Most players dream of a state title. But Chris Costantino of Bishop Hendricken fulfilled two dreams in just one day.
The 6-foot-2, 220-pound pitcher dominated on the mound in a three-hit shutout to lead the Hawks to their second straight title, 5-0, over North Kingstown, in the Rhode Island Interscholastic League Division 1 championship at McCoy Stadium in Pawtucket.
Costantino earlier learned he had been drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 49th round, ironic considering he pitched in the state title game at McCoy Stadium, the home of the Pawtucket Red Sox, Triple-A affiliate of the parent club.
The Hawks (23-1) swept through the playoffs without a loss and ended the season on a 23-game win streak
"It's unbelievable," Costantino said. "The state championship may be a little better because we have been working on it all year, but you can't beat getting drafted either."
Kyle Silva delivered the first Hawks run with a double in the second inning. Evan Marzilli also had a two-run homer in the third when he rocketed a shot over the the right-center field fence.
In the fifth, the Hawks added a few insurance runs as Marzilli was walked with the bases loaded and Costantino hit a RBI sacrifice fly.
North Kingstown finished with a record of 23-3.
Division 2 Championship: Mount St Charles delivers first state title in three generations
For the first time in 74 years, Mount St. Charles Academy brought home a state title, 3-2, over Prout, in the RIIL Division 2 state championship held at McCoy Stadium.
Vaughn Hayward allowed just four hits and struck out 16 Crusader batters in a sterling complete-game effort for the Mounties, who finished with a 20-3 record, capped by an 18-game win streak.
But the Mounties (21-3 ) still needed late-game heroics at the plate by Brian Campbell and Tyler Geffert.
Campbell, the MVP of the series, hit a game-tying RBI single in the seventh to send the game to an extra inning. In the eighth, Geffert hit a bases-loaded single to win the tightly-played contest.
Prout (21-4), which also lost in the state finals last year, went in front, 2-1, in the sixth after Matt Dowd drove in Joe Anzeveno with a single.
More Baseball: Three Rhode Islanders drafted
Costantino, a Lincoln native, was one of eight players with connections to Rhode Island at either the high school or college level taken in the MLB Draft. But only three, including Costantino, played their high school baseball in the Ocean State.
James Gilheeney, of Johnston, another former Hawk, was picked in the eighth round by the Seattle Mariners. The left-handed pitcher was 2-0, recorded 12 saves, had a 1.12 ERA and struck out 42 batters in 32 innings.
Daniel Rhault, picked in the 26th round by the Tampa Bay Rays, was one of four players selected from the University of Rhode Island. The 6-2, 220-pound shortstop and former star at Lincoln High School, was selected as Atlantic 10 Player of the Year after hitting .393 with 60 RBI (a URI single-season mark), including 12 home runs and a .657 slugging percentage.
