Wizards Baseball

For the second consecutive year, West Warwick has fielded a Connie Mack team which is mainly comprised of the past, present, and future Wizards of West Warwick High School.  West Warwick, who won six league games last year, looks to improve on last summer’s competitive run which ended in a 6-5 extra inning loss to South Kingstown in the playoffs last year. 

This summer, West Warwick, who is off to a respectable 5-3 start at the midway point, sits a top the Cooney (Southern) Division.  West Warwick, as well as every other U-18 team in Rhode Island and the New England region, will play with wooden bats the entire season. 

A recap of West Warwick’s first eight games follows.   

West Warwick 10  South Kingstown-II 6             

Led by the solid starting pitching of Scott Tallo and the relief pitching of Rich Grenier Jr., West Warwick won their first game of the year over South Kingstown, 10-6.              

Tallo, who pitched the first four innings of a nine inning game, struck out eight batters, walked four, and allowed just one earned run on two hits.  Grenier, who pitched out of a seventh inning jam, allowed no runs on two hits in two innings of relief.            

The West Warwick pitching contingent received great offensive support in their league opener.  While making a quick adjustment to using wooden bats, West Warwick scored ten runs on eleven hits.                

In the bottom of the first inning, West Warwick took an early 1-0 lead when Garrett DeBlois doubled off the left field fence and scored on Nathan LaCroix’s r.b.i. single.            

With the score at 1-1 in the bottom of the fourth inning, West Warwick exploded for five runs on four hits and two walks for a 6-1 lead.  Providing the timely hits in the inning were Ryan O’Kelly (single), Garrett DeBlois (r.b.i. single), Scott Tallo (r.b.i. single), and Rich Grenier Jr. (r.b.i. single).             

After SK-II scored two runs in the top of the fifth inning, West Warwick scored one run when Rich McNeil walked, stole second base, and scored on DeBlois’ third hit of the game for a 7-3 lead.              

In the bottom of the sixth inning, West Warwick added two more runs on two errors, one single (Nick Carney), one walk (Rich Grenier Jr.), and r.b.i. single by Andrew Hebert.            

West Warwick scored their final run of the game in the bottom of the seventh inning when Ryan O’Kelly doubled, moved to third on a fly out, and raced home on Nathan LaCroix’s sacrifice fly to centerfield.              

Offensively, West Warwick received hits from Ryan O’Kelly (2/4, one double and two runs scored), Garrett DeBlois (3/4, one double, two runs scored, and two r.b.i.’s), Nathan LaCroix (1/3, one run scored and two r.b.i.’s), Scott Tallo (2/4, one run scored and one r.b.i.), Jim Thornton (1/4, one run scored), Nick Carney (1/4, one run scored), Rich Grenier Jr. (1/2, one run scored and one r.b.i.), and Andrew Hebert (1/2, one r.b.i.). 

West Warwick 10  South Kingstown-I 1            

Led by the one hit pitching of Amine Malki, West Warwick defeated South Kingstown-I, 10-1, for their second league win of the year.              

Malki, who finished his senior season at West Warwick High School, had strong command of his fastball and kept SK-I’s batters off balance with his change-up.  In six innings of work, he struck out ten batters.            

In the bottom of the first inning, West Warwick scored three runs on two hits (Scott Tallo and Garrett DeBlois), two errors, and one walk.              

In the bottom of the second inning, West Warwick took a 4-0 lead when Brent Reed walked, stole second base, advanced to third on a passed ball, and scored on Rich Grenier Jr.’s r.b.i. ground out to short.            

In the bottom of the third inning, West Warwick built a 5-0 cushion when Ryan O’Kelly (lead-off double) scored on a single by Kurtis Melvin.            

In the bottom of the fourth inning, West Warwick broke open the game with five runs on three hits and four walks. Brent Reed and Rich Grenier Jr. led off with back to back walks.  After a passed ball moved Grenier and Reed to second and third base respectively, Andrew Hebert grounded out to first base to score Reed.  Rich McNeil Jr. and Ryan O’Kelly both reached via the walk to load the bases for Ryan O’Kelly.  The sophomore to be lined a single to centerfield scoring Grenier.  Garrett DeBlois and Nick Carney, also, recorded singles in the five run inning.            

