The Community College of Rhode Island baseball team rolled to a comeback season this spring, more than doubling its win total from the season prior and reaching the Region XXI championship, where it fell to top-ranked Northern Essex.

The Knights ranked among the top 20 in the nation in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage and saw eight players garner postseason awards.

Warwick native Sean Gallagher won the Gold Glove for CCRI at the catcher position and threw out eight batters this past season. Gallagher as well as Cranston native Caleb Harris were each named to the All-Region First Team, while Cranston’s Will San Antonio made the Second Team. San Antonio also earned a Gold Glove thanks to a stellar .934 fielding percentage.

As the team still recovers from the lost COVID-19 season, CCRI manager Joe Hopkins saw an uptick in numbers which helped the club take a big step forward this season and post a 27-16 record.

“This year we had recruits which helped. Last year was tough, we only had tryouts and were coming off COVID. Sean Gallagher had a huge year, he was hitting everything. San Antonio and Caleb Harris did very well this year. (Warwick’s) Dylan Barlow won the Gold Glove last year and was even better this year. We had great pitching and fielding,” said Hopkins.

Not only did the Knights see improvements on the field, but the school helped revitalize its facilities including making field improvements and ordering new uniforms which will premier next season.

“It has been great. We have gotten a lot of support from the school. Especially on the field, it was just sitting there for two years but our groundwork did a great job. We have a lot of new kids coming in and it is because of that,” said Hopkins.

CCRI will return 13 players next season with a large crop of recruits set to join the dugout. Gallagher as well as Noah Cook are expected to return. The Knights will see all of their freshmen pitchers back in the mix next year.

“We have to get through Northern Essex and the kids know that. We are right there with them. With the experience from this year I think that will be enough for them to get over the hump next year. We have 13 kids coming back in 15 recruits coming in that I’m very high on,” said Hopkins.

As much as Hopkins is thrilled to see the results on the field, he is even more excited to see the players’ performances in the classroom, which has helped them attract recruiters from various four-year colleges in the area who are looking to bring them on board next spring.

“It’s fantastic, I’ve got schools all over the place calling about my kids. They see the progression that we’ve made. It’s a great opportunity for them and it’s important for their future,” said Hopkins. “The first thing these schools ask is ‘How is he is the classroom?’ (CCRI Athletic Director) Kevin Salisbury has done a great job emphasizing that.”