Editor's note: Little Compton held two pie eating contests — one for kids, one for adults — on Saturday, July 4, as the town's historical society held its annual Family Day at its West Main Road headquarters. Christian Silvia reports:

It felt like a scene out of The Sandlot. However, it was right here in our backyard in Little Compton on the 4th of July.

I was excited to participate in my first pie-eating contest. It’s a classic piece of Americana that felt right at home as we honored our nation's 250th anniversary. I arrived at the Little Compton Historical Society’s office, where the competition was being held, with a relatively empty stomach and put my name down in the competition. It was part of the Society's 4th of July Family Day, and a large crowd of people were enjoying their day in the hot sun. I had to wait a little bit as the children’s contest began first.

As the kids sat down ready to compete, the rules were quickly read out: No hands were to be used in the event and every crumb must be eaten. Then, small apple pies were brought out.

“If the younger kids are not following all the rules don’t worry about it.” Little Compton Historical Society President Marjory O’Toole joked prior to the beginning of the contest.

In the end, Edie Nichole won the children’s competition. When asked how it felt, she triumphantly said “feels good” as she went to collect her trophy. All the other children were greeted with ribbons and prizes to acknowledge the effort they put in.

Then came the adult competition. I sat down alongside a group of six other men as the pies were placed in front of us. I anxiously awaited as wanting to make sure that I don’t have an episode reminiscent of "Stand By Me," the Stephen King coming of age movie that features a blueberry pie eating contest intentionally sabotaged by a kid with a gripe. Phones were recording us as the countdown began. Then blam! I found my face right in apple pie. I had never actually eaten pie with no hands and the sensation of attempting to do it was hard to describe. I attempted to eat the pie as quickly as I could but to no avail. I lost to Brian Baum; a man who only signed up for the competition moments before it began. He ended up beating multi-year winner Timothy O’Toole, who finished in third.

“This is a tragic day,” Marjory O’Toole quipped about Timothy losing.

Despite his upset win, Baum remained humble in victory.

“I never want to break anybody’s record,” he said.