Prout dropped their record down to 4-5 on Friday, which also ended the team's four-game streak of wins. They fell just short of the Cranston East Thunderbolts by a score of 13-12. The result was an unpleasant reminder to the Crusaders of the 5-1 defeat they experienced in the pair's previous head-to-head fixture back in April of 2016.
Matthew Chofay
| 04/25/25 @ Cranston East | 2 |
| 04/21/25 vs Rogers | 2 |
| 04/18/25 @ Toll Gate | 2 |
| 04/17/25 @ East Greenwich | 2 |
| 04/23/25 @ St. Raphael Academy | 1 |
| + 1 more games |
Prout saw six different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Matthew Chofay, who got on base in four of his five plate appearances with two runs, one triple, and one double. Chofay is becoming a predictor of the Crusaders' success: when he posts at least two runs the team is 3-1 (and 1-4 when he doesn't).
As for Cranston East, the victory snapped their losing streak at six games and leaves them with a 2-8 record. Their hitters stepped up their game for this one, as that was the most runs they've scored all season.
On Cranston East's side, Antonio Defusco and Jeu Leon made a splash while hitting and pitching. On the mound, Defusco struck out seven batters over three innings while giving up no earned runs off two hits (and only one walk). Meanwhile, Leon struck out six batters over 3.1 innings while giving up no earned runs off one hit. At the plate, Defusco got on base in four of his five plate appearances with two stolen bases, two RBI, and one run, while Leon got on base in three of his four plate appearances with two stolen bases and three runs. Those stolen bases marked the first that Defusco has snagged this season.
In other batting news, Harrison Fisher was incredible, going 2-for-3 with three runs, one triple, and one stolen base. That triple was his first of the season. Another player making a difference was Anthony Pimentel, who went 2-for-4 with one stolen base, two RBI, and one double.
Coming up, Prout will head out on the road to square off against Narragansett at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday. The last three games the Mariners have played have been within two runs, so don't be surprised if it's a close one. As for Cranston East, they will host Lincoln at 4:30 p.m. on Monday.
