Last year marked a pinnacle for Interscholastic League baseball. A record nine All-State players went on to play for Division I colleges, and returning Hendricken senior centerfielder Evan Marzilli has committed to the University of South Carolina. Portsmouth phenom Ryan Westmoreland signed an unprecedented $2 million, five-year signing bonus with the Boston Red Sox after being drafted in the fifth round.
Ocean State baseball remains strong with some returnees and newcomers already filling in gaps left by the departure of so many elite players.
Cranston West on early roll
A no-hitter by Joe Portukalian of Cranston West forged the way for the Falcons' sixth straight victory, 10-0, over cross-city rival, Cranston East, in a five-inning, mercy rule-shortened Division 1 West game.
The unbeaten Falcons looked sharp in a recent 9-4 exhibition win over South Kingstown featuring sophomore pitchers Mike Hayden and Steve Lapatin (five hits and three earned runs in six innings).
"Our first two starters are Joe Portukalian and Tyler Corsi so we are trying to find out who our other starters will be," said Falcons' head coach Rob Malo.
The Falcons have also received key hits from Jeff Diehl, Tom Capalli, Matt Clarkin and Rob Madonna. Against Hendricken a walkoff three-run homer by Mike McClarnon in addition to a grand slam homer by Dean Grasso left the Falcons with a great comeback win.
Shortstop Austin Milan, Clarkin, a second baseman, third baseman Justin Costa and first baseman Shane Milan have helped turn several double plays already.
"Defense has always been one of the strong points for us," Malo said of his team which advanced to the semifinals last season and featured such standouts as Anthony Meo (Coastal Carolina), Chris Famiglietti (Texas A&M) and Dan Hopkins (Massachusetts).
Bishop Hendricken scrapes out fifth consecutive win
Bishop Hendricken starter Chris Costantino had an excellent outing with 14 strikeouts and yielded two runs on five hits. But Hawk relievers and batters barely delivered a win, 12-11, after Cumberland staged a nine-run rally in the seventh to fall just short of a miraculous comeback.
The Hawks lost two first-team All-Staters who went on to play Division I baseball, Milan Adams (Rhode Island) and Dan Gamache (Auburn). But two centerpieces of the 2008 state championship squad remain, Marzilli and Costantino, senior captains and returning first-team All-Staters. And there is depth at every other position, too.
Chris Sheehan, the Hawks' No. 1 hurler, has been strong on the mound as has Josh Lynch. Tom Verdi has been solid at shortstop.
Portsmouth rules in Division 1 East
Portsmouth lost four All-Staters to graduation from its 21-3 club of a year ago, including top pitchers in Westmoreland, John Pedrotty (Holy Cross) and Tim Flight (Charleston Southern). But the first-place Patriots (4-1) remain strong on the mound, reeling off their second shutout in a row, 12-0, after Ben Grande posted a one-hitter against East Providence.
LaSalle wins in Division 1 North
LaSalle pulled away from Smithfield to post a 10-2 victory behind a combined four-hit effort from pitchers Joe Charest and C.J. Tsoumakas. The Rams' five-run rally in the fourth was highlighted by a two-run double by Connor Mercurio and a two-run triple by Kadeem Kushimo.
North Kingstown is king in Division 1 South
Returning first-team All-Stater Dave D'Errico pitched a three-hitter and was perfect at the plate (4 hits, three RBI) as North Kingstown put away Barrington, 13-1, in a mercy-rule, five-inning affair. Led by D'Errico and Cody Normand, another first-team All-Stater, the Skippers (6-0) remain the state's only other undefeated Division 1 squad. In the Skippers' rapid start, their pitching, hitting and defense has stifled opponents with a 77-7 scoring advantage.
Prout perfect in Division 2 East
Prout pitchers Dave Horsfield and Jason Romano combined to pitch a five-hitter for the unbeaten Crusaders' sixth win in a row, 9-3, over Mt. Pleasant.
