The CLCF-CWLL Gals 12-U softball team returned home on Monday after wrapping up one of the state’s most historic youth sports runs as it finished 1-2 in the Little League World Series in Greenville, North Carolina.

After claiming the state championship, the Gals became the first team from Rhode Island to win the New England title since Warwick North did in 2015. The Gals won the opener over Arizona, but fell to North Carolina and Mid-Atlantic to see its summer come to a close.

“This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for these girls. This was our Olympics. They were a buzz saw in Rhode Island and New England. These girls work hard, they work every day. They deserve all the credit. I’m hoping that the younger girls were watching and paying attention. We’ve been able to create a pipeline of talent here. The coaches did an outstanding job, a fantastic job with the girls. We’re so proud of the girls, they represented us well,” said League President Patrick Sweeney. “Everyone was tuned in and Little League does a great job of covering the girls. We had a talented group of girls that put the work in every day and the results came in games.”

Many of the players have competed with one another for several years for multiple organizations. That familiarity and continuity paid dividends when it mattered most.

“We have a core of players that have been playing together for a long time. It was the fact that the majority of our players have been playing and training together for quite a few years,” said manager Lalo Marcano.

Although some of the girls will be aging out of the league, some will be returning next year. Sweeney hopes that the returners will remember the importance of consistency and hard work. The 10-U club also reached its regional final, which will also help keep the train rolling.

“The lesson here is that nothing is given to you, you have to work for everything. Most of the girls play rec ball, travel ball, middle school, they’re basically practicing every day,” Sweeney said. “You’ve got to put the work in and we’ve created an environment to lead to this success. It’s a culture we’ve created here.”

Marcano echoed those sentiments.

“I think that as they move forward in their softball careers, they’ll understand that there’s a different level of play in different states. That’s the thing. They always want to learn and they need to understand that there are higher levels. That’s what they have learned,” said Marcano.

In the past few weeks, the Gals have become local celebrities in Rhode Island, especially once they reached the regional circuit and made appearances on local and national news networks, including ESPN, who broadcasted both the New England championships and World Series.

Marcano is hopeful that this group of players will not only open eyes within Cranston, but throughout the entire Rhode Island softball community.

“When it comes to what they’ve accomplished, I don’t think it has sunk in for them yet. They were just having fun. I hope the impact that they had on the community lasts for years. I hope this doesn’t just die in the next year. The impact they had will help grow our league and the community. I hope it grows the amount of kids and the level of play,” Marcano said. “That’s their biggest accomplishment, they helped grow the sport in our league and area.”