Wizards Baseball

The West Warwick Cal Ripken Playoffs concluded with the best two teams in the regular season meeting in the finals of the Major Division Double Elimination Tournament. The Centreville Bank Angels, who finished the regular season with a 16-1 record, captured the 2012 Playoff Championship by defeating the Touch of Class Yankees (13-3-1 in the regular season).

First Round: Athletics 8 Dodgers 5

Led by the stellar pitching of 11 year old Robert Bird, the WW PIC Athletics upset the Toll Gate Orthodontics Dodgers, 8-5.

Bird, who threw 59 of 78 pitches for strikes, struck out nine batters and did not issue a walk in six innings of work.

With the score tied at 1-1 in the top of the fourth inning, the Athletics rallied for seven runs on one hit, four walks, one hit batsman, and two errors.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, Joe Benevides (double) and Mike Capuano (singled) helped the Dodgers score two runs, however, Robert Bird induced one groundout and a pop-up to end the inning.

Offensively, the Athletics received support from John Pina (two walks, one hit batsman, and two runs scored), Kyle Kortick (two walks and two stolen bases), Robert Bird (two walks and one r.b.i.), Efrain Calzada (one single, two walks, and two r.b.i.'s), Matt Theroux (one runs scored, one r.b.i., and one stolen base of home plate), Sean Griffin (two walks and one run scored), Kaitlyn Parry (one run scored and a sacrifice bunt), and Kyle DaSilva (one single, two walks, and one run scored).

Offensively, the Dodgers were led by Joe Benevides (two doubles and two runs scored), Mike Capuano (one single, one double, one run scored, and one r.b.i.), and Jason Paquette (one single and one run scored).

First Round: Red Sox 1 Orioles 0

Although it was a first round game, the Med FX Red Sox and Walgreens Orioles played perhaps the most exciting game of the West Warwick Cal Ripken playoffs.

Led by the dominating pitching of 12 year old, Ryan Blais, the Red Sox defeated the Orioles, 1-0.

Blais, who struck out the first twelve batters of the game, allowed just one hit while striking out 18 batters and walking one.

For the Orioles, Colby Rogers and Jared Rosignol were equally impressive, combining to two hit the Red Sox.

Offensively, the Red Sox were led by Nathan Woodside, who hit a home run in the bottom of the second inning.

Second Round: Yankees 7 Athletics 6

The Touch of Class Yankees opportunistically upended the upset-minded WW PIC Athletics, 7-6.

Despite outhitting the older Yankees, 8-7, the Athletics committed two untimely errors and issued six walks.

Nine year old Matt Theroux pitched a solid game for the Athletics. In 4 1/3 innings of relief, the burly right hander struck out nine batters.

Offensively, the Athletics received support from Mason Provoyeur (one single and one run scored), Matt Theroux (two singles and one r.b.i.), Efrain Calzada (two singles and two r.b.i.'s), Robert Bird (one single, one triple, two runs scored, and two r.b.i.'s), Kyle Kortick (one single, one run scored, and one r.b.i.), and John Pina (two walks and two runs scored).

The Yankees received hits from Brogan Guilmette (two singles and two runs scored), Ryan Craine (one double), Chris Gaipo (two singles, two runs scored, and one r.b.i.), Colin Correia (one single), and Aidan Lynn (one single and one run scored).

Second Round: Angels 6 Red Sox 1

Led by solid defense, strong pitching, and timely hitting, the Centreville Bank Angels advanced to the Winner's Bracket Final with a 6-1 win over the Med FX Red Sox.

Charlie Tashjian picked up the win by striking out seven batters and allowing just one hit in four innings of work.

In the bottom of the second inning, the Angels exploded for five runs on two walks and r.b.i. hits by Matt Hajjar (single), Nick Pecchia (double), Jared Shibley (triple), and Charlie Tashjian (triple).

After allowing one run to score (Cameron Hughes) in the top of the fifth inning, the Angels scored one run when Mike Hajjar (lead off single) scored on a one out single by AJ Gould.

