Wizards Baseball

West Warwick 12 DH Hitting (Lincoln) 2

Led by the solid pitching of Ryan Carlson and Hunter, the West Warwick Connie Mack team which is sponsored by Graham Insurance of Nationwide and Derobbio's Barber Shop of West Warwick, won their league opener, 12-2, against DH Hitting of Lincoln.

Carlson picked up the victory by allowing only two earned runs on three hits while fanning eight and walking four in four innings of work. Dean, a junior to be at WWHS, struck out five in three innings of scoreless relief.

Offensively, West Warwick backed their solid pitching by scoring in six of seven innings. West Warwick received hits from Matt Grenier (1/3, one run scored), Kyle Kortick (1/1, one run scored), Brogan Guilmette (2/4, one double and three runs scored), Ray Zincone (1/3, one triple, two runs and 1 rbi), Tyler Boisclair (2/4, two rbi's), Ryan Carlson (1/2, 1 rbi),Hunter Dean (1/2, 1 run scored and 1 rbi), Alex Pedus (1/2, one double, 1 run scored, and 1 rbi), Mike Pellerin (1/3, 1 double), Andrew D'Ambrosca (1/2, one run scored), and Nick Pecchia (2/3, one run scored and 1 rbi).

West Warwick's Connie Mack team, which rosters twenty players, is comprised of student-athletes from ages 13-18. Over the past seven years, the WWCM program has maintained a philosophy where older players become the mentors of younger players during the summer.

West Warwick 10 Tiverton 1

Led by the one-hit pitching of Matt Hopper, West Warwick won their second game of the year, 10-1.

Hopper, who worked the first six innings, struck out six and allowed just one hit. Hunter Dean struck out one in the three innings of relief in this 9 inning game.

With the score 0-0 after two innings, West Warwick scored in five of the last seven innings of the nine inning game.

Offensively, West Warwick received hits from Matt Grenier (2/3, one triple and two runs scored), Brogan Guilmette (2/4, one run scored and 1 rbi), Evan Barrera (2/4, one run scored and 1 rbi), Alex Pedus (1/2, one double, one run scored and 1 rbi), Kyle Kortick (1/1, 2 rbi's), Matt Hopper (1/3, two runs scored), Andrew D'Ambrosca (1/3, one double and 1 rbi), Tim Fournier (1/4, one run scored and Nick Pecchia (1/4, 1 rbi).

Narragansett 7 West Warwick 6

Down 6-4 in the top of the seventh inning, Narragansett scored three runs on one walk, one single, one two-run triple (Will Benford) and a sacrifice fly to come from behind for their first win of the year, 7-6, over West Warwick.

For West Warwick, who received solid pitching from starter Matt Grenier and superb outfield play from Ben Roy, it was their first loss of the year.

Grenier, who struck out seven batters in four innings, led the Wizards with three hits (two singles, one double and two rbi’s). In addition, West Warwick also received offensive support from Brogan Guilmette (one run scored), Ben Roy (2/4, two runs scored), Hunter Dean (one run scored), Matt Hopper (2/3, one rbi), Mike Pellerin (one rbi), Kyle Kortick (one rbi), Tom Pecchia (2/3, one run scored and one rbi) and Colby Knott (one single and one run scored).

West Warwick 6 Flood Ford Auto 5

After letting a game slip away in the seventh inning the night before at home against Narragansett, West Warwick held on to a 6-5 victory over Flood Ford Auto at Bishop Hendricken.

Led by the solid pitching of incoming freshman, Alex Pedus, West Warwick picked up their first victory over Flood Ford in seven years.

The former left-handed Cal Ripken All Star struck out two and walked two in his first start for the West Warwick Connie Mack team. In 5 2/3 innings, he kept Flood Ford off balance, scattering seven hits. After giving up two runs on two hits with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, Matt Hopper induced a fly out to left field to seal the victory.

West Warwick opportunistically built a 6-0 lead over the first five innings, scoring six runs on five hits, two errors and seven walks.

Offensively, West Warwick received solid efforts from Matt Grenier (1/1, four walks, one run scored and 2 rbis), Matt Hopper (2/4, one run scored and 1 rbi), Tom Pecchia (1/3, one run scored), Nick Pecchia (one run scored and 1 rbi), Andrew D'Ambrosca (one run scored), and Colby Knott (1/2, one run scored and 1 rbi).

Currently, two of next year’s seniors at West Warwick High School are off to a very productive summer. Matt Grenier, who is batting .636 (7/11 with one double, one triple, six walks and five runs scored), has on OBP of .778.  Fellow senior, Matt Hopper, who is batting .455 (5/11 with three runs scored and four walks) has an OBP of .600.

West Warwick 8  Westerly 1 

Led by the solid one hit pitching of Tyler Boisclair and errorless defense, once again, West Warwick captured their fourth win of the year over Westerly, 8-1.

