BARRINGTON — The Rumford Little League entry in the Ron Silva/District 2 AAA Baseball Division All-Star Tournament title set up a winner-take-all final game for the championship after the locals defeated previously unbeaten and host Barrington 6-4 Sunday night, July 28, at Sherwood Park.

The same two teams headed to Rumford's home, the Kimberly Rock Memorial Complex, for the deciding contest of the double-elimination event Monday night, July 29, where the locals were winners in extra innings. (See story on page 9.) Rumford had lost to Barrington 15-5 in the first meeting between the side back on July 20.

Last Sunday, Rumford immediately took the lead with a run in the top of the first. Mason Ferreira drew a one out walk. Kingston Deleon-Spitaleri reached on an infield single. They each moved up a base via steal. Elijah Cabral walked to load the bases. Ferreira then scored on a delayed steal during Landon Melo's at bat.

Barrington leveled the score in the bottom of the first, also eventually plating its run after one was out. Rocco Coppolino walked and later scored on an Andre Thibeault single.

Rumford regained the lead in the top of the second. Starting pitcher Andrew Mitchell walked to lead off the inning as did Gabe Yaffe up next. They completed another double-steal with Lucia Pedroso-Jones at the plate, who also walked to load the bases. And like the first frame, Mitchell stole home for the second Rumford run before the rally stalled.

The locals added a pair to their edge in the top of the third. Ferreira walked and stole second. Deleon-Spitaleri hit into a fielder's choice, moving Ferreira to third. He again stole home for the third Rumford run. Cabral later walked with two out. Melo singled. Mitchell followed with another single, driving in Cabral to make it 4-1.

Barrington chipped one off its deficit in the bottom of the third. Jackson Letvinchuk singled and stole second to start the inning. He later scored when Colin Fortin's hit to the outfield was misplayed.

Rumford scored twice more in the fifth to build a 6-2 lead. Ferreira singled to start the spurt then stole second. He scored on Jack McBurney's base hit. McBurney stole second and later scored during a double-steal attempt after Cabral walked.

Mitchell pitched into the home half of fifth for Rumford, throwing 78 pitches and walking the first batter before giving way to the bullpen. He earned the decision. Barrington scored twice more in the frame to cut its deficit to 6-4. Zac Possiel walked, stole second and third, then scored on another theft of home. Greyson Pierce-Sanchez also walked and went to second and third on steals before he, too, stole home for the fourth Barrington run.

Deleon-Spitaleri, who entered the game in the fifth to get the final out and end the hosts' rally, walked the leadoff hitter in the sixth before striking out the next two batters. He walked two more to load the bases, but got out of the jam with his third K of the inning.

— Contributing photographer to eastbayri.com Julie Furtado shot the accompanying gallery of photos.