Very little separates Bishop Hendricken and Cranston West in the West Division, and North Kingstown and South Kingstown in the South, as all squads dominated most rivals and are clear favorites headed into the RIIL Division 1 playoffs beginning this week.
The sole loss for the Hawks (16-1), defending state champs, was 8-5 to Cranston West (15-3 ) in the first game of the season. Since then the Hawks have outdueled all other Ocean State clubs.
Hawks' leadoff batter and rightfielder, Jeff Roy, has a .441 average followed by second baseman Jordan Nasser, who has reached base almost two of every three at bats (.650 on-base percentage).
"That sets up our RBI guys," Hawks veteran head coach Ed Holloway said.
First baseman Chris Costantino has not only anchored the offense with a .533 batting average and 24 RBI but at 6-0 (2.02 ERA and 76 K's in 45 innings) is one of two unbeaten Hawks pitchers. Chris Sheehan is 7-0 with a 1.40 ERA and 63 Ks in 43 innings. Evan Marzilli, fleet South Carolina-bound centerfielderi, sidelined for several games by an injury, has retunred to wield a big bat in combination with his outstanding fielding.
Holloway agrees his squad belongs among the four postseason favorites as top seeds but says several other squads are capable of advancing.
"Pilgrim (13-8) is playing well and Cumberland (12-7), Smithfield (11-8), Lincoln (10-8) and La Salle (10-9) are good teams, too."
But it is North Kingstown that earned top seed overall for the playoffs after the Skippers (18-1) defeated South Kingstown (18-3) last week, 12-3, for their eighth straight win in a Division 1 showdown. Dave D'Errico had two hits and four RBI while Jay Ferri had two solo homers and Jamale Horn added another for the winners. Cody Normand was the winning pitcher.
Another sleeper is East champion Portsmouth (18-3), which despite the loss of so many seniors and All-Staters, including Boston Red Sox draftee Ryan Westmoreland, has flourished under first-year head coach Andy Crisafulli. The Patriots are led by senior captains, Ben Grande, pitcher/ infielder, and by infielder David Wordell.
More Baseball: Prout top seed in Division 2
Prout (16-2), last year's state finalist, had the best record in Division 2 and easily outdistanced Exeter-West Greenwich in the South.
The next best record belonged to Mount St. Charles (15-3) in the North followed by defending state champion North Smithfield (12-6). Shea (11-7) finished just one game ahead of Mt. Hope, PCD/Wheeler and Tolman in the very tight East race.
Boys Lacrosse: Moses Brown, La Salle primed for rubber match in state finals
The likely scenario for the Division 1 finals will be the two highest scoring teams in the state, La Salle and Moses Brown, respectively, after semifinals action concludes this week.
Moses Brown rocked La Salle, 13-7, in the first meeting. Then the Rams returned the favor with a dominating 15-7 performance over in the Division 1 showdown between the two Providence schools. That is the only loss for either team this season.
La Salle first must defeat Bishop Hendricken, which subdued Barrington, in the quarterfinals last week. And Moses Brown will play Portsmouth (winner over North Kingstown,) in the other semifinal.
