Schools
Baseball: Quakers Force Third Game with Falcons
Moses Brown defeats Cranston West 8-4 and the teams will meet Sunday afternoon with the opportunity to advance to the Final Four
The Falcons became the second Cranston team to fail to qualify for the final four in the Division I playoffs on Saturday afternoon. The Thunderbolts and Falcons had home-field advantage on Saturday, but failed to capitalize on it.
Cranston West hosted Moses Brown, a team they had defeated Thursday night 13-6, in an elimination game for the Quakers. Moses Brown got an early lead and never relinquished it, winning the game 8-4.
Moses Brown loaded the bases with one out in the first inning. Quakers junior Max Martineau brought all the runners in with a double to left field.
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The Falcons answered in the bottom half of the first when Michael Hayden drilled it to left center. The ball cleared the fence and West now trailed 3-2.
The Quakers padded their lead in the top of the second when Timothy Graul drove in two runs with a double to left field, his second hit on the afternoon.
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Cranston West trailed 6-2, after Moses Brown picked up a run on a sacrifice fly in the top of the fourth. Their deficit was cut in half when junior Steven Stravato belted a two run homer to right field.
But the Falcons registered only four hits on the afternoon and failed to score another run.
"Our pitcher did an unbelievable job today and it was his first varsity start," Quakers coach, Kevin Matson said.
An error by West junior Robert DeCosta in the top of the fifth proved to be the nail in the coffin. Quakers catcher Graul lined the ball right at DeCosta, but it went through his glove and into the outfield, and Moses Brown scored two more runs on the play. They went on to win the game 8-4.
Rob Malo, Falcons head boss, felt the team pressed a bit. "At times we tried to do too much," he said.
"We got flat as the game progressed and we have to come ready to play," the coach added.
Matson praised the Falcons squad and felt like it would be a battle on Sunday afternoon. "They have some great players and our kids are going to be ready to play tomorrow," he said.
Moses Brown will host the Falcons on Sunday afternoon at 4 P.M. with the winner advancing to the Final Four. The other team's season will end on Sunday evening.
