​LINCOLN – After seeing a decline in player signups, Middletown Little League softball has made a resurgence, and this season came within a game of playing for the Rhode Island championship.Middletown’s season came to an end on Monday, July 13, with a 15-1 loss to the Cranston Western All-Stars in the final game of the losers’ bracket of the Rhode Island state tournament. Despite the result, Middletown manager Brooke Anderson believes even getting this far is a huge achievement for the program.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“Some of this group, from minors to majors, has been in the championship for our district three times,” Anderson said. “So to even win that this year was awesome, and then to come here and win one and stay in for a couple rounds, it means everything for Middletown Little League.”Emily Kintner, Middletown Little League SoftballAnderson said it means everything to her that enrollment in Middletown’s softball league rose enough to field a few teams, when that wasn’t always the case in years past.“They want to get better and to practice; I’m so happy that, specifically this group, has inspired so many of our younger girls,” Anderson said. “It’s building our program, [and] it means everything.”1 / 272026 Cranston Western Little League Major Division softball team(Eric Rueb/Providence Journal)Anderson’s goal is still to reach the Little League World Series and mentioned that the team and she love watching the event together. She then, jokingly, said that the team would need more time in the day and another field to practice on, but in reality she believed it would be a whole town effort to get the team to that point.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“We’re just going to keep working,” Anderson said. “I’m hoping we pull in more coaches, volunteers, keep the numbers big and keep Middletown on the softball map in Rhode Island.”For more information on how to sign your kid up or register as a volunteer, visit https://www.middletownll.org.Esme Allen, Middletown Little League SoftballThis article originally appeared on Newport Daily News: Season over, but softball dreams aren’t for Middletown Little League