Skippers Take Regular Season Title In Final Inning

EAST GREENWICH – With a Division I-South regular season title on the line, some drama and intensity are certainly expected in a high-stakes game.

North Kingstown (14-4 Division I-South) edged East Greenwich, 6-5, thanks to Joe Haley’s two-run home run in the top of the seventh to clinch first place in Division I-South.

“They had come with curveballs at me the whole game,” Haley said. “I just tried to square one up and it just happened to go over the fence.”

Haley’s homer capped a strong finish by the Skippers, who overcame a 4-0 margin in the third inning to break the tie for first place between them and the Avengers in the division as the teams head into the postseason.

East Greenwich (13-5 Division I-South) held the lead for the first two innings, jumping out to the 4-0 advantage by playing small ball. The Avengers managed to get six men in a row on base by way of singles, walks and fielder’s choices.

North Kingstown’s bats came to life in the top of the third when Austin Barry and Andrew Berlinsky singled to start the inning and a walk to Pat O’Connor loaded the bases. A sacrifice fly, a single, an error and a passed ball tied the game at four.

“It seemed liked things were going well and then in a blink of an eye it was 4-4,” Avengers head coach Robert Downey said. “A four to nothing lead against those guys is not safe. Alex (Skipper pitcher Alex Tedesco) did a good job and we kind of got complacent in those innings.

“You can’t give them four runs in an inning and expect to beat them. We came up short.”

The Avengers had an opportunity to take the lead in the bottom of the sixth. With Jonathan Lamendola on second base catcher Scott Cullinane laced a single to right field. Lamendola was waved home and was thrown out at the plate, ending the inning.

In the bottom of the seventh East Greenwich loaded the bases with two outs before Skippers relief pitcher Alex Marzilli forced a groundout to shortstop to end the game.

Skippers head coach Kevin Gormley was particularly impressed with how freshman starter Alex Tedesco performed, considering it was his first varsity appearance on the mound.

“I give Alex all the credit in the world,” Gormley said. “He’s a freshman. Because we’ve had some injuries he had to come up and be a part of this thing. I’m real proud of him. It’s very tough to go in there not throwing a varsity inning and being the starting pitcher in a division championship game.”

Tedesco pitched four innings, allowing four runs, seven hits and striking out three. Chris Hess relieved Tedesco and pitched 2.1 innings. Hess got the win and Alex Marzilli earned the save by getting the final two outs.

What kept East Greenwich in the game was its defense and pitching. The Avengers turned two spectacular double plays – one in which pitcher Chris Pogue stabbed a sharp ground ball and had time to turn and thrown behind him to second base.

Pogue also threw a strong game, going six innings, allowing five runs and striking out three.

North Kingstown’s defense was nearly identical to East Greenwich’s in terms of effectiveness, but Haley claims the offense contributed to the Skippers’ solid fielding.

“We definitely have great fielders, but once you get the bats going it’s a lot easier to field the ball and it’s a lot easier to stay in the game,” Haley said.

East Greenwich was led in hitting by Dan Caron (2-for-2, 1 RBI, 2 runs), John Kalajian (2-for-3), and Scott Cullinane (2-for-4). The Skippers were led by Joe Haley (2-for-3, HR, 3 RBIs) and Michael Sherburne (3-for-4).

The Skippers are glad to have some momentum moving into the postseason.

“We’re going to battle,” Gormley said. “We’ve got to play well. Any time in the playoffs you’ve got to play well to win.”

Going forward, the Avengers look to make a significant impact in the playoffs and Downey wants other teams to know exactly that.

“We’re going to be a tough team to beat in the playoffs,” Downey said. “I think we’re going to be there in the end. Don’t doubt us because we’re going to be right there.”