Offensively, West Warwick received contributions from Andrew Hebert (0/3, one r.b.i.), Rich Grenier Jr. (0/1, one walk, one run scored and one r.b.i.), Brent Reed (two walks, two stolen bases, and two runs scored), Nick Carney (1/3, one r.b.i.), Nathan LaCroix (0/2, one walk and one r.b.i.), Garrett DeBlois (2/3, one stolen base), Kurtis Melvin (2/3, two runs scored and three r.b.i.’s), Ryan O’Kelly (1/1, one double, two walks, two stolen bases, and three runs scored), Rich McNeil (one walk and one run scored), and Scott Tallo (1/2, one run scored). 

West Warwick 5  Slocum (NK) 0            

Led by the stellar pitching of Scott Tallo, West Warwick defeated Slocum Baseball Club of North Kingstown, 5-0.              

In eight innings of pitching, Tallo struck out 16 batters, walked only five, and allowed just one fifth inning infield hit.            

Offensively, Tallo received all the runs he would need in a five run first inning.  Contributing for West Warwick in their five run first inning were Ryan O’Kelly (hit batsmen), Nathan LaCroix (r.b.i. single), Brent Reed (walk), C.J. Allen (r.b.i. single), Rich Grenier (walk), and Drew Doran (r.b.i. single).              

West Warwick, which was held to four hits by Lucas Mariani and Cody Horner, was led by Nathan LaCroix (2/2, one run scored, one stolen base, and one r.b.i.).     

Chariho 2  West Warwick 0

Chariho, who won the Cooney Division (Southern) last year and reached last year’s Rhode Island’s Connie Mack Championship Series against Warwick, received solid pitching, recorded four double plays defensively, and made the most of their opportunities to give West Warwick their first loss of the season, 2-0.

Although West Warwick received five free passes to Chariho's one and outhit their opponent, 5-3, they hit into four double plays and made one base running miscue which ended a potential "big inning" late in the game. 

In the top of the first inning, Chariho scored one run on an infield hit (Despirito) and two West Warwick errors.  After hitting a line drive off Kurtis Melvin's glove, Despirito advanced to second base on a throwing error, moved to third base on a sacrifice bunt, and scored on an error.In the bottom of the first inning, Scott Tallo was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. 

Tallo, however, who was running on a 1-2 pitch, was doubled off first base when Ryan O'Kelly's line drive to second base was caught.  Kurtis Melvin followed with a single and Nathan Lacroix walked, but the West Warwick rally was stopped when starting pitcher Kyle Audette struck out the next batter.

In the top of the third inning, Chariho, opportunistically scored their second run of the game when Joe Edgar reached on an error, stole second base, moved to third on a ground out, and scored when Kurtis Melvin's inning ending strikeout got by his catcher. 

In the bottom of the third inning, West Warwick received back to back walks (Rich McNeil and Andrew Hebert) to lead off the inning.  After Scott Tallo lined out to third, both McNeil and Hebert advance to second and third base on a wild pitch.  With two runners in scoring position, Kyle Audette struck out a batter and induced a fly out to end the inning.In the bottom of the fourth inning, Nathan LaCroix led off with a single to left field.  After C.J. Allen's fly out to left, Matt Masse hit a line drive which was turned into Chariho's second double play of the game when LaCroix could not get back to first base in time. 

In the bottom of the sixth inning, Scott Tallo led off the inning with a single and stole second base.  The West Warwick rally, however, was ended when Tallo was doubled off second base after Ryan O'Kelly's line out to centerfield.  Although West Warwick put the next two runners on with a walk (Kurtis Melvin) and single (Nate LaCroix), Dei got of the inning when C.J. Allen grounded out to third to end the inning.Chariho recorded their fourth double play of the game in the bottom of the seventh inning. 

After West Warwick's Rich Grenier Jr. lined a single to centerfield, Dei induced a game ending 5-4-3 double play.   West Warwick, who has allowed only nine runs in 30 innings pitched, received another solid effort on the mound. 

