Rhode Island excels when pressure’s highest
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Smithfield, Rhode Island players began finding four-leaf clovers at the state tournament late last month. They, their coaches, parents, siblings and friends have collected them ever since.
Now, their scorebook now looks like something the Lucky Charms mascot would love. Finding those four-leaf clovers has become a tradition since states, but also has been excelling when the pressure is highest.
Going back to states, Smithfield is 8-0 in elimination games. That streak continued Sunday when Smithfield scored five sixth-inning runs and defeated Pennsylvania, 7-2. That win earned Smithfield a spot in Wednesday night's game at Lamade Stadium which ended following press time.
"We look for four-leaf clovers. We have probably 20 that are taped to our scorebook. We found three (Sunday), so that's pretty cool," Smithfield manager Eric Gibree said following the victory. "It's just something we started during states and carried over to regionals and it's something we do here. It takes the kids' minds off things."
Maybe the four-leaf clovers are the reason Smithfield has been so resilient and so often at its best when there is no more margin for error. But perception is often reality.
The truth is Smithfield simply is an outstanding team which loves a good fight. Gibree said following a regional win against New Jersey that his team was like a pack of pit bulls in a corner. It sure has looked that way all summer because Smithfield keeps coming back stronger every time it gets knocked down.
"We know that we could go home and we know that we have to turn it on or else we go home," third baseman/pitcher Brayden Castellone said after going 2 for 2 with an RBI and a run, while closing out Sunday's win. "All of our team doesn't want to do that."
Smithfield has proven time after time how much it wants this journey to continue. After winning a rugged District 4 championship against two-time Series participant, Smithfield tasted defeat for the first time when 1996 U.S. champion Cranston Western edged it, 2-1, at states.
Instead of buckling, Smithfield came storming back and won four straight games. That included consecutive one-run thrillers in the final against previously undefeated South Kingstown. Smithfield captured the program's first state championship, winning in seven innings, 2-1, on a walk-off single.
"We like it better when we have more pressure on us because when we're not under that much pressure, we kind of fall asleep and think we have it easy," right fielder Royce Agilone after going 2 for 2 with an RBI against Pennsylvania. "When we're in the losers' bracket and we have harder competition and know we could go home, we start to turn it up."
All three fellow Metro Region opponents learned that a few weeks ago.
There, Smithfield absorbed a 10-1 loss against defending Metro champion Massapequa Coast, New York. Many wrote it off at that point, but Smithfield responded by blanking Connecticut, 2-0 before thumping New Jersey, 10-5. Given another opportunity against New York, Smithfield showed how good and tough it is, romping to an impressive 7-1 victory.
"It's pretty impressive. When we get down, something clicks," Gibree said. "You see it in the body language when we score a run. When we're up against the wall and score a run, something clicks. The attitudes change. The smiles get a little bit bigger. There's laser focus during at-bats. The at-bats get better and there's more focus on defense.
"It just ties together."
That focus was on display against Pennsylvania. Not only was Smithfield trying to keep its season going, but it was playing in front of a crowd 23,000, many who were pulling for the team from Media which is three hours from South Williamsport.
Oh yeah, the Philadelphia Phillies and Washington Nationals also attended the game. The Nationals arrived first in the third inning and the Phillies an hour later. Not that Smithfield players noticed.
"I don't think they really realized that they were there. I asked my son (Gavin), 'You see who's up there and he said, 'Yeah, whatever.' We're locked in and playing baseball," Eric Gibree said. "I don't think a single kid was awestruck by who was standing up there. They were pretty focused on the task at hand."
Smithfield took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first, but Pennsylvania fought back and tied the game in the fifth inning. Castellone then made a super play which saved a run and preserved the tie going into the sixth.
The crowd was roaring, the Phillies, Nationals and even the Philly Phanatic were there ... and Smithfield felt right at home. Castellone and Brady McShane hit lead-off singles, the first six batters reached base and four more produced RBIs as Smithfield scored five runs, took control and won, 7-2.
The game was won and Smithfield soon was off to the MLB Little League Classic Sunday night. While the Major Leaguers watched them compete, Smithfield's players proved that there is no age limit on refusing to back down and/or accept defeat.
The fight continued Tuesday night. And Smithfield again stood eager to embrace it.
"A lot of teams would just fold and say, 'This has been fun, let's go home,'" Gibree said. "These kids are not going to do that."