Wizards Baseball

     West Warwick's winning streak reach four games, as they won their fifth league game of the year over the Bulldogs of Westerly, 6-2. 

     After allowing the Bulldogs to score two runs on two walks, two errors, and one single, the Wizards scored an unearned run of their own in the bottom of the first inning.  Tim Parente, who had reached on a two-out error, scored when Rich Lizotte doubled to left field. 

     In the bottom of the third inning, the Wizards tied the game on three consecutive singles by Aaron Richards, Tim Parente, and Richard Lizotte.

     After reliever, Tim Parente, struck out three batters with the bases loaded in the top of the fifth inning, the Wizards took that momentum and scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth. 

     Jeff Sampaio led off with a bunt single and advanced to third base on some "heads up" baserunning on Aaron Richards' sacrifice bunt.  After Tim Parente and Rich Lizotte walked to load the bases, Charley Parent lined a shot off a drawn-in infielder (third baseman), scoring two runs.

     In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Wizards added two additional runs to their tally to go up 6-2.  Pinch hitter Garrett DeBlois led off the inning with a single to right center.  After advancing to second on a wild pitch, DeBlois moved to third on Jeff Sampaio's single to right field.  Two outs later, Richard Lizotte lined a double over the left fielder's head, scoring DeBlois and Sampaio.

     Offensively, the Wizards received hits from Sampaio (2/4, two runs scored), Richards (1/3, one run scored), Parente (2/3, two runs scored), Lizotte (3/3, two doubles, and 4 r.b.i.'s), Parent (1/4, 2 r.b.i.'s), and DeBlois (pinch hit single).

     Defensively, the Wizards, who committed three errors in the first two innings, received solid contributions from first baseman Matt Grosso (7 assists), third baseman Chris Morrison (three assists), and left fielder Derek Hebert (four putouts).

     Despite not having his "best stuff,"  Anthony Giarusso gutted out four innings  to keep the Wizards close.  In four innings, Giarusso, who left seven runners stranded, allowed only one earned run on four walks and three hits.  Tim Parente, who pitched the fifth and sixth innings, earned the victory by striking out three batters and allowing two hits.  Pitching ace, Richard Lizotte struck out one in a scoreless seventh inning.

     Led by the two hit pitching of 8th grader Richard Grenier Jr. and an offensive outburst of 12 runs on 11 hits, Deering won their first league game of the year over Bain Middle School, 12-2. 

     The burly right hander, who threw 47 of 81 pitches for strikes, limited Bain to two hits while striking out eight batters.

     Offensively, Grenier received support from Troy Lavoie (2/3, one double, four runs scored), Ryan O'Kelly (1/1, two runs scored, and 3 r.b.i.'s), Matt Masse (2/3, one run scored, and 3 r.b.i.'s), Joe Colanduono (1/3, one run scored, and 1 r.b.i.), Tony Correia (one run scored), Kyle Beck (1/2, 2 r.b.i.'s), Chris Stafford (one double and one run scored), Andrew Hebert (1/2), Antonio Rei (1/2, 1 r.b.i.), and Anthony Indeglia (1/2, two runs scored).

     Led by the pitching of Amine Malki and a three run fourth inning, the Wizards were able to upset the Quakers of Moses Brown, 3-2.

     Malki, who struck out six and walked none in six innings, allowed just two earned runs on eight hits.  Richard Lizotte, who picked up his first save of the year, closed the game by striking out the first three batters in the Quaker order in the seventh inning.

     After falling behind 2-0 after three innings, the Wizards scored three runs on six hits in the bottom of the fourth inning.  Aaron Richards led off the inning with a double and scored when Tim Parente doubled down the left field line.  One pitch later, Rich Lizotte doubled to the gap in right center, tying the game at 2-2.  Charley Parent, then, blooped a single to right field, allowing Lizotte to race home with the third run of the inning.

     Although the Wizards received eight strikeouts from the pitching, they did receive solid defense from first baseman Matt Grosso, who had five assists in the game.

     Offensively, the Wizards were led by Aaron Richards (3/4, one double, one run scored), Tim Parente (one r.b.i. double), Rich Lizotte (two doubles and one r.b.i.), Charley Parent (one r.b.i. single), Sam Williamson (one single), Jeff Sampaio (one single), and Chris Morrison (2/3). 

     Despite not having the opportunity to play as a team during the summer of 2008, the Wizards continue to play competively in Division I this spring.  One year after finishing 4-14 in league play, the Wizards are now 3-3 in league play and 4-4 overall against Division I opponents.

     Led by the pitching of senior Richard Lizotte, the Wizards defeated the Avengers of East Greenwich, 7-2, in a game played under rainy conditions.  Lizotte, who has gone the distance in Wizards' last two victories, did not allow an earned run while striking out 11 batters and allowing only five hits.  In fact, Lizotte recorded 8 of his 11 strikeouts in the last four innings. 

     In the top of the first inning, West Warwick took a 1-0 lead when Aaron Richards singled, moved to second on a fielding error, and scored on Richard Lizotte's double off the centerfield fence.

     After allowing two unearned runs in the bottom of the second inning, the Wizards tied the game at 2-2 when Richards doubled and Lizotte singled to left scoring Richards.

     In the top of the fourth inning, West Warwick took the lead with one run on two hits and an error.  Charley Parent led off with a double.  After Dominic Bisceglio entered the game as a pinch runner, Sam Williamson's single to centerfield was mishandled allowing Bisceglio to score.

     After Richard Lizotte struck out the side on nine pitches in the bottom of the fourth inning, West Warwick broke the game open with three runs on two hits, one walk, one hit batsman, and one error.  Jeff Sampaio led off the inning by beating out a slow infield grounder.  Aaron Richards followed with a walk, putting runners at first and second.  After one out, Lizotte singled loading the bases.  One out later, Charley Parent was hit by a pitch, forcing Sampaio in with the Wizards fourth run.  Sam Williamson, then, hit a hard grounder to second base which was misplayed allowing two unearned runs to score.

     In the of the sixth inning, the Wizards scored an insurance run when freshman Max Motroni doubled, moved to third on a Jeff Sampaio's sacrifice bunt, and scored on Aaron Richards' sacrifice fly to left field. 

     Offensively, the Wizards had 8 of their starting nine reach safely via a hit.  Recording hits for the Wizards were Jeff Sampaio, Aaron Richards (single, double, three runs scored, and 1 r.b.i.), Rich Lizotte (two singles, one double, one run scored, and 2 r.b.i.'s), Derek Hebert, Charley Parent (one double and 1 r.b.i.), Sam Williamson, Chris Morrison, and Max Motroni (one double and one run scored).