SPORTS UPDATE
By Bob Rodericks
EPHS Townie Football to Christen New HS Stadium:
Townie football is bouncing back from COVID shortened seasons with high hopes and a brand-new football stadium behind their state-of-the-art new high school campus. The name is legendary, but the coach is in his 2nd year as head coach in EP. Jon Stringfellow is the new head coach for the Townies, but because of Covid, he really hasn’t had much time with this team on the field. His Dad is a Rhode Island football icon and of course, EPHS great and Hall of Famer, William “Bill” Stringfellow. After Sandy Gorham and Jay Monteiro moved on, Jon Stringfellow was appointed as coach.
The Reporter met up with coach Stringfellow on the season’s second day of practice in late August. On a hot sweltering day, the team was working out at its temporary field on the grounds of the senior center. The high school is not yet officially open. “We had 4 games last spring, but with COVID and everything else, our numbers were down and it was very different for sure. We only had about 25 guys then but right now we’re looking at over 60. Hopefully we can maintain that during the season,” said Stringfellow. “The kids are ready for the new field and school, it looks like September 1st we’ll be there. They’re excited to go to the new school and to wear our new red helmets,” smiled the coach. “The red helmets are a change from the white and everyone likes the new uniforms too. It should all be fun.”
“We are in Division 1B with LaSalle, North Kingstown, Shea, Cumberland, Burrillville, Cranston, all tough teams, so we’ll be tested soon enough,” said the coach. One note, the Townies will play LaSalle on Thanksgiving but it continues to be a non-league game. “Everything will be wrapped up by then.”
Stringfellow wouldn’t opine on the team’s chances this year except to be glad at the player turnout and the fact that they may have a normal season. “Hopefully we can work hard this summer and start the season ready to go. After playing in a pre-season injury fund game against Central Falls/Blackstone Valley early this month in a game at Macomber Field in Central Falls, the red-helmeted Townies will play the school’s first game in the new stadium on September 10th. The game will have history and irony as their first ever game at the new EPHS and the opponents from Barrington are coached by former Townie great and Hall of Fame legend himself, John “Sandy” Gorham.
“It’s all exciting, I never thought in my career I’d see a new high school with a new stadium of our own. The kids and coaches are all very excited,” said the coach. Asked about the large Stringfellow family reaction to his taking the helm of the Townies and Jonathan smiled, “Yes, they’re all happy for us. My brothers and sister, everyone is supportive. All the kids. It does bring back those memories,” he said with a wide smile.
When the Townies hit the gridiron on September 10th there will be three coaches on the sidelines named Stringfellow. In addition to head coach Jonathan, two of Bill Stringfellow’s grandson’s will be helping as assistant coaches. Grandsons Billy and PJ Stringfellow will be doing what Stringfellows do. Coaching football. Townie tradition continues in a new era.
Old Townie Football Films Being Converted Digitally
During our interview with coach Stringfellow he confirmed that he and former players from years ago are collaborating on a project to convert old football films to modern technology and they may possibly be available as a fund raiser. “I have my dad’s old films that we are cataloguing and getting ready to convert. There are also some films from the days when the “Townie Sports Network” filmed games for cable TV. It should be fun.” Details will be announced when available.
EPHS Boys Basketball Busy in Summer Action
Team Wins Summer Invitational
“We went from nothing last year and summer (due to COVID) to an extremely busy summer 2021,” said an excited Townie boys’ varsity coach, Joe Andrade as his basketball team gears up for a new season. “It feels great!” Andrade is working hard to keep his team in shape as traditional play has been limited for a year or so. In March of 2021, the Townies enjoyed the best season a Townie basketball team has had in 20 years. "The kids proved people wrong all last year and believe me they used that as fuel. The big wins we had and the overflow crowds at our games are examples of this. I know that our school and community are very proud, my coaches and I certainly are," said coach Andrade at that time.
The Townies were scheduled to advance to the Elite Eight level in the State Championship bracket back then, but the season was halted by COVID precautions and the team’s dream season was over. "We had a great group of kids who achieved many accomplishments. We made it to the Division I Final Four and the statewide Elite 8," said Andrade. “It was a very difficult day when the coaches had to tell the team that the season couldn’t continue.”
And so fast forward to the summer of 2021 as pandemic rules have lightened up (although COVID cases are on the rise again) and team sports are back. “A lot of our players are participating in a summer league, a Massachusetts Premier Tourney and working out individually,” said Andrade.
