Branden Mello

CRANSTON — Lincoln Little League is back. After holding the crown as the premier program in the state in the opening decade of the century, Lincoln was usurped by next-door neighbor Cumberland, which won five state titles and went to Williamsport, Penn. twice in the last 16 years. Led by a group of all-stars who weren't even born the last time the program won a state title, Lincoln can, once again, proudly hang a Major Division state-title banner at Randy Hien Field.

CRANSTON — Milo Sheridan's pitching line in Thursday night's first Little League Major Division state title game was impressive, but it was Sheridan's composure in the biggest moments that proved to be the difference between Lincoln and Barrington. After throwing 3.2 hitless innings to start the game, Sheridan allowed an infield single that should have been an out and then Andrew Knychalski followed with an RBI single up the middle to cut Lincoln's lead in half.

CUMBERLAND — Seven hours into 2026, Cumberland native Brody Berard was riding on a bus along with his Youngstown Phantom teammates on Interstate 80 in Ohio on the way to Madison, Wisc. for a pair of USHL games when he received a call from a Boston area code. It wasn’t a spam call. It was a call that helped set in motion the next step of Berard’s life. The call came from Northeastern University hockey coach Jerry Keefe.