing four pitches to record a strikeout and end the SK rally.

Kepner eventually pitched to three batters in the seventh, getting an out and allowing two hits before giving way to Vaughan. The latter gave up a RBI-single to the first hitter he faced but got the next two on a superb sliding catch of a sinking liner by Correiro in left and via a K to finish the win.

Healey was the winning pitcher, throwing 4-2/3 innings, allowing two earned runs, striking out three, walking three and giving up three hits. Kepner fanned three, allowed three hits and an earned run in 1-2/3s. Vaughan tossed 2/3s, giving up the hit and striking out the last batter for the final out of the game.