Panthers Celebrate Senior Night With Win Over Ponaganset

The varsity baseball team completed a season sweep of Ponaganset on May 16, defeating the Chieftains 11-5 after holding a ceremony to honor the team's seniors. Johnston had previously defeated Ponaganset (season record 7-9) on April 18 by a score of 14-2.

It was the second game of five in a seven-day stretch for the Panthers, who had a number of weather-related cancellations earlier in the season. The Panthers by a score of 14-3 and beat Central Falls, 17-3 on May 14.

Building on the theme of celebrating the squad's fourth-year players, all of the seniors had a hand in securing the win, coach Steve DeMeo explained in an e-mail message.

"What was good about (Monday's) game is that all nine seniors contributed to the victory," DeMeo wrote. "(Co-Captain) Ryan (Geraghty) and Nick (Loffredo) did their usual thing; Greg Doutre, Zach Podmaska and Dylan Pingitore pitched very well; Steve Almagno, Eric Silva and Dan DeSimone each had a hit; and although Bret Simas didn't get a hit, he again played superb defense."

An RBI single by Geraghty in the first inning brought home junior Gian Bianchi for the first score of the game. Starting pitcher Doutre, another of the captains of the squad, brought home Bianchi in the third inning with a bomb to center field to make the score 3-1.

Ponaganset rallied for back-to-back homers against sophomore reliever Steven Perfetto in the fourth inning, drawing even with Johnston, 3-3.

Relievers Podmaska and Pingatore held Ponaganset to just 2 runs as the Panthers went on an 8-run tear in the fifth and sixth innings. "Ping" limited the damage from a bases-loaded relief appearance in the sixth, allowing one score on a walk before shutting down Ponaganset with two Ks to close out the inning.

The Panthers improved their season record to 14-1, and brought their scoring total to 173-44 over their opponents.

DeMeo said the team can clinch first place in Division II with wins in two of their last three contests.

Johnston is scheduled to play at home on May 17 at 3:30 p.m. against North Smithfield before traveling to Burrillville on May 19 and finishing the season at home against Central on May 23.

Referring to the potential for rainy weather on May 17, DeMeo wrote: "Hopefully we can get today's game in."