Boisclair struck out six and walked three in four innings of work.  Out of 58 pitches, he threw 41 strikes.

In solid relief, Matt Hopper allowed just one earned run while striking out two in three innings.

After opportunistically scoring two runs on three walks, two stolen bases and two wild pitches, West Warwick go their bats working in the bottom of the third inning with three runs on hits by Matt Hopper, Evan Barrera (rbi single) and Tom Pecchia (rbi single).  Andrew D'Ambrosca closed out the scoring with a sacrifice fly to score Barrera.

 In the bottom of the sixth inning, West Warwick padded its' lead with three more runs (Tim Fourier, Nick Pecchia and Matt Grenier) on hits by Hunter Dean and Colby Knott (rbi single).  

 Offensively, WWCM received support from Matt Grenier (1/2, one run scored and two walks), Tyler Boisclair (two walks), Colby Knott (1/2, one run scored and 1 rbi), Matt Hopper (2/3, one run scored and 1 rbi), Evan Barrera (1/4, one run scored and 1 rbi), Tom Pecchia (1/1, one run scored and 1 rbi), Andrew D'Ambrosca (one run scored and 1 rbi), Hunter Dean (1/1), Tim Fournier (one run scored), and Nick Pechia (one run scored).  

 West Warwick 6  East Greenwich 5

 Led by the timely hitting of Matt Grenier (2/3, one triple, two runs scored and two rbi's), Matt Hopper (3/3, one double and one rbi) and Ray Zincone (2/4, one double, two runs scored and three rbi's), West Warwick's Connie Mack team won their fifth game of the year with a 6-5 come from behind victory over East Greenwich.

Down 5-4 in the bottom of the sixth, Jake Woodside led off with a single to left field. After pinch runner Nick Pecchia advanced to second on a passed ball, Matt Grenier hit a towering triple to the right-center gap to tie the game at 5-5. One batter later, Ray Zincone singled in Grenier with the winning run.

Zincone, who came into the game in the sixth inning, picked up the victory by striking out three batters in 1 2/3 innings work.

Starter Hunter Dean had a solid outing before being removed from the game with stiffness in his neck. In 3 1/3 innings, Dean allowed only two earned runs. Matt Hopper, who allowed only one earned run, allowed only two hits in two innings.

Offensively, West Warwick also received hits from Ryan Carlson (1/3), Tom Pecchia (1/3, one double), Mike Pellerin (1/3, one run scored) and Tim Fournier (1/3, one run scored). West Warwick is now 5-1 on the year in Connie Mack play.

West Warwick 4  Slocum Baseball Club 3

After being shutout for most of the game, West Warwick's Connie Mack contingent rallied for four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning for a 4-3 victory over Slocum Baseball Club of North Kingstown. For West Warwick it was their sixth win in seven games this summer.

The win almost assures West Warwick of qualifying for the Connie Mack New England Regional for the first time since 2000, when they faced former World Series champion, Manny Declarmen of the Boston Red Sox. In the bottom of the seventh, Matt Hopper led off with a walk and advanced to third on a double by Mike Pellerin.

After a walk to Tim Fournier, Hopper scored on a fielder's choice by Colby Knott. Nick Pecchia, then, followed with a single to score Fournier.

With runners at the corners, Slocum decided to intentionally walk lead-off hitter Matt Grenier, loading the bases with one out. Brogan Guilmette followed with a hard grounder up the middle which was deflected by the shortstop, scoring Knott. On the throw to the plate, the ball got by the catcher to score Pecchia with the winning run. Incoming

Freshman, Alex Pedus, picked up his second victory of the year with two innings of solid relief.

Starter Matt Grenier pitched well for West Warwick by striking out eight batters and allowing just one earned run in five innings of work.

Offensively, West Warwick only managed six hits off Slocum's Dean Streich and Mark Halloran. Getting those hits were Matt Grenier (1/2, one double and two walks), Tyler Boisclair (1/3), Mike Pellerin (1/3, one double), Tim Fournier (1/1, two walks and one run scored), and Nick Pecchia (2/2, one run scored).  

West Warwick 7  Coventry 1

Facing one of two remaining undefeated teams in the state, West Warwick pulled off a surprising upset over a talented Coventry nine, 7-1, in Rhode Island Connie Mack play. West Warwick senior Matt Hopper pitched one of his best games of the summer.

In his seven innings of work, the burly right-hander, allowed just one run on six scattered hits while striking out one batter and walking none.

Defensively, his teammates played well behind him. Centerfielder Brogan Guilmette and his corner outfielders Kyle Kortick and Tim Fournier combined for five putouts. In the infield, they received solid play from shortstop Ray Zincone (three assists and three putouts), second baseman Matt Grenier (three assists and one putout) and third baseman Hunter Dean (two assists and one putout). First basemen Ryan Carlson and Tom Pecchia combined for one assist and seven putouts.

