Cranston 13s drop opener to Warwick

By Ryan D. Murray
Posted 7/14/16

The Warwick PAL 13-year-old all-stars beat the Cranston all-stars 3-1 Friday night at Paine Field in Coventry. Warwick’s Jack Gannon led the way, throwing a complete game no-hitter.

“He …

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Cranston 13s drop opener to Warwick

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The Warwick PAL 13-year-old all-stars beat the Cranston all-stars 3-1 Friday night at Paine Field in Coventry. Warwick’s Jack Gannon led the way, throwing a complete game no-hitter.

“He pitched a great game and it was his game the whole game,” Warwick head coach Mike Cook said. “We handed it to him, he pitched a no-hitter and we got some timely hitting and some really good defense behind him. That’s a great group of kids. Everybody works hard.”

Nick Mason was the starter on the hill for Cranston in the first. He faced off against Warwick’s AJ Ucci, who singled to shallow left. Next, Gannon popped out to the second baseman, Caleb Harris. Then, Connor Fallon flew out to right. Mason struck out Jared Reminder to strand the runner.

Gannon made quick work of the top of Cranston’s order in the bottom of the first. First, he faced off against Dave Bussius, who grounded out to the third baseman. Next, Gannon got Harris to pop up to the first baseman for the second out. Then, Mason flew out to right for the final out of the first.

In the top of the second, Warwick’s Tyrell Bernal got on first via a passed ball at home plate. Soon after, Bernal would steal second. Next, Mason struck out Caden Haley before Tyler Amore grounded out to the second baseman while moving Bernal to third. Then, Tyler Picozzi-Yates hit a line drive RBI single to score Bernal, putting PAL up 1-0.

In the bottom of the second, Gannon had another 1-2-3 inning. First, Cranston’s Mario Del Signore popped up for the first out. Next, John Nardolillo hit one back to Gannon, who threw him out at first. Then, Jared Olson grounded out to short.

Warwick’s Dylan Barlow led off the top of the third with a walk. Soon after, Barlow stole second. Then, Ucci got on via a passed ball while Barlow took third. Ucci stole second uncontested after that. On another passed ball, Barlow scored from third, putting Warwick up 2-0. With Ucci now at third, Gannon grounded out down the first base line, but he was able to score Ucci in the process and Warwick led 3-0 midway through the third.

In the bottom of the third, Gannon had his third straight 1-2-3 inning. First, Aaron Cocolli grounded out to short, followed by Will Rush flying out to center before Allesandro Barrieli popped out to short for the last out.

Cranston dipped into its bullpen in the top of the fourth, moving Harris from second base to pitcher. Harris started out with a walk on Bernal. On a passed ball to Haley, Bernal took second.  Harris wound up walking Haley next. With two runners on, Amore grounded out on what should have been a double play ball, but the Cranston second baseman bobbled the ball and was only able to get one out. With runners at second and third, Harris came up with a huge strikeout on Picozzi-Yates. Then, Harris got Brian Wojtyna to line out to the shortstop to get out of the jam.

In the bottom of the fourth, Cranston’s Bussius hit the ball to shallow right, but the right fielder was there just in time to toss him out at first. Next, Harris got on after an error by the Warwick second baseman. On a passed ball, Harris took second. After Mason popped up to the second baseman for the second out, Harris was thrown out trying to steal third to end the fourth.

Harris slammed the door on the Warwick lineup in the top of the fifth. Barlow flew out to left, Ucci struck out and Gannon lined out on the first pitch he saw to end the inning.

In the bottom of the fifth, Del Signore was struck out by Gannon. Next, Matt Davila popped up to the pitcher for the second out before Olson grounded out for the final out.

Fallon led off the top of the sixth with a walk before he was caught trying to steal second. Next, Reminder grounded out to short. Then, Bernal hit a two-out single down the first base line. Haley then hit a single that hopped over the second baseman’s head. Warwick would load the bases when Amore walked. Harris got a big strikeout on Picozzi-Yates to escape the bases loaded jam, keeping the deficit at 3-0.

In the bottom of the sixth, Cranston’s Cocolli led off with a walk. However, Gannon was able to get Will Rush to hit into a double play before getting Barrieli to ground out to end the inning.

Harris struck out Wojtyna in the top of the seventh. Next, Harris got Barlow to pop out before Ucci got on via a passed ball. Gannon walked next and with runners at first and second and two down, Harris got a big strikeout on Fallon to end the threat.

In the bottom of the seventh, Cranston was down to its final chances. Gannon walked Bussius to start. Bussius moved to second on a passed ball. Then, Harris grounded out while moving Bussius to third. Mason stepped in the batter’s box and launched a sacrifice fly that scored Bussius, making it 3-1. With two down, Del Signore grounded out for the final out of the game.

Cranston head coach Bob DeCosta says Warwick won the game because its pitcher was throwing strikes and had a good defense behind him.

“We told the kids beforehand, you can’t walk people,” DeCosta said. “And that was the difference in the game. We hit the ball, but it just wasn’t dropping.”

Cranston staved off elimination with an 11-6 victory over Coventry on Monday, and it was looking to do the same against Aquidneck Island on Tuesday, but results from that game were unavailable at press time.

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