Barrington's 12-year-olds All Star team traded blasts with a powerful Middletown squad on Wednesday night, June 29, but came up just short in the end, losing 14-9.

The loss dropped Barrington into the lower bracket, where it will face Tiverton on Tuesday, July 5. Tiverton lost 13-8 to Pineview in its District II tournament opener. Middletown advanced to play Portsmouth tonight (Thursday, June 30) in a winner's bracket semifinal. 

Barrington, which defeated Bristol in its opener, looked solid from the start against Middletown. Andy Fletcher opened the game on the mound for Barrington and limited a strong-hitting Middletown team to two runs through the first four innings. 

Barrington scored one run in the second when Jacob Koble roped an RBI double, plating Josh LeBlanc. Barrington tied the game 2-2 with another run in the fourth — Jack Abadi drove in Joey Medeiros on a fielder's choice.

Middletown's bats came alive in the fifth, scoring seven runs for a 9-2 lead. But Barrington showed its grit and determination, battling back for seven runs of its own in the bottom of the same inning.

Andy Fletcher led off the inning with a single and Sam Faulkner then crushed a 2-run homer to right centerfield. David Raposa kept the rally going with a run-scoring double to deep centerfield, scoring Aaron Brady. Jack Abadi drove in his second run of the game, scoring Bryan Ivatts and Barrington found itself trailing 9-6.

Jack Kriz came up to bat with runners on first and third and launched a 3-run home run over the left centerfield fence, knotting the game at 9-9.

But the impressive comeback was spoiled in the top of the sixth inning, as Middletown scored five runs. 

Sam Faulkner and Aaron Brady finished the game with two hits each.

"Middletown is very strong team with deep pitching and a very powerful offense," wrote Barrington manager Chris Abadi. "Our kids battled hard and showed that we are also a very strong team and powerful offense. I am expecting we will come out strong next week in our matchup with Tiverton (next Tuesday in Tiverton)."