Gals’ impact exceeds the field

The CLCF-CWLL Gals softball team’s run ended in the Little League World Series, putting a bow on one of the great achievements in Rhode Island sports history.

That may seem hyperbolic to say, but it’s not. It’s certainly in the conversation for the most significant run that I have covered here.

This team was so important to so many people and for so many reasons. In terms of community, it really did bring the Cranston community together for a few weeks. Between the local games, to the regionals in Connecticut, to the send off gatherings and fundraisers, to the welcome home ceremony on Monday afternoon, Cranston and the state of Rhode Island came together to celebrate the girls.

In a world that is so divisive, sports are one of the few remaining things that keep people together, unified. With so much going on in the real world, it is teams like this one that help you escape for a brief moment and enjoy the lighter things. That’s why sports are so special, especially at the youth level.

I’ve said this many times in the past, but that is what I enjoy about covering youth sports. It’s athletics in their purest form. Kids playing the game because they love it and they enjoy being with their teammates, coaches and parents. Winning is not important. Having fun and trying hard is. Don’t get me wrong, there is something exhilarating when watching a professional, college or even high school game with stakes attached, but the summer is always a great time to sit back, relax and remember why we are sports fans.

This team also made a statement for the state of Rhode Island. The Ocean State continues to prove itself more and more in the national sports scene, and teams like this one are why.

When it comes to softball, like most sports, Rhode Island is a small state with a small pool of talent to draw from. It’s simple math.

However, we have seen teams compete and some, like this one, break through and make noise on the national stage. The math may be simple, but it doesn’t add up.

The only explanation is the hard work and dedication from the players, to the coaches, to the families.

It has become so cliché to see Rhode Islanders have success and attribute it to hard work, but again, look at the numbers. We are all born human. It comes down to hard work and systems. When it comes to softball, Rhode Island has climbed to the top of the hill in recent years and this group is evidence of that.

You have to tip your cap to the CLCF-CWLL program, as the 10-U All-Stars also won their state championship and reached the regional final. This program is deep from top to bottom and is going nowhere. I believe it is fair to say that this league will be the New England favorite for the next several years. Something special is going on down there at Brayton Park, and this crazy summer of success may just be the tipping point.

I also believe that this team opened eyes to how fun softball is to watch. Baseball grabs all the headlines in the summer and I will admit up front that I am guilty of sometimes failing to strike an appropriate balance.

The media feeds off of each other. When one outlet breaks news or uncovers a story worth telling, other outlets catch on. In the social media world we live in, those stories usually catch on quick.

This is the most attention that I have ever seen a softball team receive, and for good reason obviously. I have a feeling that this team’s run to the World Series has put everyone on notice that softball is not only alive and well in Rhode Island, but it is thriving. This team proved that Rhode Island is officially a hotbed for softball from the youth level up.

Congratulations to all the players, coaches, administrators and families from the CLCF-CWLL teams. This summer was a huge one.