Baseball Game Preview: Smithfield Sentinels vs. Bishop Hendricken Hawks

Smithfield hasn't had much luck against Bishop Hendricken recently, but that could start to change on Tuesday. The Sentinels will challenge the Hawks at 4:30 p.m. Smithfield's pitching crew has only allowed 3.4 runs per game this season, so Bishop Hendricken's hitters will have their work cut out for them.

Smithfield is coming in fresh off a high-stakes matchup with another one of Rhode Island's top teams: Westerly, who was ranked eighth at the time (Smithfield was ranked sixth). The Sentinels narrowly escaped with a victory as the team sidled past the Bulldogs 6-5. The win continues a trend for the Sentinels in their matchups with the Bulldogs: they've now won six in a row.

Luca Simonelli

Earned Runs

05/14/25 @ Bishop Hendricken	5
04/03/25 vs Cumberland	3
05/02/25 @ South Kingstown	2
04/14/25 @ Moses Brown	2
04/08/25 vs East Providence	2
+ 5 more games

Luca Simonelli looked comfortable as he tossed one inning while giving up no earned runs or hits. He is becoming a predictor of Smithfield's success: when he allows at most one earned run the team is undefeated (and 6-8 when he doesn't).

On the hitting side, Sean Dwyer was incredible, getting on base in four of his five plate appearances with one home run, two stolen bases, and three RBI. That home run marked the first that he has launched this season. The team also got some help courtesy of Gio Esposito, who went 1-for-3 with two stolen bases and one run.

Smithfield kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 11 hits. The team's really been improving in that area: they've now improved their hit total in three consecutive games.

Meanwhile, Bishop Hendricken has relied on a stalwart pitchers averaging 3.25 runs allowed per game, but that average took a hit on Sunday. They fell 10-6 to Xaverian Brothers. Bishop Hendricken's loss signaled the end of their three-game winning streak.

Smithfield's record is now 14-8. As for Bishop Hendricken, their defeat dropped their record down to 19-5.

Smithfield came up short against Bishop Hendricken when the teams last played two weeks ago, falling 7-3. Can the Sentinels avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.