Sports
Another Gray Day in Johnston
Local amateur baseball squad drops fifth straight with 12-0 loss to Premium Tile.
The Johnston Grays had another tough game on July 7 as they played third-place team in the Rhode Island Amateur Baseball League, Premium Tile (11-3) at Cilimore field in Westerly.
The game started with two scoreless innings, with the only threat on Premium Tile's JJ Sorrenson walk and steal of second base. Grays pitcher Ben Tavares struck out the next two batters, and induced the inning ending ground ball to Gray's second baseman Robert Kazarian.
At the bottom of the third, things took a turn for the worse for Grays pitcher Ben Tavares. After a lead-off single to center field by Premium Tile's John Padula, left fielder John Jacobellis ripped a RBI triple to right center field to put Premium Tile on the board with a score of 1-0.
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A suicide squeeze with Jacobellis on third made the game 2-0. The inning only got worse for Tavares, who let up a triple and double to back-to-back hitters to make the score 5-0 after three innings.
After the Grays went down in order in the top of the fourth, Premium Tile picked up exactly where it left from the bottom of the third by scoring seven runs with two outs.
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Sorrenson hit a 3-RBI double to make the tally 9-0 to follow up on an earlier score, and three straight hits pushed the game up to 12-0 before Tavares got the last out of the inning off Premium Tile's John Padula.
Officials called the game after the top of the fifth inning under the league's mercy rule.
It was the second straight game ended under the rule this week for the Grays (2-14), who fell to inter-town rivals the Johnston Pools on July 2.
Manager and coach Rob Tedesco believes that the main difference between this season and last season is primarily attendance and dedication.
However, Tedesco said he may have a few more tricks up his sleeve before the season is over.
“We have a better infield now, and we are working on the outfield," Tedesco said. "We are picking up a few new players, possibly a pitcher — there's a few things we still need to work on and we're figuring it all out."
The next game for the Johnston Grays is scheduled for this afternoon at 1 p.m. against the Pawtucket Bombers at .
