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June 16, 2007

Division I Championship: Cranston West 7, Hendricken 3

WEST WARWICK – Small ball, long ball, the Cranston West baseball team does whatever it takes to win a game.

The Falcons, who earlier this season posted a 1-0 victory over Hendricken by stringing together three singles, blasted three home runs yesterday as they rolled to a 7-3 victory over the Hawks in their opening round game of the R.I. Interscholastic League Division I double-elimination Pawtucket Red Sox/Amica Insurance state championship tournament.

Cranston West, the defending state champion, now will play (Portsmouth/South Kingstown) in the winner’s bracket final of the tourney tonight at 7 o’clock back at McCarthy Field.

The Falcons overcame an early 1-0 deficit with three runs on two home runs in the bottom of the first inning then took a commanding five-run lead on Dan Hopkins’ three-run homer in the bottom of the second.

“Last time we had to use the small ball to score a run then today we ended up hitting the long ball to start the game,” said Cranston West coach Rob Malo.

Hendricken, which had only scored one run off Cranston West starter Anthony Meo in two previous games this season, jumped on the Falcons ace for a run in the top of the first yesterday as Freeman doubled home Chris Hardy with two outs.

But the Hawks were not in front for long.

With only one out in the bottom of the first Cranston West’s Ryan Raleigh tied the score with a solo homer over the left-center field fence.

“That was his eighth one (home run) of the season,” said Malo. “He’s on a tear. Not just because he is my guy, but he is playing above and beyond what the rest of the guys are doing around the league.”

A few minutes later West had a 3-1 lead as Chris Famiglietti, the Falcons clean-up hitter, blasted a two-run homer over the left-field fence.

The Falcons threatened to increase the advantage later in the first as Hendricken starter Eric DiBiasio issued a pair of walks with two outs. Sophomore Chris Sheehan came on in relief of DiBiasio and get the final out of the inning, but the Falcons got three runs off Sheehan in the second.

Dan Hopkins, who had singled in the first inning, produced the second inning runs with a three-run homer over the center-field fence.

All totaled the Falcons only had six hits all day, but three of them were home runs.
Hendricken added some suspense to the game in the top of the fourth when it cut the deficit to 6-3 with two runs with two outs. A hit-batsmen and three successive hits by Travis Smith, Evan Marzilli and Dan Gamache produced the runs.

But that’s all the Hawks managed off Meo, although the Falcons junior righthander worked with runners on base in five of the six innings he pitched.

By the time he gave way to Hopkins in the seventh, Meo, who is undefeated this season, had struck-out six and given up eight hits.

“He didn’t seem to have his pop like he normally does, but then this is the fourth time they (Hendricken) has faced him going back to last year so they are going to make the adjustments.” Malo offered about Meo’s performance.

Despite not dominating like he usually does, Meo did get the big outs when he needed them. In the second he struckout the side after the lead-off batter had led off with a hit. He also worked his way out of a runners on first and second with only one out situation and also retired three straight after giving up a lead-off hit in the sixth.

After Hendricken cut its deficit to three in the top of the fourth, Cranston West quickly pushed the advantage back to four with a run in the bottom of the inning. The Falcons Shane O’Connell opened the inning with a triple to right center and eventually scored on Raleigh’s sacrifice fly.

--JOHN GILLOOLY

Posted by Chris Venditto at 7:19 PM to High School | Permalink

June 16, 2007

Division I Championship: Cranston West 7, Hendricken 3

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