The Barrington U12 All-Star team is ready to play some baseball. 

After being forced to deal with a significant distraction that surfaced on Tuesday, Barrington Manager Chris Promades and his team were moving ahead and getting ready to play their Little League World Series opener. 

"We can't wait" to start playing, said Mr. Promades. "Our focus since we've been down here and always will be about baseball and getting these 11 and 12 year-olds prepared to play in Williamsport. We're taking the same approach that we've had the whole All-Star season, which is one at-bat at a time, one pitch at a time. We're going to fight. We're going to battle. We're going to grind. 

"We talked to them about effort and attitude. And that's the same approach we're going to have."

Barrington is scheduled to play against South East regional champs, South Riding, Va., at 3 p.m. on Thursday afternoon, Aug. 15. The lead-up to the game has been slowed a bit by an article that appeared in a New Hampshire newspaper earlier this week, in which the manager for the Goffstown All-Star team accused Barrington of stealing signs. Barrington defeated the Goffstown team, 6-4, in the New England Regionals championship game. 

Mr. Promades has vehemently denied the accusations. On Wednesday, the Barrington manager offered a response to Goffstown:

"We represent Barrington Little League as a coaching staff," he said. "I'm the manager of the team. And what we stand for along with Barrington Little League is honesty and integrity and the spirit of youth baseball and softball and the town of Barrington.

"We would never condone cheating, lying or the stealing of signs. We never have as a coaching staff. Our coaches in Little League baseball in Barrington never will. 

"I think the accusations and allegations are shameful and disgusting and without any credibility whatsoever. I think that Goffstown should be appalled at themselves. It just really looks like sour grapes. 

"I know they've had a tough go the past couple of years, losing out on the championship, but in no way, shape or form did they need to lie about our credibility, our hard work, and dedication and commitment to our kids...

"These kids have the heart of a lion. And they give everything that they've got all the time. For a newspaper like the Union Leader and the manager of Goffstown to try to come in and take that away from them it's simply disgusting and sad. 

"Again, just false allegations."