The Tiverton Junior Division All Stars stay in the thick of the State Tournament with a 7-4 win over Cumberland at Johnston Memorial Park on Sunday afternoon.

In the blazing 100 degree heat, Tiverton pitcher Jason Potvin, 14, pitched 6 1/3 strong innings with four strikeouts and two earned runs.

“Jason pitched fine. He pounded the strike zone, spotted his pitches and had a nice breaking ball,” said Head Coach Paul Nasiff.

Nicholas Nasiff and Jordan Panelle led the Tiverton offense with a combined 4 RBI, 5 hits and 1 run scored.

With the bases loaded and no outs, Trey Fisher put Tiverton on the score board in the top of the third with a base hit to right field scoring Frank Vollaro to tie the game 1-1.

Nasiff stepped to the plate and smashed a double into the right center gap. Nick Mercer and Cameron Lambert both scored to give Tiverton a 3-1 lead.

Fisher stole home from third base on a passed ball to make it 4-1 before Cumberland could get out of the inning.

The score stayed 4-1 into the sixth inning as Potvin kept hitting the strike zone and spotting his curve. The defense also kept making plays behind him.

“I’m fortunate enough to have strong players up the middle,” coach Nasiff said.

In the fourth, Potvin gave up a walk and the runner attempted to steal, but was gunned down by Nasiff. Shortstop Mike Zeller made an inning-ending double play in the fifth. With a Cumberland runner on first base, Zeller ranged to his left and snared a sharply hit grounder, stepped on second base and threw to first to end the inning.

“Mike has good range and and a great glove,” coach Nasiff said. “He loves baseball and can flat out play.”

The blazing sun finally looked like it was getting to Potvin as he walked the first two batters in the bottom of the sixth. The pitcher pounded his glove with his fist and appeared agitated. Cumberland got a hit and scored their second run to make the score 4-2. Coach Nasiff visited the mound to calm his pitcher down.

“I told him to refocus,” said coach Nasiff.

Potvin struck out the next batter for the second out of the inning, but left a ball up and a Cumberland batter hit it to right field.

Tiverton right fielder Frank Vollaro playing deep made the catch running at full speed to end the threat.

“Frank had an excellent game,” coach Nasiff said.

The Tiverton offense answered the bell in the top of the seventh, scoring three more runs for a 7-2 lead.

Lambert led off the inning with a walk and took second base on a passed ball. Nasiff moved Lambert to third base when he beat out grounder to short stop. Nassaf stole second base and Cumberland walked Potvin to load the bases for Panelle.

With the count 2-2, Panelle roped the ball over the shortstop’s head to the left-center gap. Lambert and Nasiff both scored to make the score 6-2.

“That was a huge hit by Jordan,” said coach Nasiff. “That was a big spot and a key hit in the game.”

Potvin scored on a fielder’s choice to give Tiverton a 7-2 lead.

Potvin got the first out before reaching the 95 pitch limit. Cumberland scored two runs off relief pitcher Trey Fisher before he closed out the game.

Tiverton 4, East Greenwich 11

Tiverton lost to East Greenwich 11-4 in their first game of the tournament on Saturday. Tiverton committed six errors during the game. Jordan Panelle had 3 hits and 2 RBI and starting pitcher Nicholas Nasiff pitched well in the lost.

“I’m glad we got a game like that out of our system.” said coach Nasiff. “We are too good a team to lay another egg like that.”

Next up

Tiverton has a rematch with East Greenwich on Tuesday at Johnston Memorial Park at 6 p.m.

If they win, they play Johnston on Thursday.