On A Big Stage, Panthers Score Big Win

In the team's first visit to McCoy Stadium since their 2007 loss in the Division II state finals, the varsity baseball team continued their win streak, defeating the Tolman High School Tigers, 5-0, on April 25.

The victory brought the Panthers' season record to 8-0 in Division II, as they've outscored their opponents by a margin of 80-16.

"We're just very grateful to Tolman for hosting us," coach Steve DeMeo said prior to the contest, adding that his players had been looking forward to the chance to play at the ballpark.

The Panthers jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning, with leadoff hitter junior Chris Pistacchio converting for the first score of the game on senior Ryan Geraghty's single, and senior captain Greg Doutre drilling a home run shot over the left field fence, 325 feet from home plate, and bringing home Geragthy.

Junior starting pitcher Gian Bianchi took the mound on four days' rest — his previous outing was April 21 at North Smithfield — and held the Tigers (5-3) scoreless through six innings of work. After giving up a single in the bottom of the first, Bianchi nailed down his first of six Ks by fanning Tolman center fielder Troy Sawyer.

Johnston continued to drive the ball deep at every opportunity, tallying 13 hits over seven innings. Sawyer denied the Panthers a scoring chance in the top of the third near the warning track in center field, snagging a Geraghty drive and bobbling it before bare-handing the ball for the second out. Senior Nick Loffredo launched another shot to right-center, but it was caught to end the Johnston side of the inning.

The Panthers extended the lead to what would be the final score in the top of the fifth, as Pistacchio led off with a double to left. Bianchi followed up with a single through the shortstop position, sending "Stash" to third, and Geraghty popped a sacrifice fly to center to bring Pistacchio home. After a Doutre single, Loffredo drove a 1-1 pitch to left to bring Bianchi across the plate for the 5-0 tally.

After two pop-outs, a single, and a strikeout in the bottom of the sixth, Tolman had a final chance in the seventh — but wound up facing lefty reliever, senior Dylan Pingatore.

"Ping" needed just 13 pitches to close out the game; he whiffed the first two batters — surviving a 3-2 count at one point — and left Tolman shortstop Zach Taber watching with a called third strike.

Following the game, DeMeo said he was happy with the team's effort.

"That's how we've been doing it all year — give us a chance to hit, and we'll hit it," he explained. "From (batting position) 1 to 9, we're hitting the ball."

DeMeo also said the experience at McCoy was a good one for his players.

"All the seniors got to play today, and every one got an at-bat," he explained. "To us, this is our big game — we're on center stage for a day."

Tolman Coach Theo Murray offered compliments to the Johnston squad.

"(Bianchi) did a heck of a job — of our 21 outs, 15 were either strikeouts or fly-outs," Murray noted. "That tells you, right there, that they've got a pitcher dealing."

Taking a look around McCoy before leaving the field for the night, Murray said: "They're a very good ball club (and) Steve's a great guy — there's a pretty good chance that they'll be back in here again this year."

Johnston's next game is scheduled for April 27 at Mt. Hope High School.

Correction: The team's run total was corrected to reflect 80 points through eight games.