EAST PROVIDENCE — The 2023 Rhode Island American Legion Baseball League season came to an abrupt end for the Riverside Post 10 Seniors with a doubleheader loss to visiting Warwick/West Warwick Post 2 Friday night, July 21, at Pierce Field.

Post 2 swept the opening round series by the scores of 3-1 and 6-3, advancing to the state semifinals this week at home at McCarthy Field in West Warwick. For Post 10, its somewhat abbreviated season ended with a 7-5-1 overall record. Riverside's schedule to begin the summer was initially impacted by East Providence High School's run to the Division II championship, then later some rainy weather put a crimp on Post 10's slate.

Last Friday night, Post 2 got on the board with a run in the top of the first inning.

The locals tied the scored in the bottom of the third with an unearned run. JT Celico led off with a walk. Jack McKnight drew another free pass. Eli Terrell singled to left to load the bases. After two outs, Vinny Enright's grounder was booted, allowed McKnight to score.

Post 2 scored what proved the winning runs in the top of the fourth, using a walk, a base hit and a ground out along with some aggressive base running to plate a pair of tallies.

Post 10 later threatened in the bottom of the seventh, loading the bases before the potential rally was squashed.

Austin Martins was the tough-luck loser on the hill for Riverside, going the seven-inning distance. He allowed six hits, struck out three and walked four.

In the nightcap, Riverside, now the visitors on the scoreboard, notched a run in the top of the first to build an early edge. Manny Santos and Matt Davis hit consecutive doubles to generate the tally.

Post 2, though, bettered that output with a pair in the bottom of the frame to take the lead. Warwick then scored three more times in second to increase its advantage to 5-1.

Post 10 got two back in the top of the fourth. Kyler Lorenz led off with a single. McKnight later singled with two out and Terrell followed with a double to plate both runners.

Again, though, Post 2 had a response, scoring an insurance run in the home half.

Doubleheader sweep
The last week of the season was a busy one for the locals. Post 10 began the period on the other end of a doubleheader sweep, beating Cranston Post 20 twice on Tuesday night, July 19, 9-4 and 6-4.

Post 10 scored three times in the bottom of the first to take the lead as Terrell, Davis and Enright each had hits and came across.

Post 20 scored four times int the third to take the lead, but Riverside answered and then some in the bottom of the inning by scoring six times. Colin Roche had the big hit in the rally, a bases-loaded triple.

Dylan Annicelli earned the win on the mound for Riverside, giving up seven hits and four runs over 6-1/3 innings. He struck out three and walked a pair.

Post 10 opened up an early 5-0 lead over Cranston in Game 2, scoring four times in the first then adding two more in the third.

To begin the game. McKnight, Terrell and Santos reached to load the bases. McKnight scored on a wild pitch. Matt McDuff later drew a free pass to reload the bases. Martins also walked to bring the second run around then Roche and Lorenz did the same to make it 4-0.

Enright singled to start the third but was erased when McDuff was safe on a fielder's choice grounder. Martins walked. McDuff stole third then scored on a Post 20 misplay. Roche drew another walk before Martins scored on a Lorenz grounder.

In between and after, Cranston attempted to chip away at its deficit. Post 20 scored single runs in the second and fifth then scored twice in the sixth before the rally stalled.

McKnight, Lorenz and Martins shared mound duty for the locals before McDuff threw a 1-2-3 seventh, striking out the last batter, to earn the save.

Two vs. Upper Deck
The locals were back it the next night in Lincoln to play a pair with Upper Deck Post 14/88, losing by an 11-1 score and playing to a 3-3 to close the night.

Upper Deck scored six times in the bottom of the first to grab quick control of Game 1. Post 10's lone run came in the top of the third. McKnight reached on an error. He was erased on a Terrell grounder, but the latter scored on a Davis double.

Post 10 was first in the lead in the night cap as Lorenz singled and later scored in the bottom of the first. McKnight led off with a single then stole second. He went to third on a Santos hit then scored a RBI single by Lorenz.

UD responded with single runs in the second and third to take the lead before Riverside pushed a pair across in the bottom of the third. McKnight doubled to lead off the inning. Terrell followed with another two-bagger for a RBI. Davis later singled and Terrell scored during Lorenz's at-bat.

Upper Deck used a single, a stolen base, a wild pitch and a Riverside error to plate the tying run in the top of the fifth. Neither team could score the rest of the way in regulation through seven innings. Both teams opted to end the game in a tie with playoffs set to begin a few nights later.