Wizards Baseball

     If the West Warwick Wizards duplicate their first half of the league season (6-3 in league play), playoff baseball will return to McCarthy Stadium in late May.  The Wizards, who are currently ranked 8th in the Division I "playoff" rankings, won their fifth game in a row over the Eagles of Barrington, 4-1.

     Led by another solid pitching performance by Junior Amine Malki, the Wizards were able to keep the potent Eagles from getting a timely hit with runners in scoring position.  In 6 1/3 innings of work, Malki allowed just one earned run on five hits while striking out seven and walking one.  Senior Richard Lizotte earned his second save of the year when he came in the game with the tying run at the plate.  Lizotte, who only needed ten pitches, calmly struck out two batters to end the game. 

     In the bottom of the first inning, Jeff Sampaio led off with a walk, moved to second on a Aaron Richards single to left field, and scored on Tim Parente's single to left field. 

     In the bottom of the third inning, the Wizards used the "long ball" to score three runs and build a 4-1 lead.  Tim Parente led off with a single to left and scored on Richard Lizotte's double to left field.  One pitch later, Charley Parent launched a 360 foot two run home run over the left field fence for his second home run of the year.

     Offensively, the Wizards received hits from Jeff Sampaio, Aaron Richards, Tim Parente (2/3, two runs scored), Rich Lizotte (3/3, one run scored, and 1 r.b.i.), Charley Parent, and Anthony Giarusso (1/2).

     Defensively, the Wizards received the "play of the game" in the top of the third inning.  With a runner at first base, Barrington catcher Steven Crawford hit a double into left-center.  Centerfielder Tim Parente raced to the ball and made a perfect relay to shortstop Richard Lizotte, who proceeded to throw out the go ahead run at the plate for the second out of the inning.