The East Providence High School golf team opened up its 2024 Eastern Division regular season with an impressive sweep of host Tiverton along with Portsmouth at Montaup Country Club Tuesday, April 23.

The Townies recorded a four-player total of 161 over the par 36 front side at Montaup on a brisk afternoon at layout adjacent to the Sakonnet River.

Sophomore Nathan Carter led the way with a similarly superb 2-under par round of 34. Billy Fitzgerald shot 39, while Zach Mendo and Noah Araujo each carded 44s.

"Nathan played very well. The kids as a group played very well. I was very proud of them," said EPHS head coach Bill McEnery. "The 161 puts us on the road towards qualifying for the state tournament, hopefully."

Qualification into the state tournament no longer takes into account a team's record. Rather, it is now based on its scoring average from its regular season matches. This spring is the second under the format. In 2023, Pilgrim (Warwick) was the 10th and last team to qualify with an average of 167.

Baseball
The EPHS baseball team headed to Narragansett to face host Prout Tuesday afternoon, April 23, and came home with its first Division II loss of the season after the Crusaders shut out the Townies 4-0. East Providence fell to 6-1 with the setback.

Prout touched Townies' starter Tim Robitaille for what proved the winning run in the bottom of the third on two singles, a stolen base, a walk and passed ball. Robitaille nearly escaped any damage by getting two out, but the free pass and passed ball allowed the run to come around.

The Crusaders then added three more in the fourth and again scored with two out. All of the tallies were unearned at the Townies committed three errors afield and Robitaille threw a wild pitch.

All the while Prout senior hurler Ryan Barrett held the EP offense to just a pair of hits on 92 pitches, striking out 10 and walking just one Townie. The Crusaders improved to 4-3 at the time.

Girls' lacrosse
In a rematch of last season's Division II championship game won by its in-city neighbors to the south, the EPHS girls' lacrosse team defeated Bay View 8-7 in a league contest played Tuesday, April 23.

Kenna Wigginton and Alyssa Karalekas each scored three goals for the Townies, who improved to 4-2 with the win. Dylan Flynn and Kloey Iacovone added one each. EP goalie Ava Williams had six saves.

Annabelle Tracy netted five of the Bengals' goals while Maggie Lima and MacKenna Buffery chipped in one each. Goalie Kate Shields made eight saves.

Boys' outdoor track
The EPHS boys' outdoor track & field team defeated Rogers, Middletown, Shea, Tolman and Providence Country Day in their final regular season Eastern Division home meet held Tuesday, April 23. The Townies improved to 8-1 at the time.

Individual winners for the Townies were: Cam Evora in the triple jump and high jump, Brandyn Van Wagner in the long jump, Jaidin Ivy in the 400 meter, Bryan Rivera in the pole vault, the 4x100 meter relay consisting of Jack Pawlik, Ivy, Kwamahn Gilliard, and Jardine, the 4x400 meter relay consisting of Julius Cortes, Gerry Gagnon, Justin Jardine, and Ivy.

Softball
The EPHS softball squad's winless run to start the 2024 Division I season reached seven after the Townies opened last week with a 14-4 loss to Cumberland.

The host Clippers never trailed after scoring a run in the bottom of the first. EP tied it in the top of the second, but Cumberland brought five around in the home of the inning to regain the lead. The Clippers later broke the game open and ended it due to the 10-Run Rule by scoring six in the bottom of the sixth.

The Townies' runs came after Emma Boisseau singled in the first and later came around on a Nethania Figueroa ground out. In the third, Trinity Provencher singled then scored on a Boisseau fielder's choice after Audrey Bernard reached on a fielder's choice and Mackenzie Pimentel also had a base hit.

EP added two more in the fourth. Figueroa doubled and moved to third on an error. Sylvie Patterson drove her in with a single, then stole second and moved to third on a Brennyn Alves ground out. Patterson later scored on a Natalia Palermo sac bunt.