Tiverton Youths Shine in Summer Baseball League

 The following information was provided in a press release.

Tiverton residents Chris Paquette and Peter Gloddy were key members this summer of the 10-and-Under all-star team of the Swansea Independent Baseball League (SIBL), which won a Region-level tournament title and later competed in a Zone-level tournament in Virginia.

With major contributions from Paquette and Gloddy, the SIBL stars captured the Mustang League North Region Tournament of PONY Baseball for 9- and10-year-old players during the weekend of July 19 through 22 in Swansea. This victory sent them to Chesterfield, Virg., from July 26 through 29 for the East Zone Tournament, where it lost twice in the four-team, double-elimination event.

“It was a pleasure to work with Chris and Peter this summer and to watch their progress continue as baseball players,” said SIBL Manager David Nasiff. “They both played major roles in our success and we look forward to watching them develop further during the next two years.”

During the Region Tournament, Swansea erased a six-run deficit late to shock the Twin Town Devil Cats of Troy, N.Y., 7-6; rallied from an early four-run deficit to overhaul Dom Aitro of New Haven, Conn., 10-8; bowed to Dom Aitro, 10-2; then bounced back to whip Dom Aitro, 13-3, in the championship contest. The victory marked the ninth time in 30 years that a SIBL entry had claimed the Mustang League North Region Tournament title.

In Virginia, Swansea lost to host Chesterfield, 26-4, and to McCandless, Penn., 10-4. Chesterfield went on to defeat McCandless in the title round and to earn a berth in the 2012 Mustang League World Series in Burleson, Texas.

Mustang League tournament games are played on fields where the bases are 60 feet apart, the pitching mound is 44 feet from home plate, and Major League Baseball rules are employed, requiring pitchers to frequently work from the stretch position and permitting runners to attempt steals of bases whenever the ball is in play.

Paquette pitched extensively for the SIBL stars this summer; also saw action at first base and third base; and was a key contributor to Swansea’s offensive attack. Gloddy played first base, third base and in the outfield and was also a threat at the plate.

Paquette and Gloddy were both members this year of SIBL regular-season teams in the National League (consisting primarily of 9- and 10-year-old players) of its Bronco Division. At this level of the SIBL, games are played on a field where the bases are 65 feet apart; the pitching rubber is 46 feet from home plate; and Major League Baseball rules are employed.

Further information about the SIBL is available by accessing its Web site at www.sibl.net.