Baseball Rally Ends Against Cranston West

The Avengers Baseball team, who won five games in five days to help clinch their first Division 1 “Final Four” appearance - including - lost two games yesterday to Cranston West, 10-5 and 6-0.

After a lightning delay Wednesday night that of East Greenwich and Cranston West’s three-game playoff series, the game resumed yesterday where it left off Wednesday night with Cranston West winning 10-5 in the sixth inning.

It was the second time in an as many years in which an Avengers playoff game was suspended. Last year, East Greenwich’s game versus Hendricken was suspended and resumed the next day due to fog.

When Game 1 resumed, sophomore pitcher Ryan Gavin stifled Cranston West’s offense and didn’t give up any runs for the rest of the game. Despite the Avengers holding off Cranston West, the Avengers lost 10-5 and were faced with a “win or go home” elimination game later that afternoon.

Starting pitcher David Hopkins limited Cranston West to 1 run through 5 innings, however, in the sixth inning, the Avengers gave up 4 runs as a result of Cranston West’s “timely hitting,” said Coach Bob Downey on West’s opportune offensive performance.

The Avengers tried to rally back in the bottom of the sixth after a pinch hit leadoff single by senior Merrick Villeneuve and a walk by senior Jonny “Dola Kid” Lamendola. However, both runners were stranded.

EG was unable to score in the last inning and lost 6-0.

Despite the loss, Coach Downey spoke highly of his team this year: “I can’t be prouder of these kids. They’re a great group.”

Coach Downey says that the team will lose “a great group of seniors,” however, he remains optimistic for the program’s future: “This program is headed in the right direction with a lot of young talent.”

Next year the Avengers next year will return four everyday starters in juniors Scott Cullinane and Kevin Mason and sophomores David Hopkins and Jeremy Streich.

EG will return key role players like Derek Messier, Alex Cleary, Kyle Palmer, and Ryan Gavin who played big roles in getting East Greenwich to the “Final 4.”

Downey acknowledged the program that he has helped develop within the state during his tenure at East Greenwich. However, he attributes a lot of the success to the tradition that his players have left behind to each other: “This year’s group learned a lot from last year’s (seniors) … you try to leave a little more each year.”

However, the East Greenwich baseball tradition has developed more than just a “little” during Downey’s 11 year career as the Avengers’ coach.

East Greenwich, which was once thought of as an overshadowed Division 2 team, is now considered one of the more feared teams in the state and will continue to be if the precedent that Downey has implemented carries on into next year.