The CLCF-CWLL Little League softball program enjoyed perhaps the biggest season a league has seen in Rhode Island history this past summer, as the 12-U squad reached the World Series and the 10-U girls advanced to the regional championship.

The two leagues merged in 2019 and have since strived to establish the state’s top youth softball program. The program had its coming out party in 2023, as it claimed both the Major and Minor state titles. From there, the league had its sights set on the 2024 World Series and would wind up hitting the mark.

“At the outset, we set the bar high, but also knew nothing would be given to us. We won the 9-10s and 11-12s state championship last year so we knew the other cities and towns would be gunning for us. The goal for the 9-10s was to win the state championship and advance to the regionals. They accomplished that and made it to the finals in the regionals,” said league president Patrick Sweeney. “The goals for the 11-12’s were to not only win the states, but the regionals as well, and get to the Little League World Series. The league and the coaching staff knew the goals were attainable if the girls played as a team and to the level that they are capable of.”

Although the players have received the majority of headlines, the unsung heroes behind it all were the parents as well as the league volunteers, according to Sweeney.

“From the league’s perspective, it’s choosing the coaching staff, evaluating the girls, drafting a team, and then completing the paperwork. It’s (a) laborious, time consuming process. For the parents, it is a huge time and financial commitment. Daily practices, missed vacations, traveling for the girls, and missed time at work. But, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the girls and I bet no one would change a thing,” Sweeney said.

What has also allowed the league to progress quickly is the bond between CLCF and CWLL, which has grown stronger each passing summer.

“The synergies between CWLL and CLCF are incredible. Steve “Pesky” Piscopiello runs an unbelievable program for the boys. He never misses a detail. John Pesaturo, our district director, and Billy Guglietta, our player agent, have been invaluable resources. CWLL sets the bar high, and for the last couple years, I have been trying to implement the same tradition of excellence for our girls. Between the fields, the complex, the training, the workouts, the coaching staff; we want to give the girls not only the best experience possible, but put them in a position to succeed, both on the field and off the field,” said Sweeney.

As the league begins its preparations for next season, what it won’t do is hold steady. Sweeney and company are hoping that the returning coaches and players work hard in the offseason and use this past season’s momentum for continued success, both on the local and national scale.

“I believe we have the blueprint for success, but you can’t just rinse and repeat. Our coaches spend countless hours with the girls getting them prepared for any and all situations on the field. Simultaneously, the older girls have been great role models for our younger girls. They see the older girls winning so they want to work hard and achieve the same results. I’ve said it a hundred times - softball in Rhode Island runs through Cranston - and we’re not done yet,” said Sweeney.