Correiro & Martins blast Homeruns in dramatic walkoff win for Townies over La Salle Monday

"This is a team who refuses to give up even when we are down to our last out we find ways to stay alive and capitalize" - Townie Coach Bobby Rodericks.

It was senior night at EPHS for its D1 baseball team and in heroic fashion, the East Providence Townies moved to 15-3 after a walk-off win over rival La Salle Academy Monday night. East Providence was looking forward to the rematch with La Salle after losing a close 2-0 game against the Rams last week. In that game, JJ Renaud tossed a one-hitter but the Townies fell short. Although it looked unlikely for most of the game, East Providence did indeed get their "rematch win."

With the Townies trailing La Salle 6-0 in the sixth inning and the large crowd seemingly expecting despair late in the game, the tightly knit team never quit. The game turned quickly when the Rams jumped out to a 4-0 lead before the Townies even got to bat. A hit batsman, a walk, a balk and a couple of singles and an error, gave the Rams an early lead. The visitors would score two more times in the second inning as the score quickly became a 6-0 advantage.

East Providence climbed back into the game with 3 runs in their half of the third inning. Jamison Sydney singled followed by a Max Correiro deep blast to center field for a double with Sydney moving to third base. Gavin Palombo’s infield single scored Sydney and a sacrifice grounder by Jayden Healey knocked in Correiro with the Townies third run.

The score remained 6-3 until the fifth inning when each team scored a run making the score 7-4 late in the game. The large crowd at the field remained restless but hopeful as Townie coach Bobby Rodericks urged his team to “take it a pitch at a time.” Aidan Martins led off the 6th with a walk. Next batter Jamison Sydney walked putting two on base with no outs. As the crowd grew louder, Max Correiro strode confidently to the plate. Earlier this season Corriero’s grand slam blast gave the Townies the win against Lincoln. Correiro brought the Townie fans to their feet as he drove the ball deep over the right field fence for the game tying 3-run homerun. The momentum had now swung toward the home team.

With Ben “Lefty” Hallene on the mound for EP, the Rams were not giving up. The Rams managed a couple of walks and a sacrifice bunt, putting the go ahead run on third. But Hallene was tough as he threw a strike out and fielded a come backer to the mound and got the out at first to end the La Salle threat.

The Townies led off the bottom of the seventh with a ground out and a strikeout, bringing Junior center fielder Aidan Martins to the plate with two outs. The tension at the field was broken loudly when Martins blasted a game winning homerun over everything in left field. The celebration at home plate, as Martin’s teammates awaited his arrival, was as exciting as any this season.

"Tonight as we trailed 6-0, we stuck together as a team and never gave up. Kyle had a tough start but settled in and ate up some innings before Lefty came in and kept them off balance pretty well," said coach Rodericks after the game.

Lefty Hallene earned the win for East Providence. The southpaw gave up one hit and no runs over two and one-third innings, striking out two and walking two in relief. Kyle Desrosiers started on the mound for the Townies. He allowed six hits over four and two-thirds innings, striking out seven and walking five.

East Providence managed nine hits in the game with Max Correiro and Gavin Palombo each getting two hits. Martins, Sydney, Healey, Alex Enright and Max Pawlik each had a hit. Along with Correiro’s and Martins RBI, JJ Renaud, Palombo, Healey and Enright each had an RBI.

East Providence senior players Lefty Hallene, Gavin Palombo, Kyle Desrosiers and Jayden Healey were honored before the game along with their families. The Townies last regular season game is Tuesday night at North Kingstown as they await the state playoff seedings.

"Max came up with the momentum shifting 3 run homer to tie the game and Aidan who is one of the hottest hitters the last half of the season came up huge with his 2 out walk off blast. We will enjoy tonight’s win but back to business tomorrow at NK," added the Townie coach.