Sports
POSTPONED: MHS Baseball Steps Up to Tough 2011 Division with Chariho Opener
The boys of summer open their season Tuesday on the road at Chariho High School before hosting Coventry at home Thursday.
Editor's Note: Dues to weather, the Chariho game on Tuesday was postponed to Saturday at 11 a.m. at Chariho.
The Middletown High School Islanders boys varsity baseball team will open their 2011 season on Tuesday when they visit Chariho High School.
The Islanders are in an extremely competitive Division I South, and have a tough schedule this year.
After going (14-4) in 2010 and having the #1 seed in the playoffs, the Islanders saw their State Title hopes quashed. Still, head coach Eric Godin has high hopes for his squad in 2011 and high expectations in terms of their level of play.
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"This will be a heck of a season for us," Godin says. "This will be a huge test. This will put us in the position where we'll have to battle every game. I think the team we have is ready to take that step. Losing four seniors from last year, you know those four had the three years of varsity behind them going into the beginning of the year last year. We don't have that this year. It's not a concern, more of a comfortability factor as far as being a coach. I told our team this year that the bar has been set. We're a legit, consistent Division I program. That alone brings high expectations."
The Islanders have several players that can tear the leather off the ball. Dylan Gracia, who was Quarterback for the Division II Football State Champs this past year, is among them. He has a smooth, natural, powerful swing, which should help drive in some runs for the Islanders this year.
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Among the pitchers to keep an eye on are Matt Sullivan, Jake Ryan and Armand Rugel.
According to the RIIL website, the 2011 opponents for the Islanders are: Chariho, Coventry, North Kingstown, South Kingstown, East Greenwich, Portsmouth, Lincoln, Smithfield, Moses Brown, Tiverton, Barrington, and Pilgrim. The Islanders will host 9 of their 20 games this season and play 11 on the road.
The season begins Tuesday when they travel to Chariho High School. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.
The varsity boys' first home game of 2011 is scheduled for Thursday, April 7 when they host the Coventry High "Oakers." That game will be played at the Islanders home field, which is at Gaudet Middle School. Start time for that game is 4 p.m. as well.
The 2011 Islanders certainly have a tough Division in which to battle. Check back throughout the season to see how far they can go.
