Townies drop Chariho 4-2 in Quarterfinal win. Annicelli complete game win.

Although it was an easy 41-minute ride down Route 95s, the rural setting of Chariho’s baseball field seemed like a scene from the movie Field of Dreams. Just beyond the outfield across a two-lane country road, were acres of turf and cornfields. The field was in a nice athletic complex with a concession building and bathrooms (hint, hint, EP). The Townies had a sense of serious purpose from the outset. They had to win or their season was over. Dylan Annicelli was on the mound for EP and he didn’t disappoint. The lanky sophomore righty toughed out a complete game victory for East Providence. Annicelli had 7 strikeouts, including 4 big K’s over the last two innings, shutting down Chariho rally attempt. Annicelli didn’t walk anyone over his 7 innings of work. “Walks will come back to haunt a team,” said Townie coach Bobby Rodericks. “Dylan did his job. He scattered nine hits across seven innings from an excellent opponent and toughed out a must win for the team,” added the coach. "Once again we had a well-balanced team win."

East Providence led off the game with a Jack McKnight single to center field but a bunt attempt by Steve Estrella went too high and an ensuing double play added two quick outs. Tim Robitaille followed with a base hit but Chariho got out of the inning unscathed.

In the Chariho half of the first inning Lopes flied out to Steve Estrella in center field and Caden Babcock lined a base hit to right-center. However Babcock was erased from the bases when Annicelli quickly picked off the runner at first base. The pick-off was key as the next batter singled, stole second but a fly ball out to Chico Santos in left, ended the inning.

The second inning ended quietly for both teams but East Providence erupted for four runs in the third after two were out. The first two batters were out on infield grounders and things changed. “Let’s go boys, we do damage after two outs all the time,” said Rodericks to his team. Indeed they did on this day. Steve Estrella lined a base hit. Chico Santos lined a base hit and was followed by a Tim Robitaille RBI single, scoring Estrella with the first Townie run. Both Santos and Robitaille advanced on stolen bases. Brian Rutkowski walked to load the bases for Oliver Andrews. Andrews came through with a bases clearing double to give the Townies a 4-0 lead. The four runs would be enough for EP to gain the win although EP had some chances to add to their run total in the fifth inning with singles from Chico Santos and Brian Rutkowski but didn’t score.

Chariho was held at bay by Annicelli and good Townie defense but the Chargers did mount a rally attempt. The Townie pitcher cruised along but Chariho made a run at knocking Annicelli out on a fifth inning Brendan McGovern triple followed by a strikeout and a Kyle McGovern triple which scored Brendan for Chariho’s first run. Annicelli got out of the inning with no further damage.

EP had runners on base again in the sixth inning with two walks but a sharp line drive by Santos was grabbed in a good catch by Cormier at first base to end the Townie threat. Chariho wasn’t going away just yet as they picked up their second run in the bottom of the sixth. A lead off triple and a hit made the score 4-2 but Annicelli reached back and struck out Cormier. A line drive to Nolan Lorenz in right field who then uncorked a strong throw home, kept the runner at third base. Annicelli then reared back and struck out McGovern to end the inning.

EP had a walk, hit batsman and stolen base putting a runner on third but a fly ball to center ended the frame with no scoring. Annicelli answered the bell in the bottom of the seventh on fly ball outs to Santos, Lorenz and Estrella, sandwiched around a lone single, to end the game.

The 17-6 Townies were muted in their post-game celebration as the EP coaches reminded them that “… this isn’t over. We have one more game.” East Providence will face the same Chariho team in a winner take all semifinal clash at East Providence High School this Saturday at 12 noon. The winner will play the winner of the Barrington-East Greenwich series for the Division II State Championship. “You can bet that Chariho will be ready on Saturday and I know that so will this group of Townies. No tomorrow with a loss on Saturday. We intend to do our best,” said Rodericks.

(Story photos by Lorri Provencher and Bob Rodericks)