The Pilgrim Patriots are taking a road trip to take on the Westerly Bulldogs at 5:00 p.m. on Monday. Pilgrim's pitching crew has only allowed 3.8 runs per game this season, so Westerly's hitters will have their work cut out for them.
Having struggled with three losses in a row, Pilgrim turned things around against East Greenwich on Friday. They had just enough and edged out the Avengers 5-3. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest win the Patriots have posted since May 17, 2024.
Derrick Butler tossed a big game, striking out seven batters over 6.1 innings while giving up just one earned (and two unearned) runs off five hits.
On the hitting side, Matthew Wellington was incredible, going a perfect 3-for-3 with two stolen bases, two runs, and one RBI. The team also got some help courtesy of Henry Kearns, who went 2-for-3 with three RBI and one double.
Pilgrim always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .520. The last time their OBP was this high was back in May of 2024.
Meanwhile, Westerly faced Narragansett in a battle between two of the state's top teams on Friday. The Bulldogs walked away with a 5-1 victory over the Mariners. The Bulldogs haven't had any issues with the Mariners recently, as the game was their fifth consecutive win against them.
Tom Fiore was a major factor no matter where he played. He looked comfortable on the mound, not allowing a single earned run and allowing only one hit while striking out nine over five innings pitched. He has been consistent recently: he hasn't tossed less than six strikeouts in three consecutive appearances. He was also solid in the batter's box, getting on base in three of his four plate appearances with two stolen bases and two runs.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Grayson Simmons, who went 2-for-3 with three RBI. That's the most hits he has posted since back in April of 2024.
Pilgrim's record is now 4-6. As for Westerly, their record now sits at 8-4.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Monday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Pilgrim has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 8 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Westerly struggles in that department as they've been averaging 7.8 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one. Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other baseball content.
