Pats, Hawks getting set for D-I postseason action

By Jacob Marrocco
Posted 5/31/16

The Pilgrim and Bishop Hendricken baseball teams have trended in much different directions these past couple weeks, but they both have one thing in common. The two sides are each headed to the Division I

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Pats, Hawks getting set for D-I postseason action

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The Pilgrim and Bishop Hendricken baseball teams have trended in much different directions these past couple weeks, but they both have one thing in common.

The two sides are each headed to the Division I playoffs, starting today at 4 p.m. across the state. Pilgrim (8-10), which has lost eight of its last 11 games, will travel to Cranston West to take on the No. 2-seeded Falcons.

Hendricken (16-2), the overall top seed in D-I, will host No. 8-seeded North Providence. The Hawks have taken 11 of their last 12 games, including a current five-game winning streak.

While the 15-3 Falcons seem foreboding for Pilgrim, it has arguably played West better than any team in the state. Pilgrim is the only team in the state that has shut out the Falcons this season, doing so on April 18 when Bobby Garceau twirled a complete-game gem.

Garceau will be on the hill again for Pilgrim as it looks to pull off the upset.

“He’s been there day in and day out,” Pilgrim manager Scott Bailey said of Garceau, calling him the team’s ace. “The pitchers on my squad are all very similar, but looking at the numbers we’ve played better defense behind Bobby. He limits his walks.”

The defense, led by Gold Glove shortstop Tyler Perry, will have to fall behind Garceau to avoid giving too many chances to a loaded West offense. Nik San Antonio, Sam Franco and Matt Lonardo can wreak havoc at the top of the lineup, and West’s deep pitching staff hasn’t allowed a lead to go to waste often this year.

Whether it is ace Hayden Parkes, or reliable starters behind him such as Steve Rocchio, Dan Smith and Chris Manfredo, the Pilgrim offense will have its hands full.

“The focus has always been to leave nothing on the field,” Bailey said. “The kids have pretty much played good baseball all year long. Quality at-bats have to be there.”

If Garceau can silence the West bats once again, a tough task against a team that averaged nearly six runs a game this year, the Pats have a strong chance. The squads combined for just nine runs across two matchups this year, so a high-scoring, one-sided affair is unlikely.

That may not be the case for Hendricken’s opener, though.

Last season, it was Woonsocket that fell victim to a 12-2 mercy ruling in the opening round in Warwick. This year, it’s possible North Providence faces the same fate. In their only meeting of the season, the Hawks crushed the Cougars 12-0.

North Providence has not faired well against D-I’s elite teams overall, either. Against the top four squads in Division I-A (Hendricken, West, Coventry and Lincoln), the Cougars are 0-6 and have gotten outscored 36-8 with three shutouts. The most lopsided defeat was the aforementioned loss to Hendricken.

The hot Hendricken lineup starts with Dante Baldelli and gets contributions from the Flint brothers, Andrew and Tucker, as well as consistency off the bat of Brendan Conley. Matt Kennedy, who was No. 2 to Mike McCaffrey in the championship rotation last year, has served the Hawks well as an ace, too.

It’s no coincidence that the Hawks and Falcons sit atop the division, as they have some of the best pitching depth in the state. Seniors Joe Maynard and Caleb Wurster provide quality innings on the bump, while sophomore Nico Salvaggio is one of the better up-and-coming hurlers.

In all likelihood, Hendricken should not have an issue advancing to the second round, where a potentially much tougher matchup awaits. The Hawks will either get La Salle, which it has beaten twice, or Lincoln, which has defeated Hendricken once this season.

Hendricken did mercy the Rams 12-1 this year, but in their season opener the Hawks only won 3-2 at home. Both games with Lincoln have been 4-3 finals, with the Lions taking the first decision and the Hawks taking the second.

It may not be the toughest draw of the four regionals, but the Hawks will have their hands full as they look to make it five titles in a row.

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