East Providence baseball defeats Chariho 2-1 to gain RI Div. II State Championship berth

The East Providence Townies beat back a feisty Chariho HS for the second time in three days in a crisply played 2-1 game at EPHS. In the top of the first, Chariho was stopped on two ground outs and a pop up to Kyle Lorenz at 2nd base. The determined Townies jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Jack McNight led off the game with a line drive double to right field followed by a perfectly placed bunt by Steve Estrella for a base hit, moving McKnight to third. On a ground out by Chico Santos, McKnight made it home but on an overrun at third, Estrella was thrown out.

Chariho tied the game at 1 in the 3rd inning when the Chargers Babcock reached base on an error and also advanced to 2nd on the same play. Stevens lined a hit to center field which scored Babcock to tie the game. Another Chariho single put runners on 2nd and 3rd but a key strikeout from Townie pitcher Tim Robitaille ended the inning.

The Townies scored their second run in their half of the 3rd. Kyler Lorenz lined out to deep center field but McKnight reached on an infield single. Estrella flied out to the outfield but McKnight stole 2nd and Chico Santos then walked. Tim Robitaille singled sharply to center field scoring McKnight with the Townies second and ultimately winning run. The Townies one run lead would hold to the end.

Chariho led off the 4th with a Liam Currier single and Brendan McGovern lined a fielder’s choice to right field but Nolan Lorenz quickly got to the ball and threw out Currier running to 2nd. After a fly ball out to Santos in left, McGovern was then caught trying to steal 2nd as he got in an unsuccessful run-down.

Chariho could not capitalize on a 6th inning lead off walk when Townie catcher Brian Rutkowski then gunned down Alan Carpenter as he tried to steal 2nd base. The next two batters popped up to shortstop and grounded out to Robitaille on the mound.

Robitaille finished the game for EP when after two outs Kyle McGovern of Chariho singled and was subsequently thrown out on a pick off throw from Robitaille which put the runner in a run-down and he was tagged out to end the game.

Robitaille got the complete game win with 5 strikeouts, one walk and he allowed 7 hits. Landon Sumner struck out 9 Townies in the Chariho loss. McKnight was two for three batting to lead EP in hits.

“We know it would be a tough game right away against Chariho,” Townie coach Bobby Rodericks said after the game. “They’re an awesome team, we said before the game started it would probably be a one run game, whoever won it. I think we got to know each other very well. We lost that 11-inning game to them but we stayed pretty hot in the playoffs and will keep rolling right into East Greenwich,” Rodericks added. East Providence will play East Greenwich in the RI Division II State Championship series Thursday, 4:30 pm at Rhode Island College. East Greenwich defeated Barrington to reach the finals. “Timmy (Robitaille) stayed focused the whole time and came through for us. Walks will kill you and he only had the one walk.” Rodericks said the key to winning this game was “no mistakes. We didn’t make errors and in a 2-1 game, errors could mean you won’t win. Our last few wins were all good team wins with a good balance of defense and offense. We like to stay aggressive,” the coach added.

East Providence Athletic Director was pleased at game’s end. “I think the kids showed their grit as they have all season,” said Alex Butler. “It wasn’t an easy road to get through, but they stayed together, got it done and now go on to play in a championship. “East Greenwich is a solid team, one of the best in the league, some of them were here today scouting, at this point you must play it on the field. Both teams will be ready,” added the A.D.

Townie pitcher Tim Robitaille was pleased with his effort. “I didn’t have my best stuff the last two games, but we stuck with it and never gave up. I felt good today, as Coach says, one pitch, one inning at a time. My teammates played great defense, timely hits and we’re really playing well together,” said Robitaille.