In addition, incoming WWHS sophomore Nick Pecchia played extremely well behind the plate, calling most of the game and not allowing one passed ball.

Through the first three innings, Coventry graduate, Dave Mallardo, who permitted only one hit (two-out double to Ray Zincone in the first inning), dominated the WW line up by striking out six batters and stranding three runners in scoring position.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, however, West Warwick scored the game's first run when Ray Zincone walked, stole second and eventually scored after Tom Pecchia and Nick Pecchia (rbi) hit back to back singles.

In the top of the fifth inning, Coventry tied it up when Nick D'Ambra singled, advance to second on an error and scored on a single by Michael Viveiros. In the bottom of the fifth inning, WWCM opportunistically took a 2-1 lead when Matt Grenier (walk) scored on a bases loaded walk to Ryan Carlson.

After leaving Anthony Masseur (2/3, one double and one triple) stranded at third base in the top of the sixth inning, West Warwick broke open the game by scoring five runs on two hits, two walks, one sacrifice bunt and one two errors.

West Warwick (7-1) and Coventry (7-1)will be representing the Cooney Conference as the Southwest and Southeast divisional leaders in the New England Regional which starts on July 17th.  

Scituate 2  West Warwick 1 

Despite receiving a solid pitching performance from Senior Matthew Grenier, West Warwick lost to last year's Rhode Island Connie Mack State Runner-Up, Scituate, 2-1.

Grenier, who allowed just three singles, struck out ten batters, issued no walks, and did not allow an earned run. Out of 87 pitches, who threw 59 strikes.

Down 2-0 in the top of the sixth inning, West Warwick cut the Scituate deficit to 2-1 when Grenier reached first on a hit batsmen, stole second base, and later scored on Matt Hopper's fielder choice.

In the bottom of the sixth with the bases loaded and one out, West Warwick's freshman Colby Knott made a spectacular player when he caught a fly ball in right field and threw out a runner at the plate to the end the inning.

West Warwick's rallied in the seventh inning after receiving hits from Tim Fournier (lead-off single) and Matt Grenier (two-out double, but Scituate's infielders made perfect throws to record the final two outs of the game. Offensively, West Warwick only received hits from Grenier (1/3, one run scored and one stolen base), Kyle Kortick (1/2, one stolen base), Tim Fournier (1/3, one stolen base), and Hunter Dean (1/3, one stolen base).

West Warwick (7-2), who had a five game winning streak entering the game, will play in the New England Regional this weekend.  

New England Regional:  Elmwood Sports (Pawtucket)  1  West Warwick 0 

Regardless of the level, there are three elements of baseball that a team has to do well in order to succeed:  solid pitching, good defense and timely hitting.

West Warwick's Connie Mack team, which is co-sponsored by Graham Insurance of Nationwide and DeRobbio's Barber Shop, received solid pitching and good defense in their New England Regional opener, but stranded five runners in scoring position in a 1-0 loss to Elmwood Sports, which is comprised of variou players extending from Pawtucket to North Attleboro, Massachusetts.

Senior Matt Hopper and Junior Hunter Dean combined on a five hitter.  Hopper, who pitched the first four innings, struck out two batters and did not allow a free pass.  Dean struck out three batters and walked two in two innings of relief.

Richard "Richie" Marshall of Elmwood Sports, who earned Second Team All State honors and the Cy Young Award playing for Tolman High School last year, struck out ten batters, walked three and allowed only three hits in a complete game effort.  The Johnson & Wales Sophomore's kept the West Warwick batters baffled by his changing delivery.  

West Warwick had two chances to score first in the game.  

In the top of the second inning, WWHS graduate Evan Barrera led off with a triple off the right field fence, but was left stranded when Marshall struck out two batters and induced one ground out.

In the top of the fourth inning, West Warwick loaded the bases when Ray Zincone reached on a fielder's choice, Evan Barrera singled and Mike Pellerin singled sharply to center with two outs.  Marshall, however, pitched out of the jam by getting the last out on a hard grounder to short.  

Tolman scored their only run of the game in the bottom of the fourth.  Rob Arraujo (Attleboro, Mass.) led off the inning by reaching first on a hit batsmen.  After the stole second base, Brett Gadreau lined a single just over the infield to right-center for the game's only run.   

Down 1-0 in the top of the sixth inning, Matt Grenier reached on a walk and moved to second base on an error.  With one out,  WWHS graduate Ray Zincone lined a shot down the third base line which was ticketed for an extra-base  hit when third baseman, Jason Vieira dove to his right and made a diving catch.  Grenier reached third base when Vieira's attempted throw to second base went into centerfield.  With the tying run on third base, Marshall, once again got out of the jam by striking out the next batter to end the inning.