(Updated, July 6, 1 p.m.) The Bristol Warren Little League Baseball 12-and-under baseball All-Stars completed pool play in the 2025 District 2 tournament undefeated after beating host Middletown Newport, 10-0, Wednesday night, July 2.

Louie Botelho and Mylo Vail combined to throw a no-hitter for the locals, each pitching two innings. Botelho finished with four strikeouts. Vail had five. Middletown Newport only put three balls in play, each fielded by Bristol Warren.

Vail did get into a spot of bother in the bottom of the fourth. After striking out the first two batters, he walked the next three before completing the no-hitter with another K.

The pitching performance against Middletown Newport was the second of two combo no-nos thrown by the locals to date. Botelho and Caleb Walsh threw a six-inning no-hitter against Darlington-Pawtucket in the tourney opener on June 27. Botelho pitched four of the frames with 11 strikeouts and Walsh had three.

"We're playing pretty good. I think the strength of our team so far has been pitching. And our 1-2-3 hitters (Botelho, Kyle Surkont and Walsh) have set the table pretty well for us at the plate," said Bristol Warren manager Keith Surkont.

The bulk of the current 12U roster composed the Bristol Warren teams that won their respective District 2 titles the last two summers, something the manager believes has been to their benefit this time around.

"The core of this group won the districts the last two years, and I think that's helped us a lot," Surkont added. "It's a very loose, kind of calm group. They don't get phased by much. They just play the game. Once they get on the field, they're just into it. They've been together for a while. Most of them go to school together, so they know each other well. It's a pretty cool vibe."

Of note as well, Botelho is the lone holdover from the Bristol Warren team that won the 12U district championship in 2024. That team reached the state final before falling to North Kingstown, 7-5, in nine innings.

The locals won all three of their games in the pool. For the first time this summer the District 2 12U tourney is being contested under a 12-team, 3-pool format rather than double-elimination. The top two teams in each of the pools advances to the single elimination main draw beginning next week. The format mirrors that which is used for the Little League series event annually in Williamsport, Penn.

By virtue of a run-differential system implemented to break ties, Bristol Warren is the second seed the final round. Rumford (East Providence), which also won its three pool games, is the top seed. 

The locals will face the winner of the 3-6 meeting between Barrington and Middletown Newport game played Sunday, July 6. Bristol Warren hosts the winner Tuesday night, July 8, 6 p.m. Vets Park in Bristol. Rumford hosts the 4-5 winner between Portsmouth and Darlington, played as well Sunday, also on July 8.

The one-off championship game will be Friday, July 11, at the site of the higher seed. The winner advances to the state tournament at the Casino Avenue complex in Burrillville.

"It's two games to win the championship. It's one-and-done, so we have to come out ready to play, come out swinging and get the job done," Surkont said of the path ahead for his team. "I'm not a big 'rah-rah' speech guy. I'm not going to put too much pressure on them by talking about it. If we just go out and do our thing, play loose like we normally do, I think we'll have a good shot."

Last Wednesday, Bristol Warren put its stamp on the contest immediately, exploding for six runs in the top of the first inning. The locals next added a singles run in the second and third, before scoring twice more in the fourth all the while keeping Middletown Warren off the board. The game ended after four frames due to the 10-Run Rule.

In the first, Bristol Warren did most of its damage with two down. Kyle Surkont singled with one out. Walsh walked. Jack Duarte reached on a fielder's choice, driving in the first run. Cam Cote was hit by a pitch. Vail singled to drive two in. Cullen Hill singled as did Tommy Carroll singled, bringing two more in. And Lucas Hallam reached on an error, allowing the sixth run to come around.

In the second, Coelho reached on an error, Botelho walked and Surkont RBI single. In the third, Cote and eventually scored on a passed ball. And in the fourth, Bennett Costello reached on an infield single. Lucas Coelho doubled to put both in scoring position. Costello scored on a JP Mansi groundout and Coelho came home on a Botelho single.

11u notes
The Bristol Warren 11-and-under entry advanced to the championship round of its District 2 tourney after the locals defeated visiting Rumford, 8-5, in the losers bracket final of the double-elimination event also on July 2.

While home at Vets Park for the contest, the locals lost the coin flip to determine which team would be home on the scoreboard. No matter, Bristol Warren took quick control of the contest by scoring five times in the top of the first.

Owen Brinza doubled to lead off the inning. Lorenzo Ring singled as did Zach Bento to plate the first run. Logan Simas also singled to load the bases. David Wilcox singled to drive in a pair. Carter Beaulieu singled for a run, then later scored the fifth run on a passed ball.

Rumford got on the board with a run in the bottom of the first. the locals next added three runs to their total in the top of the third. Ring singled and moved to second on a passed ball. Bento walked and stole second. Simas then reached on a fielder choice scoring the first run. Wilcox drove in the next run when his grounder was misplayed. And Beaulieu grounded out to bring around the last of the tallies.

Rumford responded with four runs in the bottom of the third. Sam Harcourt pitched into the third inning. Wilcox threw the last three-plus innings to secure the win.

The win set up a rematch for Bristol Warren with Barrington on the road Monday night, July 7, at Sherwood Park where the locals suffered their only loss to date in the event, 7-6, on June 29. Bristol Warren would have to beat Barrington twice, including a final game likely back in Bristol sometime early next week, to win the district.

10U notes
The Bristol Warren 10-and-under team fell out of its District 2 tournament after falling to host Portsmouth, 4-3, last Wednesday night.

The locals jumped to a quick 2-0 lead in the first. Brennan Rolando reached on an error and moved to second on a passed ball. With one out, Dylan DiPietro doubled to drive in a run then Beckett Bolduc next reached on an error, allowing DiPietro to score.

Portsmouth got one back in the bottom of the third. The locals matched that with a tally in the fourth. This time with two out DiPietro singled and eventually stole his way home, swiping all three bases.

Portsmouth, however, rallied for three runs in the home half of the fifth to take the lead. The locals put the potential tying run on in the sixth when Daniel Francis singled with one out, but he advanced no farther.