Winner's Bracket Final: Angels 14 Yankees 4

The Centreville Bank Angels, who had the best record during the regular season, soared past the Touch of Class Yankees, 14-4.

The Yankees, who captured the 2011 playoff championship, took a 2-1 lead into the bottom of the fourth inning. However, by the end of the inning, the Angels broke open the game with seven runs on six walks and two hits (Nick Pecchia and Charlie Tashjian).

In the bottom of the fifth inning, the Angels scored seven more runs to end the game by the ten-run rule.

Offensively, the Angels received support from Matt Henault (three walks and one run scored), Aidan Lafferty (two walks and one run scored), Jay Medeiros (one single and one run scored), AJ Gould (one run scored), Matt Hajjar (three walks and one run scored), Mike Hajjar (one triple, two walks, and two runs scored), Charlie Tashjian (three singles, one double, and two runs scored), Jared Shibley (two runs scored), Mike Moretti (four walks and one run scored), and Nick Pecchia (one double and two runs scored).

The Yankees received hits from Brogan Guilmette and Chris Gaipo

Loser's Bracket Quarter-Final: Athletics 5 Orioles 3

Led by the two hit pitching of Kyle Kortick and Robert Bird, the WW PIC Athletics defeated the Walgreens Orioles, 5-3.

Kortick, who worked the first three innings, struck out five batters and allowed no earned runs. Bird, who threw 29 of 42 pitches for strikes, struck out eight batters to earn the victory in three innings of relief.

Down 3-2 in the bottom of the fifth inning, the Athletics scored three runs on two walks, one fielder's choice and two hits.

After Kyle DaSilva walked to lead off the inning, he moved to second on a passed ball, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and scored on Kyle Kortick's fielder's choice. Kortick, then, scored when Robert Bird belted a double to right centerfield. Bird later scored the third run of the inning on a wild pitch.

Offensively, the Orioles were led by Rob Riviera (one single and one run scored), Noel Larrivee (one single and two stolen bases), Dominic Santoro (one run scored), and Jared Rossignol (one run scored).

The Athletics were led by Robert Bird (one single, one double, two runs scored, and one r.b.i.) and Efrain Calzada (two singles, one run scored, and one r.b.i.).

Loser's Bracket Quarter-Final: Red Sox 5 Dodgers 4

The Med FX Red Sox advanced to the Loser's Bracket Semi-Finals with a come from behind victory over the Toll Gate Orthodontics Dodgers, 5-4.

Trailing 2-0 after the first inning, the Red Sox scored five runs in the next three innings and held on to a one run margin in the sixth inning for the playoff victory.

In the top of the first inning, the Dodgers took a 2-0 lead when Dylan Wheeler (walk) and Justin Rutter (double) scored on Mike Capuano's two run triple.

The Dogers built a 3-1 lead in the top of the third inning when Jason Rutter reached on a two-out error, stole third base, and scored on a throwing error.

Down 3-2 in the bottom of the fourth inning, the Red Sox took the lead 5-3 when they scored three runs (Colton Capobianco, Nick Carlson, and Alex Pedus) on five free passes, one hit batsmen, and a timely single by Myles Riviera.

After Nick Janicki scored in the sixth inning for the Dodgers, Nate Woodside calmly struck out two batters to give the Red Sox a 5-4 win.

Loser's Bracket Semi-Final: Red Sox 6 Athletics 1

The "Cinderella" run ended for the WW PIC Athletics in the Loser's Bracket Final. The Athletics, who featured a roster of three nine year olds and returned only three players from last year's playoff runner up, finished the playoffs with a 2-2 record (fourth place).

The Med FX Red Sox, who finished with the third best record in the league advanced to the Loser's Bracket Final with a 6-1 victory over the Athletics.

Leading the way for the Red Sox was 11 year old Nate Woodside, who struck out five batters and allowed just one run on two hits in four innings of work.

The Red Sox took advantage of four walks and two errors in the first two innings to take command of the game. Providing the key of the game was Myles Riviera, who smashed a bases clearing double in the bottom of the second inning to give the Red Sox a 4-0 lead.