The team recently completed a successful run in the prestigious 10th annual “Wally" Seaver High School Invitational, held in Massachusetts. The Seaver High School Invitational is the largest off-season high school varsity level tournament in New England and proceeds benefit ALS research. There are 158 teams in the tourney brackets. Paul "Wally" Seaver spent over 25 years coaching basketball at both the high school and youth level in Massachusetts. On the date of his final game, Seaver was diagnosed with ALS, more commonly known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. He coached that final game but was forced to step away due to his illness. “On Feb. 5, 2013, Paul "Wally" Seaver lost his two-year battle with Lou Gehrig's Disease, but it's his legacy and memory that lives on,” said a tournament organizer.
The Townies led their tournament “POD” with 3 wins and 1 loss. East Providence defeated Marshfield Mass 68-52, Bedford NH 75-51, and then Concord Carsisle Mass 64-47, to win the pool. “We lost to North Quincy 81-57 in the finals,” said Andrade. “The game was closer than the score would indicate, but we ran out of gas in the finals.”
Next up for the Townies was the Mt. St. Charles Invitational Summer League Tournament. East Providence won the 2021 Mount St. Charles Boys' Basketball Summer League championship by defeating a physically tough Woonsocket team 44-40 in early August. The Townies raced through that tournament with a 9-1 record to take home the summer title. The tournament featured 12 teams. Host Woonsocket High entered the finals with a 9-0 record and eventually lost out to EP.
Soccer Alumni Game Announced – Register by Sept. 19th
All EPHS alumni & Coaches are invited to participate in the first ever Townie Alumni soccer game. "The special event will showcase our new home field at the new EPHS," said girls soccer coach Angelo Pizzi.
WHEN: Saturday, October 16, 2021
LOCATION: The NEW East Providence High School home field
COST: $5 non-players - Proceeds to create a girls soccer alumnae scholarship.
FOOD, MUSIC, GREAT COMPANY TO REMINISCE ABOUT THE PAST!
Deadline - September 19th
If interested in playing, please contact Melissa Resendes at melissaresendesepysa@gmail.com or Angelo Pizzi at Apizzi@epschoolsri.com
Fall Team Schedules as of September, 2021
EPHS Football Schedule:
09/02/21 5:30 PM Injury Fund Central Falls/BVP Football at Macomber Stadium
09/10/21 6:30 PM Barrington at East Providence
09/24/21 6:30 PM Shea High at East Providence
10/01/21 7:00 PM North Kingstown at North Kingstown High
10/08/21 6:30 PM Burrillville at East Providence
10/15/21 7:00 PM Cumberland High at Tucker Field
10/23/21 1:30 PM Cranston East at Cranston Stadium
10/29/21 6:30 PM Cranston West at East Providence
11/25/21 10:00 AM La Salle at LaSalle
EPHS Girls Volleyball Schedule:
9/09/21 06:30 PM at Mount Saint Charles
9/13/21 06:30 PM La Salle Academy at East Providence
9/15/21 06:30 PM at Cranston East
9/21/21 06:30 PM Cranston West at East Providence
9/23/21 06:30 PM at Cumberland High
9/27/21 06:30 PM at Portsmouth
9/29/21 06:00 PM at South Kingstown
10/01/21 06:30 PM Prout School at East Providence
10/05/21 06:30 PM at Coventry High
10/07/21 TBD at East Greenwich High School
10/13/21 06:30 PM North Kingstown High at East Providence
10/15/21 06:30 PM Mount Saint Charles at East Providence
10/19/21 06:30 PM at La Salle Academy
10/21/21 06:30 PM Cranston East at East Providence
10/25/21 06:30 PM at Cranston West
10/27/21 06:30 PM Cumberland High at East Providence
EPHS Boys Soccer:
09/03/21 04:00 PM Injury Fund Barrington at Providence Country Day
09/08/21 03:45 PM at Moses Brown
09/11/21 06:00 PM North Kingstown at East Providence
09/15/21 06:30 PM Shea High at East Providence
09/18/21 06:00 PM at Portsmouth
09/22/21 06:00 PM at South Kingstown at Curtis Corner Middle School
09/25/21 01:00 PM Tolman High at East Providence
09/29/21 06:30 PM Bishop Hendricken at East Providence
