EAST PROVIDENCE — Chariho and, more specifically, starting pitcher Adam Carpenter spoiled the first official game for the East Providence High School baseball team back on campus at its new field as the visiting Chargers defeated the Townies 4-1 in a Division II outing before a healthy early afternoon crowd Friday, April 7.

The sophomore right hander struck out nine over his seven innings of work and didn't give up a hit to the hosts until their final at-bat when they also touched him for their lone run.

Both sides saw their records move to 1-1 in the league at the time.

Tim Robitaille was the starting pitcher for the Townies. He took the loss after going five innings, allowing seven hits and two earned runs. Also a sophomore righty, he struck out four and walked three.

Robitaille delivered the first pitch at the field, which was finished late last year as part of the overall $189.5 million new EPHS project.

The Townies haven't played regularly at the Pawtucket Avenue location of the school for the better part of three decades. EPHS has called Pierce Field its home since the early/mid-1990s.

Robitaille also recorded the first out, fanning the Chariho leadoff batter swinging. The first put-out was to first baseman Ziurel Vargas, unassisted on a grounder.

The offensive "firsts" for the Townies were pretty slow in coming. Kyler Lorenz led off the bottom of the opening frame by popping out to short. Vargas next was the initial base runner for EPHS, Carpenter hitting him with a pitch.

He was, however, erased on a Jack McKnight fielder's choice grounder. McKnight then made the third out where he was caught stealing during Colin Roche's plate appearance.

Both Carpenter and Robitaille faced the minimum nine batters through three innings before the Chargers touched the Townies' starter for the first hits and runs of the game in the fourth. Chariho scored a pair on a lead off triple up the right-center field gap, an infield single and a clean base hit up the middle.

The Chargers added solo runs in the fifth and sixth to build a 4-0 lead. The Townies finally reached Carpenter, who threw six hitless frames, in the bottom of the seventh. Roche tripled to start the inning, the first ever EPHS varsity hit on the new diamond, then scored on ground out by Oliver Andrews.

One last item of note, Cole Rocha, the son of former EPHS player Justin Rocha, who passed away late last calendar year, threw out the ceremonial first pitch prior to Friday's game. The Townies are playing the 2023 season in the memory of the elder Rocha.