JHS Squad Takes Region; Next Round Friday

's varsity baseball squad emerged from the Region 1 bracket victorious on Wednesday night, defeating Central High School, 7-1, to advance to the divisional semifinals.

Sophomore Joe Bongiovanni held Central to one run over six innings and racked up nine strikeouts to give the Panthers the victory, the Providence Journal reported.

In his last appearance on the mound at the Johnston Memorial Park Babe Ruth Field, senior captain Gian Bianchi closed out the contest in the seventh inning.

On the offensive side, senior captain Chris Pistacchio contributed an RBI single and fellow senior Joe Pecchia went 2-for-3 from the plate in their final JHS home game.

The Panthers are next scheduled to play Friday night at Pierce Field against an opponent to be determined.

Westerly, the number-6 seed in the division, won in Region 3 against Tolman, 7-3, on June 5. Second seed Prout faces #10 West Warwick in this afternoon's scheduled 3:15 pm contest at Prout, and Woonsocket awaits the winner of today's Juanita Sanchez-Narragansett game, set for 4 pm at Narragansett.

Following the regional results, teams will be re-seeded and scheduled for the best-of-three final four tournament in East Providence, scheduled for Friday and Saturday, with third games, if necessary, set for Sunday.

The state finals are scheduled for June 13 through 15 at McCoy Stadium in Pawtucket.