Gershkoff continued its winning ways, crushing West Warwick 11-1, ending the game by way of the 10-run mercy rule in just six innings at Johnston Memorial Park on Monday night in the front end of a doubleheader.

“We’ve been on a good streak,” Gershkoff head coach Dave Schiappa said. “We’ve won two tournaments, we’ve been really hitting the ball well, so offensively we do have a good team right now.”

It wasn’t just the bats either, as Cranston West junior pitcher Chris Manfredo pitched a quality game.

“I’m really happy with how they swung the bats today and I’m also happy with the pitching that Manfredo gave,” Schiappa said. “He really came out dominant. He helped us win a game in Maine and now he came out and got a nice solid start and we played good defense as well.”

Joe Murray started on the hill for West Warwick. Harold Corniel led off for Gershkoff and played DH. Corniel hit a grounder, but was able to beat out the throw to first to get on. Next, Jacob Frost hit a single. Unfortunately for Gershkoff, Jacob Coro hit into a double play, leaving only a runner at third. Next, Murray walked Emilio Rodriguez. With two out and runners at the corners, Mitchell Carvalho ripped an RBI single up the middle to score Corniel, giving Gershkoff a 1-0 lead.

Manfredo started the bottom half of the first by walking both Dan McManus and Nick D’Ambra. Fortunately for Gershkoff, Manfredo was able to induce Phillip Kelley into a double play ball. Next, Manfredo struck out the next hitter to keep West Warwick off the board.

In the bottom of the second, Charlie Tashjian got on first after his hit to short was mishandled. Tashjian stole second shortly after on a ball in the dirt. After Ernest Wright grounded out to the pitcher, Alex Ventura hit a shot over the head of Coro to score Tashjian, tying the game at 1.

In the bottom of the fourth, Manfredo struck out Tashjian to lead off. After getting Wright to ground out, Manfredo walked Ventura before fanning Tyler Boisclair to end the fourth.

The Gershkoff bats got hot in the top of the fifth. First, Corniel led off with a walk before he stole second. Frost then hit a single and he also stole second. With two runners on, Coro hit an RBI single up the middle to score Corniel, putting Gershkoff on top 2-1. Rodriguez then hit a sacrifice fly to score Frost from third, putting Gershkoff on top 3-1. Next, Carvalho hit an RBI double, scoring Coro and extending the Gershkoff lead to 4-1.

After Fijal grounded out to short, Gianni Valentini hit a shot through first and second and after a pickle Gershkoff would have runners at second and third. That’s when Luis Nunez hit a 2-RBI double, scoring both Carvalho and Valentini, while increasing the Gershkoff lead to 6-1. Finally, Murray would get Austin Alzate to ground out before striking out Corniel to prevent any more damage.

In the top of the sixth, Gershkoff continued where it left off. With Chris Gaipo now pitching for West Warwick, Frost got on via a wild pitch. After Gaipo induced a ground out from Coro, Rodriguez hit a single to center to move the runner to third. Next, Carvalho hit an RBI single, scoring Frost and putting Gershkoff up 7-1.

Gaipo walked Fijal next to load the bases for Valentini. Gaipo walked Valentini while also bringing in a Gershkoff run, giving it an 8-1 advantage.

Later, Alzate blasted a bases-clearing triple, giving Gershkoff an 11-1 lead.

“It’s infectious,” Schiappa said. “Once one starts hitting, they all start hitting.”

With the 10-run rule in effect, West Warwick only had three more outs to try and tie or take the lead. With runners at first and second and two outs, Manfredo would strike out Gaipo to end the game.  

West Warwick put up a fight in Game 2 of the doubleheader, but Gershkoff battled to take the nightcap as well, 7-6, in an 11-inning marathon.

The doubleheader sweep came just a day after Gershkoff defeated NEFL/Shields Post 43, 11-1, to capture the Lobstermania Tournament in Old Orchard Beach, Maine.

It was set to play a doubleheader against Upper Deck Post 86/14 on Wednesday, but results were unavailable at press time.