Warwick North Little League’s Big Blue Bug team won the Majors championship last week when it topped 401 Painting & Construction 7-6 in the title clash.

Trailing 4-3 in the bottom of the fifth inning, Big Blue Bug’s offense would step up and score four runs to regain the late advantage. Thomas Beaulieu drove in three runs on a two-out triple and Nathan Swiczewicz later knocked him in to make it 7-4.

Although 401 managed to pull within a one in the top of the sixth, scoring a pair of runs with two outs, Big Blue Bug relief pitcher Jesus Lantigua struck out the final batter to seal the deal and hang on for the win.

Jasson Vargas pitched 4 2/3 innings for the champs, allowing just two earned runs while striking out nine batters. Lantigua stuck out three batters in 1 1/3 innings of work.

“They were super excited, we worked so hard all year. I really felt like making them a team was what mattered the most and they really showed that they were a team halfway through the year. They all became friends. I told them, ‘they created a family,’ and they’ll have these memories for the rest of the lives,” said Big Blue Bug manager Mike Beaudoin.

Beaudoin also tipped his cap to 401, who was the toughest team they faced all spring across three meetings.

“It was back and forth the way a championship should be. Both teams deserved to be there. All three games were a back-and-forth battle and I told them that it’s baseball, someone is going to win and someone is going to lose. If we played them again, they could win, they had a lot of talent,” said Beaudoin.

North will now shift gears toward the upcoming All-Star tournaments. Beaudoin was proud of the league’s commitment to the city’s youth this spring and believes the competitive postseason reflected the overall strength of the North community.

“We have a great league. We have super supportive parents, amazing volunteers. A lot of these kids go to school together, they’re great kids and they all get along. They’re out there having fun and that’s what it’s all about,” said Beaudoin.

Members of the champion Big Blue Bug team included: Cayden Rea, Chase Fraime, Domenic Coelho, Jaimin Harlow, Jasson Vargas, Jesus Lantigua, Nathan Swiczewicz, Salvador Pellerano, Thomas Beaulieu, Emily Beaudoin, Matthew Beaudoin and Xander Roberts. Coaches were manager Mike Beaudoin, assistants James Beaulieu and Christopher Swiczewicz.