Heading into this afternoon’s game against Connecticut, the Cranston team of 13- and 14-year-olds had a 1-2 record in its quest to reach the regional semifinals. To get to Thursday's regional seminfinal, the Cranston team would have had to beat Connecticut and then Connecticut would have had to lose tomorrow to the New York team, Betsy Lavey said this morning.

“Maybe next year,” Bill Lavey said following this afternoon’s defeat. “The kids are over it,” he said. “Kids get over these things very quickly.”

The team has mostly 13-year-olds, so many can come back and compete again next year, he said. The regional matches included 12 teams from 11 states (from Maine to Maryland) – New York had two teams, since host Syracuse played in addition to another New York team, he said.

Tonight, the Cranston softball players are just going to enjoy themselves in Syracuse, Bill Lavey said. They’re staying overnight since they had already reserved the hotel in case a win today meant another game tomorrow. They’ll be back in Cranston tomorrow, he said.