Kurtis Melvin, who was the hard luck loser for West Warwick, allowed only three hits (two infield hits), walked only one batter, and struck out 11 batters in seven innings of work.  Out of 97 pitches thrown, he threw 71 strikes.

Chariho received solid pitching from Kyle Audette and Rico Dei.  Audette, who pitched the first three innings, allowed one hit, struck out four and walked three.  Dei, who picked up the victory with four innings of four hit relief pitching, struck out two and walked two.  Offensively, West Warwick received contributions from Scott Tallo (1/2, one hit batsman, and one stolen base), Kurtis Melvin (1/2, one walk, and one stolen base), Nathan LaCroix (2/2, one walk), Rich Grenier Jr. (1/2).

 Flood Ford (Bishop Hendricken) 17  West Warwick 5

Flood Ford Auto, Bishop Hendricken's Connie Mack entry, took advantage of six walks, one hit batsmen, and three errors in the top of the second inning against West Warwick and coasted to a 17-5 crossover victory.

Offensively, West Warwick, who made the competitive after give up nine unearned runs early in the game, received contributions from Ryan O’Kelly (3/4, one double, two stolen bases, and one run scored), Matt Masse (one run scored and one perfectly placed sacrifice bunt), Nathan LaCroix (one run scored), Brent Reed (two walks and one run scored), Tyler Boisclair (1/3, one r.b.i.), Rich Grenier Jr. (2/3, one stolen base and two r.b.i.’s), and Kyle Beck (1/3).

Also, West Warwick received solid relief pitching from Drew Doran and Matt Masse.  Doran gave up only one earned run on two hits in 11/2 innings of pitching.  Masse, who gave up only three hits in three innings, struck out four batters.   

West Warwick 8  Diamond Baseball Academy 2            

Led by the solid pitching of Matt Masse and Kyle Beck, West Warwick(5-2) gave Diamond Baseball Academy(5-1) their first loss of the year, 8-2.                 

Matt Masse, who picked up the victory, allowed just two unearned runs on four scattered hits in four innings of work.  Kyle Beck, who picked up the save, worked three innings of one-hit ball.            

In the bottom of the second inning, West Warwick opportunistically scored three runs on four walks, two hits and one error.  Scott Tallo led off with a single, advance to third on an errant pick-off attempt, and scored two outs later on Rich McNeil’s first hit of the season.  Brent Reed, who followed Tallo with a walk, stole second, and eventually scored West Warwick’s second run when Matt Masse walked with the bases loaded.  McNeil scored the third run of the inning on a wild pitch.            

In the bottom of the third inning, West Warwick, once again, took advantage of several walks and one timely extra base hit by Ryan O’Kelly (three run triple with two outs) to go ahead 8-0 after three complete innings.  Scoring runs in the inning were Nathan LaCroix, Scott Tallo, Rich Grenier Jr., C.J. Allen, and Ryan O’Kelly.               

Offensively, West Warwick received contributions from Rich McNeil (1/3, one run scored, and one r.b.i.), C.J. Allen (0/2, one run scored and one r.b.i.), Rich Grenier Jr. (0/1, one run scored), Brent Reed (0/1, two walks, two stolen bases, one run scored), Scott Tallo (1/2, two runs scored), Nathan LaCroix (0/2, one run scored), Garrett DeBlois (1/3), Matt Masse (0/1, two walks and one r.b.i.), Ryan O’Kelly (1/2, one triple, one run scored, two stolen bases, and three r.b.i.’s).       

Blackstone (Massachusetts) 3  West Warwick 0   

Led by the pitching of 18 year old Tyler Helsel, Blackstone (Massachusetts) defeated West Warwick, 3-0.

Helsel, who pitched seven innings, struck out 13 batters, walked two, and limited West Warwick to three hits.

Josh Simard, who earned the save, struck out three batters in two innings of work.

Kurtis Melvin, West Warwick's starting pitcher, struck out 16 batters, walked three, and allowed just one earned run on three hits in seven innings of work.

Offensively, West Warwick received contributions from Ryan O'Kelly (one single), Nathan LaCroix (one single, one walk, and one stolen base), Brent Reed (two stolen bases), CJ Allen (single), and Kyle Beck (one walk and one sacrifice bunt).