EP Baseball wins 12-2 on Senior Night. State playoffs begin Friday, details TBD

East Providence baseball goes to 14-4-1 with a 12-2 drubbing of Ponagansett on senior night before a packed crowd at EPHS on May 21st. The Townies scored 12 runs on just 7 hits in a game shortened by the 10-run rule. The 7 hits by 7 different players were timely however and produced 8 RBI as well as forcing 8 walks with plate patience. Townie starting and winning pitcher Tyler Dicecco contributed an RBI double and Nolan Lorenz added a triple. Other players scattering hits for the winners were Aidan Martins, Kyler Lorenz, Gavin Palombo, Max Correiro and Brian Rutkowski. The always aggressive Townies as base runners had stolen bases by Kyler Lorenz, Palombo and Martins.

East Providence scored 1 run in the first inning on walks to Martins and K. Lorenz and an eventual sacrifice RBI by N. Lorenz plating Martins. The Townies opened up the game with 5 runs in the bottom of the 2nd inning. Palombo led with a walk. With one out Dicecco lined a hard double to left field advancing Palombo to 3rd. Rutkowski walked to load the bases and a walk to Martins forced in Palombo for a run. A ground ball by N. Lorenz scored K. Lorenz and Martins and after all the dust settled, EP had a 6-0 lead after two innings.

“Patience at the plate, aggressive base running and timely hits came through for us,” said head coach Bobby Rodericks after the game. “This is a well-balance team with no selfish players.” EP would score once more in the 4th and 5 times in the 5th inning to run their tally to 12 runs.

Ponagansett scored their 2 runs in the 4th inning. Jacob Rainey led with a single but was cut down trying to stretch it into a double on a bullet throw from right fielder Nolan Lorenz to his brother at shortstop, Kyler Lorenz. With two outs, Amaral doubled and Schiavone singled him home for Ponagansett’s first run. A walk and a single scored the Chieftans 2nd run but Dicecco fielded an inning-ending play on a comebacker the pitcher cleanly handled for the 3rd out.

East Providence would close out the game by mercy rule with their 5 run 5th inning explosion. Palombo led with a line drive single to right, Colin Roche walked and Correiro had a bunt single to load the bases. Rutkowski then singled to left to score both Correiro and Roche. Next up Aidan Martins hit a line drive to center for a hit followed by a K. Lorenz infield single to load the bases again. A sharp line drive by Tim Robitaille to right field scored Martins and Rutkowski which gave EP the mercy rule victory at 12-2.

East Providence acknowledged their three seniors with their families before the game. Seniors Malaquais Fernandes, Kyler Lorenz and Tyler Quadros accepted team gifts and crowd applause as they were introduced. After the game East Providence little league players and youth from the city enjoyed a meet and greet of Townie players. The Townies’ guests came on the field and did some throwing, running bases and hitting. Members of the EPHS Herd support group held a pre-game “tailgate party” and the festivities continued after the game with refreshments provided by Townie parents.

"We're sad to see another group of seniors go, but our job this season is not finished," added Coach Rodericks. "We have one goal as a program which is to defend our title by taking one game at a time!" East Providence's first playoff game is on Friday, May 24th. Details on time, location, TBD.

Story photos provided by Andrea Annicelli.