The CCRI baseball team lost the Region XXI Championship series this past weekend, 2-1 to UConn-Avery Point. The Knights took the first game on Friday 8-0, before dropping game two on Saturday 3-2 in 10 innings and game three on Sunday by a score of 4-2.

Game 1

Eddie Apice (North Kingstown) grabbed his second win of the season, completely shutting down the UCAP lineup and hurling a complete-game shutout in an 8-0 win in game one for the Knights. Apice scattered just three hits in a mercy-rule-shortened seven-inning game.

Offensively, Joe Yankee’s (Lincoln) two-out single drove in two runs to give the Knights a lead in the fourth inning and they never looked back. The Knights’ offensive explosion was also helped by sophomore catcher Ryan Wordell (Little Compton), who laced two hits in the win, including a monster home run.

Game 2

The Knights fell just short of clinching the region championship in game two, as CCRI mounted a comeback to tie the game 2-2 before losing on an RBI single down the third base line in the bottom of the tenth inning. With the loss, UCAP tied the series 1-1.

Game two featured a classic pitchers’ duel between CCRI southpaw Jake Tillman (Scituate) and UCAP ace Zach Albin. Albin pitched nine strong innings, en route to picking up a no-decision, while Tillman was the tough-luck loser, tossing 9-plus innings before surrendering a walk-off hit in the tenth. UCAP’s Shawn Nadeau picked up the win, throwing a scoreless tenth inning.

Game 3

In a decisive game three, UCAP jumped out to an early 1-0 lead off of Knights’ ace Ryan O’Dell (Lincoln). However, the Knights’ offense finally broke through in the top of the fifth, when Jake Waldren (Phoenix, Ariz.) laced a two-out, bases-loaded single that scored Apice and Wordell.

But CCRI couldn’t hang on to its 2-1 lead. The Pointers put together a string of hits in the bottom of the seventh off of O’Dell, ultimately resulting in three runs and a 4-2 lead. That was more than enough for Doug Domnarski, who shut out the Knights the rest of the way in a complete-game effort.

O’Dell was handed his first loss of the season, pitching a solid seven innings, while allowing four runs on 10 hits.

CCRI ended its season with an overall record of 22-10.

Lady Knights swept in District by No. 6

Mercyhurst

The CCRI Lady Knights softball team traveled to Mercyhurst North East College in North East, Penn. to compete in the 2014 Women’s Softball Division II District I Championship this past weekend against Region III/XV Champion and No. 6 Mercyhurst North East. The Lady Knights lost to the Saints 10-0 and 14-0.  With the two losses, CCRI’s season ended with a 12-14 record and a Region XXI title.

Game 1

In the circle for the Lady Knights was freshman Taylor Butler (North Kingstown) who was facing an uphill battle versus a very potent Saints lineup. Butler threw four innings, giving up 10 runs – nine earned – on 12 hits while striking out four Saints.   

Offensively, the Lady Knights were only able to muster three hits. Butler had a hit in the first inning and a stolen base, captain Alex Place (East Greenwich) had a hit in the third inning and Rebecca Edwards (Attleboro, Mass.) had a hit in the fifth inning.

Game 2

In the circle for the Lady Knights was sophomore Macayla Paiva (West Greenwich), who faced the same fate as her teammate Butler. Paiva threw five innings, allowing 14 runs, 13 earned, on 19 hits while walking one and striking out two.   

Offensively, CCRI had only two hits for the game. Once again, Butler had a hit in the first inning and captain Liz Coburn (Chepachet) added a hit in the fifth inning.