MHS 2011 Playoffs: Boys Baseball Faces Elimination After Loss to NK

"The bottom line is we couldn't stop them from scoring," said baseball head coach Eric Godin after a tough 11-6 loss to No. 1 seeded North Kingstown in Game One of a best of three series.  

The Skippers from NK jumped out early against Middletown, capped by Sophomore Chris Hess, who smacked a solo home run over the right center fence to add to the early lead. NK starting pitcher freshman Dom Grillo, who threw a no-hitter against the Islanders during the regular season, was virtually untouchable again through the first four innings.  NK added to their lead in the bottom of the second when No.22, Patrick O'Connor crushed a ball to straight center for a two-run homer and extend his team's lead to 4-0.

NK was on top 6-0 heading into the top of the fourth when Middletown's bats came alive. They scored two runs to cut the lead to 4, now down 6-2, as NK came to bat in the bottom half.  In the bottom of the fourth, NK co-captain Mike Sherburne added to NK's home run total by clubbing a solo shot to give his team a five-run edge, now up 7-2, heading into the fifth.

The Islanders got to Grillo in the top of thefifth, loading the bases with no outs.  

Grillo was then pulled in favor of #13 Austin Barry.  He threw a series of warm up pitches. Both teams got set. And then...

Enter Mother Nature: Momentum killer.

Both teams got a taste of the severe local weather that had invaded the region, already wreaking havoc in New Hampshire and Massachusetts.  A tornado warning had been issued earlier but the weather seemed to hold back up to that point. However, after several rumbles of thunder, lightning was spotted and the umpires called the teams off the field. A delay of one hour followed, after which the weather cleared significantly. The teams took the field once more and the game continued.

A wild pitch and a walk brought home one of the Islander base runners. Islander catcher Kevin Nash then stepped to the plate. He battled and eventually smashed a ball into the gap in right center, scoring two and electrifying the Middletown faithful. NK's Austin Barry settled and retired the next three Islander batters to end the rally. It was a new ball game however, with the score 7-5 heading into the bottom of the fifth.  

Austin Barry helped his own cause in the bottom of the fifth, by smacking an RBI double to extend NK's lead over Middletown, 8-5.

The Islanders jumped into the home run sector of the game, when Mark Powell ripped a solo shot to cut the lead back to two. The Islanders then killed their own rally, by way of two pop up outs and a bad base running decision that ended in an out. The rally was over, but the game was still close. It was 8-6 heading into the bottom half of the sixth.

NK went back to work in the bottom of the 6th. Chris Hess hit his second home run of the game, a two-run shot and the Skippers fourth home run on the day. They added one more, taking an 11-6 lead into the top of the seventh, as the Islanders had one last shot to take the game back.

The Islanders certainly made it interesting, and battled their way back, loading the bases once again, and seeming ready to steal the game from NK.

Unfortunately for the Islanders, it did not happen, and NK ended the rally in the seventh and ended the game with a 11-6 victory.

Post Game

The win puts North Kingstown up (1-0) in the best of three series.  

Afterwards, NK Head Coach Kevin Gormley shared his thoughts on Chris Hess' two-home run day.  "You know Chris does a great job, he's our number four hitter. You know we try to stress with Chris to work the count to his favor, he did, and he hit the ball well, as he always does."  

On starting pitcher Dom Grillo, Coach Kevin Gormley said,  "He battled. You know he didn't have his best stuff today, but he battled.  He was getting in bad counts all day, but he only allowed one earned."

Middletown Head Coach Eric Godin took some time to talk about his team's tough 11-6 loss.

"You know we scored six runs, which was good. That was fine, but the bottom line is we couldn't stop them from scoring. You know, they hit four home runs in the game. It's tough to come back from that. Every time we battled back, we just couldn't get that shut down inning.  So the fact that we battled, we had some good counts, I was happy with.  Armand is pitching tomorrow so we'll see."

For NK, they can end the Islanders' playoff run with a victory tonight.

For Middletown, it's do or die time. If they can win tonight and stave off elimination, they will force a deciding game three to see who advances to the State Championship.

The game tonight is at McCarthy Park in West Warwick.

First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.