Warwick American/Continental downs Warwick North, earns championship berth

Ryan D. Murray
Posted 7/21/15

Warwick American/Continental outlasted Warwick North, 8-5, at Warwick National Park on Thursday evening to advance to the semifinal round of the District 3 Tournament.  

“I think when you’re …

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Warwick American/Continental downs Warwick North, earns championship berth

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Warwick American/Continental outlasted Warwick North, 8-5, at Warwick National Park on Thursday evening to advance to the semifinal round of the District 3 Tournament.  

“I think when you’re playing all-stars every team is tough,” Continental head coach Mike Gannon said. “You have to play good baseball to advance in this district. It’s a really tough district and we did enough to win tonight.”

Jack Gannon took the mound for Continental. Eric Shaw started for Warwick North. Shaw allowed five runs in 3 1/3 innings of work before being replaced by Dante Wilding.

The first run of the game was scored in the top of the first inning. Continental’s Connor Fallon walked and eventually scored on a sacrifice fly hit by Caden Haley. Fallon walked three times and struck out once in the game.

In the bottom of the first, with Warwick North trailing 1-0, North shortstop Jared Reminder hit a two-run bomb over the centerfield wall to score left fielder Tyler Picozzi-Yates to put his team up 2-1.

Then in the second inning, Continental’s Mason Provoyeur hit an RBI single off the wall in left to score Greyson Pasquina and tie the game at 2.

In the top of the third inning with the bases loaded, Continental’s Aiden Warrener hit a triple to score three runs and put his team on top, 5-2. Warrener had a huge day for Continental with five RBIs.

Wilding inherited two runners when he came in to relieve Shaw in the third inning. Then, he walked a batter to load the bases. Next, he got a clutch strikeout against Dylan Aunchman and followed it by getting the next batter to fly out and keep North within 5-2.

The pitching was great all night from Continental’s Jack Gannon and Fallon.  

Jack Gannon didn’t let Warwick North do much while he was on the hill. He allowed two runs over 4 1/3 innings. He gave up three hits, and walked three while striking out four.  

Fallon came on in relief and pitched the remainder of the game without allowing a run and recording one strikeout.

In the fourth inning, Continental added some insurance. Warrener came up with a two-RBI double to increase the lead to 7-2. Wilding then regained his form and recorded back-to-back strikeouts to end the inning.

Then in the bottom of the fifth inning, Reminder wanted to “remind” Continental that he was still at the ball park. He hit a solo shot over the centerfield wall again for his second home run of the day to pull his team within 7-3.

“Jared’s the best player in the league,” Warwick North head coach Frank Picozzi would say after the game. “He’s a very special player.”

Fallon would get the next hitter to ground into a double play to end the inning.

In the top of the sixth inning, Continental’s Caden Haley would score from third on an error at first base, making the score 8-3.

Down to its last at-bat, North’s Dylan Gallagher started the sixth inning with a double. Then, Will Morisette followed it with a home run and pulled his team within 8-5.

Warwick North heads home with the loss. The final out came when Picozzi-Yates got caught trying to steal second base.

Following its win, Continental beat East Greenwich at Warwick Continental in the semifinal round. Continental would have to beat winners’ bracket champion South Kingstown American twice, and won game one already, 13-3, at South Kingstown American. Game two was Monday night at Continental, but results were unavailable at press time.

Picozzi thought his team surprised its critics.

“We went a lot further than anybody thought we could,” Picozzi said.

Picozzi explained that it’s tough because a lot of the teams his all-stars compete against practice year-round.

“We put our kids together June 16 and threw them out on the field with two weeks of practice and fermented them,” Picozzi said. “For them to go to the top four, everyone told us we were going to go ‘two and out.’ They hung in there and it was another close game tonight...I’m very proud of them.” 

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