Offensively, the Red Sox receive hits from Riviera, Woodside (r.b.i. triple), Cam Hughes (single), and Cole Williamson (single and run scored).

The Athletics were led by Robert Bird (one triple and one run scored) and Kyle Kortick (one single).

With the loss, 11 year old Robert Bird ended a productive season on the mound and at the plate. The lanky left hander struck out 78 batters and walked only 8 in 43 innings pitched. At the plate, Bird finished with a .475 batting average (19/40 with two doubles, two triples, 20 runs scored, 16 walks, and 10 r.b.i.'s).

Loser's Bracket Final: Yankees 3 Red Sox 2 (7 Innings)

The amazing run of the Med FX Red Sox came to halt when the Touch of Class Yankees defeated them, 3-2, in seven innings.

Ryan Blais, who struck out 18 batters in an opening round victory, kept the Yankees off balance for six innings. The burly right hander struck out 12 batters and allowed only two runs on one hit.

Brogan Guilmette of the Yankees was equally impressive. In five innings of work, Guilmette struck out 11 batters and allowed only one earned run on four hits.

In the bottom of the first inning, the Yankees opportunistically jumped out to a 2-0 lead when Brogan Guilmette (walk) and Ryan Craine raced around the bases via stolen bases and one error.

In the top of the fourth inning, the Red Sox cut the lead to 2-1 when Ryan Blais doubled, advanced to third on a passed ball, and scored on a errant throw.

Down to their final two outs in the top of the sixth inning, Nate Woodside doubled and later scored on a fielder's choice to tie the game at 2-2.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, Seth Rock singled, moved to second base on fielder's choice, advance to third on a passed ball, and scored the winning run while Brogan Guilmette (hit batsmen) attempted to steal second base.

Cal Ripken Championship: Angels 6 Yankees 5

Many little leaguers dream of the opportunity to help their team win a championship in walk-off fashion.

Well, that dream became a reality for 12 year old Jared Shibley, who lined a single with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning to score 12 year old Nick Pecchia from second base and give the Centreville Bank Angels the 2012 West Warwick Cal Ripken League Playoff Championship.

In the top of the first inning, the defending champions, the Touch of Class Yankees, took an early 1-0 lead when Ryan Craine walked, moved to second base on an Ethan Vivieros single, advanced to third on a walk to Chris Gaipo, and scored when Aidan Lynn reached on an error.

The Angels tied it at 1-1 in the bottom of the first inning when Jared Shibley reached on a fielder's choice and scored when Charlie Tashjian's flyball was mishandled.

In the top of the second inning, the Yankees scored one run on a hit by Seth Rock and a double by Brogan Guilmette.

The Angels tied it at 2-2 in the bottom of the second inning when Matt Hajjar singled and scored on a two-out double by Nick Pecchia.

With the score tied at 2-2 in the bottom of the fourth inning, the Angels opportunistically rallied for three runs with two outs. After Nick Pecchia and Matt Henault reached base on back to back hit batsmen, Jared Shibley and Charlie Tashjian hit back to back r.b.i. singles to give the Angels a 5-2 lead.

The Yankees, however, would rally in the top of the fifth inning with three runs on hits by Brogan Guilmette (double), Chris Gaipo (r.b.i. double), and Aidan Lynn (r.b.i. single).

After Jared Shibley struck out the side in the top of the sixth inning, the Angels won in dramatic fashion when Nick Pecchia singled with one out, stole second base, and scored when Shibley produced a two-out game winning hit.

Offensively, the Angels were led by Nick Pecchia (one single, one double, and two runs scored), Matt Henault (one run scored), Jared Shibley (two singles, two runs scored, and two r.b.i.'s), Charley Tashjian (two singles and one r.b.i.), and Matt Hajjar (one single and one run scored).

The Yankees received hits from Brogan Guilmette (two doubles and one run scored), Ryan Craine (one run scored), Ethan Vivieros (one single and one run scored), Chris Gaipo (one double, one run scored, two walks, and two r.b.i.'s), Aidan Lynn (one single), Rich Cady (one single), Seth Rock (one single and one run scored), and Colin Correia (one single).