Baseball: Falcons Defeat Avengers in Game 1 of Semifinals

Game one of the Falcons' playoff series against East Greenwich resumed play Thursday night after mother nature postponed play after five innings when lightnight broke out.

Cranston West entered the play resumption holding a 10-5 lead. And that was the score when the game ended.

The Falcons were crushing the ball in the bottom half of the first, as they scored eight runs in the inning. Leadoff hitter, senior Matt McCool, was injured sliding back to first after reaching base with an infield single. McCool suffered a shoulder injury on his dive back to first on the pick-off attempt.

According to head coach Rob Malo, McCool has been cleared to play by the doctors and there is no significant injury.

Junior Sean Hayden would enter the game and pinch-run for McCool. Falcons senior Matt Pagano drove it to right center for an RBI double and captain Jeff Diehl blasted it to centerfield for a two run homer, giving West a 3-0 lead.

Michael Hayden and starting pitcher Stephen Lapatin each reached base with hits. Senior Steven Stravato drove in Hayden with an RBI single up the middle. After a fielder's choice brought in the fifth run, Koyejo-Isaac Idowu reached first with another fielder's choice ground ball.

West executed a double steal to perfection, as Idowu scored from third base and Tyler Collins was safe at second, after reaching base with a single.

Sean Hayden drove in the 7th run and West scored on a wild pitch, plating their eight run of the inning.

In the top of the third, the Avengers would score two unearned runs. Falcons third baseman junior Robert DeCosta overthrew the first baseman on a groundball, and East Greenwich scored a run on the play. The shortshop, Stravato, committed West's second error of the inning, and the Avengers trimmed the lead to 8-2 on his poor throw to first.

Lightning would force the game to be delayed in the bottom half of the third inning. After a 45 minute delay, the game resumed at approximately 10 P.M. Due to interscholastic rules, the kids could not play after 11 P.M. If they game was not finished, they would have to resume it on Thursday afternoon.

Michael Hayden homered to right center in the bottom of the fourth, driving in two runs, and the Falcons lead was extended to 10-2. The Avengers brought in sophomore Ryan Gavin to relieve their starter, Chris Pogue.

In the top half of the fifth inning, a wild pitch by Lapatin allowed East Greenwich to score their third run. Kevin Mason and sophomore Jeremy Streich each notched RBI singles, cutting their deficit to 10-5. Lapatin's final line was 4-and-a-third innings pitched, 5 runs, and 6 strikeouts.

Falcons junior Ryan Faria was brought into the game, and recorded consecutive outs to end the Avengers rally. The game was suspended at 11:05 p.m.

On Thursday afternoon, the game was resumed. East Greenwich had a grand opportunity to score in the top of the sixth, but failed to cut into the lead. They had runners on first and second with one out, but a groundball would turn into a double play, ending the scoring threat.

Falcons senior Matt Pagano retired the side in order in the 7th inning, inducing three groundballs, and Cranston West took game one of the series 10-5.