Townies Edged by Hawks in Extra Inning Thriller

For awhile on Thursday afternoon it looked like the EP Townies would defeat the Hendricken Hawks baseball team twice this season - a difficult task for any Rhode Island high school. With a 4-1 lead going into the 8th inning, the Townies let the game slip away and lost 5-4. East Providence took a 1-0 lead with a run in the top of the 5th inning but the Hawks tied the game in their half of the 6th. The game went to extra innings and the Townies jumped to a 4-1 lead with timely hitting and aggressive base running in the 8th. Ben Sears put down an excellent bunt for a hit to move along the runners. However Townies pitcher Ben Sears appeared to tire after a high pitch count and was relieved by Nate Pimental. Pimental pitched well but the Hawks put together a couple of very close calls for infield hits and then walked off with the win on a bases loaded drive to left field.

"We had them," said a disappointed Townie coach, Bobby Rodericks after the game. "We had a nice lead and could have scored more runs on some squandered opportunities earlier in the game," he said. "But credit Hendricken, they fought back and beat us. We're still alive in this thing and we play again on Saturday."

With East Providence knocked from the winner's bracket, they will now play the winner of today's (4pm, Friday, June 1st) loser's bracket game between LaSalle and Moses Brown at Moses Brown. The Townies will face the winner on Saturday, June 2nd a site and time TBD.

"I'm so proud of our Townies and our fans," said East Providence High School teacher Kristen Coutoulakis. "What an amazing game tonight although we lost. Great sportsmanship and pride," Coutoulakis added. "EP comes back Saturday."