Schools
Baseball: Falcons Beat Out Skippers For State Championship [video]
Cranston West defeats North Kingstown 18-7 to win the Division I State Championship
It was a display of offensive fireworks at McCoy Stadium on Wednesday night. After the two teams combined for 30 runs in their, 25 more runners touched home plate in the decisive game tonight. Though North Kingstown jumped out to a 6-1 lead, Cranston West was able to stage a comeback, taking the state championship 18-7.
The Falcons offense was a force in the final five innings of play. West scored 17 runs over the course of innings three through seven, blowing the game open.
Cranston West opened the scoring in the top of the second. A fly ball by Falcons senior Alex Rodriques was misplayed by Skippers right fielder Cody Barner. It was ruled a hit and senior Steven Stravato crossed the plate for the game's first run.
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The Skippers offense brought them back into the game with a big inning. In the bottom half of the inning, Stravato bobbled a ground ball, allowing North Kingstown junior Alex Marzilli to reach first safely. Senior Pat O'Connor's infield single tied the game at one.
After co-captain Joseph Haley drove in two more runs with a single to right center, West pitcher Ryan Faria was pulled from the game. Senior Matt Pagano entered the game in relief for the Falcons.
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When Pagano came into the game, the bases were loaded with one out. He walked the first batter, upping North Kingstown's lead to 4-1. Skippers junior Jared Habershaw picked up 2 RBI's on a single to right field. After two innings of play, North Kingstown led 6-1.
However, Pagano was extremely effective in the final five innings, only giving up one more run, keeping his team in the ball-game. His performance would earn him the game's MVP trophy.
"Pagano is a good change of pace pitcher and kept them off balance with his off-speed stuff all night," West head coach Rob Malo said.
"Pagano threw strikes and made us earn everything we got," Skippers coach Kevin Gormley said.
Falcons senior Michael Hayden's two-run homer to left field in the third inning gave West some life and cut their deficit to 6-4.
Skippers sophomore Austin Barry came into the game in the top of the third, relieving starter senior Michael Sherburne. He recorded the final out on a ground ball, preserving the lead.
Haley drove in North Kingstown's seventh and final run with a single to center in the bottom half of the third.
West's offensive struck again in the top of the fourth, scoring five runs to take the lead. It was a lead they would never relinquish.
Lead-off hitter Matt McCool belted a two-run blast over the left field fence bringing the Falcons within one run to trail 7-6. Three batters later, Hayden hit another two-run homer to left field, pushing West into the lead.
"I was seeing the ball really well," he said.
Stravato's RBI single to center field brought in the fifth run of the inning, and extended the lead to 9-7.
In the fifth inning, the Falcons scored four runs to increase their lead to 13-7. Senior Stephen Lapatin and Stravato each drove in two runs with singles.
All-State catcher and draftee of the New York Mets, Jeff Diehl, drove in two runs in the sixth inning to increase the lead to 16-7. West would add two more runs in the seventh, and won the game 18-7. The Falcons are the Division I Baseball State Champions and North Kingstown settled for second place.
Malo spoke about how his team responded offensively. "To not hit in game one of this series, and how we did the final two games shows the kids hard work and determination," he said, "It has been our signature all season long."
"I can’t say enough about the character of this team," he added.
Gormley spoke about the character and resiliency of his team. "I am very proud of these guys and they battled all year long," he said, "These kids have a lot of fight and showed a lot of grit."