10/02/21 TBD Barrington
10/06/21 04:00 PM at Central at Conley Stadium
10/09/21 01:00 PM Central Falls at East Providence
10/11/21 02:00 PM at Classical High
10/13/21 06:30 PM Cumberland High at East Providence
10/20/21 TBD East Greenwich High School
10/22/21 06:15 PM at Wheeler School at Wheeler School Farm
10/27/21 06:30 PM La Salle at East Providence
EPHS Girls Soccer:
09/02/2102:45 PM Injury Fund St. Raphael McKinnon-Alves Soccer Complex
09/02/2103:50 PM Middletown McKinnon-Alves Soccer ComplexSt.Raphael
09/08/2103:45 PM at Toll Gate High
09/10/2103:30 PM West Warwick High at East Providence
09/14/2104:15 PM at Wheeler School Farm
09/16/2106:30 PM St. Mary Academy Bay View at East Providence
09/20/2106:00 PM at Chariho
09/22/2106:30 PM Classical High at East Providence
09/23/2104:00 PM at Cranston East Cranston Stadium
09/28/2103:45 PM at Woonsocket Barry Field
09/30/2106:30 PM Lincoln at East Providence
10/04/2104:45 PM Middletown High School at Gaudet Middle School
10/06/2106:30 PM Moses Brown School at East Providence
10/12/2104:00 PM at Mount Saint Charles
10/16/2106:00 PM North Providence at East Providence
10/18/2104:00 PM at North Smithfield
10/20/2106:30 PM Ponaganset High at East Providence
10/26/2103:15 PM at Prout School
10/28/2106:30 PM Scituate at East Providence
EPHS Boys/Girls Cross Country:
09/04/21 10:00 AM Injury Fund Multiple Schools Deerfield Park
09/13/21 04:00 PM Duals Mt. Hope High at Tiverton
09/20/21 04:30 PM Duals Multiple Schools Tiverton High School
09/25/21 09:00 AM Invitational Multiple Schools Goddard Memorial State Park
09/27/21 04:00 PM Duals Multiple Schools Tiverton High School
10/04/21 04:00 PM Duals Multiple Schools Glen Park/Polo Grounds
0/21/21 04:00 PM Invitational Multiple Schools Glen Park/Polo Grounds
10/21/21 04:00 PM Invitational Multiple Schools Burrillville Middle School
10/25/21 04:00 PM Freshman Championship Multiple Schools East Greenwich High School
10/30/21 10:00 AM Class Championship Multiple SchoolsPonaganset High School
11/06/21 02:15 PM State MeetMultiple Schools Ponaganset High School
11/13/21 11:00 AM New England Championship Multiple Schools at TBA
EPHS Girls Tennis:
09/08/21 03:30 PM at Tolman High Slater Park, Pawtucket, R.I.
09/10/21 TBD at West Warwick High School
09/14/21 04:00 PM St. Mary Academy Bay View, Bishop Hendricken High School
09/16/21 03:30 PM Central High School Classical High School
09/17/21 03:30 PM Coventry High School Coventry High School
09/22/21 TBD at Exeter West Greenwich
09/24/21 04:30 PM at Hope High School
09/28/21 TBD at Johnston High School
09/30/21 04:00 PM at Lincoln School – Providence Faxon Farm
10/04/21 04:00 PM at Pilgrim High School
10/06/21 04:00 PM at Providence Country Day
10/08/21 TBD at St. Raphael Academy
10/12/21 TBD at Scituate
10/14/21 TBD at Shea High School
10/18/21 04:00 PM at Tiverton
10/20/21 04:00 PM at Toll Gate
Correction – Youth Baseball
The sports update last month listed an incorrect winner of the Andreozzi Baseball Tournament held at Slater Park in Pawtucket. North Providence and Barrington played for the championship with North Providence Little League winning the title. Every summer since 1999, there has been a Memorial Tournament held at Darlington American Little League’s Slater Park Baseball Fields (Darlington Little league info). The Christopher Andreozzi Memorial Tournament honors the memory of Christopher, who played for Darlington from Tee Ball to Senior Division. This was the 21st year the tournament has taken place and honors the memory of Christopher Andreozzi who tragically passed away in a workplace accident at the age of 20. Congratulations to Darlington Little league for continuing the tournament and to the 2021 winners from North Providence little league. A good year for North Providence as the older major division team won the 2021 Rhode Island little league championship and moved on to the regionals.
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