Portsmouth 11s All-Stars win in grand fashion, advance to states

Walk-off slam seals deal against Tiverton

Posted 7/18/17

The Portsmouth Little League 11-Year-Old Baseball All-Stars found a flair for the dramatic Saturday night, capturing the R.I. Little League District 2 title by defeating Tiverton, 6-2, in eight …

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Portsmouth 11s All-Stars win in grand fashion, advance to states

Walk-off slam seals deal against Tiverton

Posted

The Portsmouth Little League 11-Year-Old Baseball All-Stars found a flair for the dramatic Saturday night, capturing the R.I. Little League District 2 title by defeating Tiverton, 6-2, in eight innings at Sherman Field.

The team begins its quest for a state title against the District 1 champion at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 22, at Slater Park in Pawtucket.

From the first inning, this game showed signs of being one for the books. Portsmouth starting pitcher John Mass shut down Tiverton, including two strikeouts. 

The bottom of the inning saw Seth Whittington walk and execute a perfect delayed steal. With one out, Shane Harvey reached on an error, which plated Whittington with the game's first run. Harvey then stole second and third, and Derek Gesmondi followed with a walk. Georges Smith lined a ball up the middle for a single to drive in Harvey, putting Portsmouth up 2-0.

That's where it stood for the next four innings, before the fireworks began.

Mass had a no-hitter going into the top of the sixth, before the first two Tiverton batters reached on singles. The next batter walked to load the bases with none out. 

Mass proceeded to fan Tiverton's No. 3 hitter — the starter’s 13th strikeout. Tiverton’s cleanup batter then hit a shallow fly ball to left field, where Jay Humm made a beautiful shoestring catch for the second out. 

While Portsmouth was busy showing an umpire that Humm’s catch hadn’t been trapped, however, two Tiverton runners tagged up and scored to knot the game at 2-2, while the runner from first went to second. 

Mass was at his pitch limit, so he was replaced by Harvey. The inning ended when a Tiverton runner attempted to steal third, but Portsmouth catcher Nick Spaner threw a dart to third baseman Andy Beese, who made a perfect tag.

Portsmouth was unable to score in the bottom of the sixth, setting up extra innings. In the top of the seventh, three consecutive infield errors by Portsmouth loaded the bases again for Tiverton, with none out. Harvey struck out the No. 9 hitter, bringing up the top of Tiverton's lineup. 

On a fly ball by the leadoff hitter, centerfielder Smith launched a perfect throw to the plate, where Spaner put out the sliding Tiverton base-runner to end the inning.

Neither side scored in their next at-bats. Jay Humm got things started for Portsmouth in the bottom of the eighth by singling, then stealing second. With one out, Spaner then ripped a single up the middle, moving Humm to third. Spaner stole second and after a strikeout, Mass was intentionally walked to load the bases, bringing up Harvey with two outs. 

And then, on an 0-2 pitch, the stuff of dreams.

Harvey hit a monstrous blast to just right of the centerfield flagpole for a walk-off grand slam, thus sealing the title — the second in two years for this group — and a trip to the state tournament. 

"I cannot begin to put into words what a momentous moment that was for Shane, for the boys, and for the families and friends watching this game,” said Portsmouth manager Craig Spaner. “That was quite possibly the most thrilling moment of which I've been a part as either a player or a coach.”

The team showed its resiliency after dropping a close game to Barrington in the second game, he said. “They never thought they would lose; it wasn't a thought for them. They stayed positive and supportive throughout for each other,” Mr. Spaner said. “They will now have this moment forever and will always remember every second of it."

He also praised his opponent’s performance. 

"That Tiverton team is a quality ball club. A group of class-act, first-rate coaches as well. Just really nice, good people. That was an amazing contest,” he said.

The full roster

Members of the Portsmouth team include Chris Addaman, Andy Beese, Derek Gesmondi, Shane Harvey, Jack Humm, Jay Humm, Bradley Maroto, John Mass, Matthew Nolan, George Smith, Nick Spaner and Seth Whittington. Jim Mass and Tom Whittington are the coaches and Craig Spaner is manager.

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