Championship Softball Series Tied 1-1

Wednesday night was not a traditional men's softball slugfest between Aquidneck Island Plumbing and Cappy's.

The teams were going head-to-head for the Newport Men's Softball League Championship. In the best-of-three game series, AIP took game one Monday night in a 12-0 rout. The rare shutout in slow-pitch softball was achieved through the near flawless defense played by AIP. Though the series was merely a local softball championship, you would not have expected it given the intensity both teams displayed throughout the game. 

AIP, trying to capture the title with one more win, began game two as the away team. They would start right where they left off in game one with a leadoff double by Joey Cyr, who would eventually be knocked in by the first baseman on a fielder's choice for the first run of the game. Cappy's would answer in the bottom half of the 2^nd on a pair of seeing-eye singles through the infield, and a sac fly. 

AIP pitcher Brian Vieira was on his A-game, and seemingly could have thrown a golf ball into a Dixie cup, as he did not allow a walk through the six inning competition. Cappy's would try to capitalize on an error to lead off the 4^th inning and getting the runner to third with one out. Again, the defense of AIP was an inevitable game changer as a possible sac fly turned into a double play when right fielder Brian Combra hosed down the runner at the plate. 

The top of the order for AIP poured on three hits in a row with two outs in the top of the 5^th to recapture the lead, 3-1. Zach Grassi went 2-3 with a walk at the top of the order and scored the temporary leading run. In a last ditch effort, Cappy's would threaten with their leadoff batter reaching on a single to right field. A fielder's choice, followed by two singles, would load the bases with one out for Cappy's in the bottom half of the 6^th. A sac fly, proceeded by a huge single to left off the bat of D.J. Martin, would tie the score. James Quinn provided a sharp single up the middle to give Cappy's the dramatic 4-3 victory in walk-off fashion, forcing a decisive game three, to be played Thursday at Toppa Field at 6:30 p.m.