Babe Ruth 14's Plug On, 6-1 Over Cumberland

The quest by Coventry to emerge from the loser’s bracket and make it to the finals of the Babe Ruth 14 year-old All-Stars State Championship playoffs began with a 6-1 victory over Cumberland at Cranston Stadium on Friday night.

"The pitching by Shawn Pacifico and Anthony Masseur in relief was the main story,” said Coventry manager Joe Vigeant. “I was impressed by Shawn because he hadn’t pitched in a while and he only made 66 pitches and did a nice job changing speeds. I didn’t like that we had 10 strikeouts, but we had some good situational hitting.”

Pacifico pitched five innings, scattering four hits and striking out four, while issuing just one walk and hitting a batter. He also chipped in with a double.

But the offense also featured some extra-base hits and other well-struck balls by the Coventry offense.

Shaun Vigeant hit a 340-foot triple to left center in the first inning, easily knocking in Mark Messier who reached second base despite striking out after the ball was dropped on the last strike and thrown away by the Cumberland catcher.  

In the second inning, Nick Palumbo smashed a shot down the left field line for a double and moved to third on a groundout to the pitcher by Pacifico. Palumbo scored on a long- line drive hit to center by Erik O’Connell for a RBI sacrifice fly.

Cumberland scored its lone run in the second inning on a bloop single and RBI by Adam Ogilvie.

In the third, Tyler Andrews had a bloop single and scored after a stolen base, wild pitch and balk. Another wild pitch brought in the fourth run and Tyler Walsh added an RBI single.

The rest of the way, it was pitching and defense that ruled for both squads.

Andrews also had a 300-foot plus-double to left center in the fourth inning to drive in Jordan Baker, who had walked and stolen second, for the final Coventry run. Andrews, though, was thrown out trying to stretch it to a triple.

From the fifth to seventh innings, Mike Bogolowski sparkled in relief for Cumberland, striking out seven batters- a few on slow, paralyzing curves for called third strikes -yielding no hits and no runs.

Masseur, a lefty, spun some mound magic of his own in two innings of relief. In the sixth, he retired the side in order by quickly pouncing on a bunt attempt and throwing to first for the out, struck out the next batter swinging and forced a groundout, shortstop to first.

In the seventh, Masseur walked Josh Rampone, who was soon to be thrown out at second by Coventry catcher Ryan Ledford on a steal attempt. Another strikeout and then a fly ball to center field clinched the contest.