Gershkoff juniors fall in regionals

The Gershkoff Auto American Legion junior team fell in two games in regionals to wrap up its summer season last weekend at McCarthy Field in West Warwick.

Gershkoff fell to New Hampshire in a heartbreaking 3-2 decision in the opening round. Gershkoff had the bases loaded in the sixth and then the tying run on second base in the seventh, but New Hampshire would escape each jam to walk away with the victory.

Adam Stoloff and David Cavalloro would knock in the team’s runs in the sixth inning to get into striking distance. Angelo Silvestri and Nick DiLorenzo combined to pitch six innings and finished with two strikeouts each.

“We played a very good team and it was a very good baseball game. When you get to that level, you’re going to be playing very good baseball teams and the game comes down to a couple plays here and there. It was indicative of our entire season, very good, competitive baseball. We got great pitching from Angelo and Nick,” said Gershkoff manager John Fontaine.

Gershkoff then lost to Connecticut the following game, 6-1. Derek LaFazia knocked in the team’s lone run in the fifth inning to make it 2-1, but Connecticut would open things up with four runs in the bottom half of the inning to run away with the victory.

As the team flips the page toward next summer, Fontaine was thrilled with the players’ performance and felt it accomplished its goal which is to improve each day and focus on the future.

“The biggest thing with all these players is development. The reason you play the summer tournaments is to improve your skill set and face good competition to get better,” said Fontaine. “Every single kid developed their game is some way, shape or form. The name of the game is to develop, improve your high school game for the next year and to get college looks.”

After winning the state championship and seeing the 13-U club have a strong inaugural season, Fontaine and Gershkoff head coach Dave Schiappa are excited to see what the future holds as they looks to build the region’s top American Legion program.

“It’s incredible. There’s no other Legion program around that has this, to have a program that competes in state and regional tournaments. A lot of travel teams are pulling kids from all over. Most travel teams pull kids that live two and a half hours apart. These kids live two and half miles away from each other,” said Fontaine. “The future is bright for these kids and our program.”

By ALEX SPONSELLER

The Gershkoff Auto American Legion junior team fell in two games in regionals to wrap up its summer season last weekend at McCarthy Field in West Warwick.

Gershkoff fell to New Hampshire in a heartbreaking 3-2 decision in the opening round. Gershkoff had the bases loaded in the sixth and then the tying run on second base in the seventh, but New Hampshire would escape each jam to walk away with the victory.

Adam Stoloff and David Cavalloro would knock in the team’s runs in the sixth inning to get into striking distance. Angelo Silvestri and Nick DiLorenzo combined to pitch six innings and finished with two strikeouts each.

“We played a very good team and it was a very good baseball game. When you get to that level, you’re going to be playing very good baseball teams and the game comes down to a couple plays here and there. It was indicative of our entire season, very good, competitive baseball. We got great pitching from Angelo and Nick,” said Gershkoff manager John Fontaine.

Gershkoff then lost to Connecticut the following game, 6-1. Derek LaFazia knocked in the team’s lone run in the fifth inning to make it 2-1, but Connecticut would open things up with four runs in the bottom half of the inning to run away with the victory.

As the team flips the page toward next summer, Fontaine was thrilled with the players’ performance and felt it accomplished its goal which is to improve each day and focus on the future.

“The biggest thing with all these players is development. The reason you play the summer tournaments is to improve your skill set and face good competition to get better,” said Fontaine. “Every single kid developed their game is some way, shape or form. The name of the game is to develop, improve your high school game for the next year and to get college looks.”

After winning the state championship and seeing the 13-U club have a strong inaugural season, Fontaine and Gershkoff head coach Dave Schiappa are excited to see what the future holds as they looks to build the region’s top American Legion program.

“It’s incredible. There’s no other Legion program around that has this, to have a program that competes in state and regional tournaments. A lot of travel teams are pulling kids from all over. Most travel teams pull kids that live two and a half hours apart. These kids live two and half miles away from each other,” said Fontaine. “The future is bright for these kids and our program.”