Cranston Western routs Vermont in LL softball regional. What's next?

After three scoreless innings, the Rhode Island champion Cranston Western Little League softball team exploded for 15 runs in the top of the fourth inning to bring a swift end to their first game at the Little League Regional Tournament in Bristol, Connecticut, on Sunday, July 19.

On the mound, Aubrey Riker held the Vermont All-Stars scoreless through all four innings, striking out seven batters along the way. Cranston Western takes the field again on Tuesday evening.

In Sunday's matchup, the Rhode Islanders struck first when Emma Arrighie singled home Hayden Cerio, and from there the floodgates opened. Four singles, a double, a triple and an inside-the-park home run – by Nina Graziano – brought home 14 more runs before Vermont could close the inning. Riker then got three consecutive outs (two strikeouts and a groundout) in the bottom of the fourth frame to bring an early end to the contest due to the league's 15-run rule.

Chloe Whittenberger had three hits to lead Cranston Western, while Cerio, Riker and Graziano each drove in three runs. All told, Cranston Western tallied nine hits and 13 RBIs in the victory.

The Rhode Island champs will meet Connecticut at 7 p.m. on July 21 in the double-elimination tournament. Connecticut toppled Maine 4-1 earlier on Sunday, while Vermont handled New Hampshire 15-0 in the first game of the day before running into Rhode Island in the evening.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Cranston Western routs Vermont in LL softball regional. What's next?