“The boys matured a lot this year. Earlier in the season, that was a tough game to come back from. Today we punched right back and finished our win. The first ever playoff win in Division I. I’m really proud of this group.” ”

Huskies head coach Mike Mazzarella

The Mt. Hope baseball team slugged 14 hits to crush Cranston East 10-6 in the team’s first ever Division I playoff win at Guiteras Field on Tuesday afternoon. Mt. Hope improved their season record to 12-7 and earned the right to face Bishop Hendricken in the quarterfinals on Friday June 3 at 4 p.m.

“It’s history,” said Huskies pitcher AJ Jones of the victory. “I’m proud of our squad. I’m happy with what we’ve been able to accomplish. I think that we are really coming together as a team right now.” 

“The boys matured a lot this year,” Coach Mazzarella said after the game. “Earlier in the season, that was a tough game to come back from. Today we punched right back and finished our win. The first ever playoff win in Division I. I’m really proud of this group.” 

The Huskies knowing that they would travel to Hendricken if they won the game, pitched number two starter Brad Denson in an attempt to save ace AJ Jones for the Hawks. It worked, though Denson, who struck out five, allowed six hits, three walks and six runs in four innings of work, struggled as East took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. 

“Brad’s legit,” said Coach Mazzarella. I felt very comfortable starting him. He did what we needed him to do and kept us in the game.”

Huskies catcher Jack Standish smashed a triple in the bottom of the first to score Parker Camelo and cut the lead to 2-1. Standish and lead off hitter Ethan Santerre were clutch in leading the Huskies offensive attack. The senior catcher batting clean up, went 2 for 4 and drove in three runs and Santerre a freshman went 3 for 3 and also drove in three runs. 

“Jack Standish is a stud,” elated Coach Mazzarella after the game. “He’s a leader and a team captain for a reason. He put a charge into that triple and it ignited us as a team.” 

“Ethan’s a pesky freshman,” Mazzarella continued. “He might weight a hundred pounds soak and wet and stand at 5’5”, but he’s batting lead off for a reason. He gets on base and sets the tone for the lineup. He’s been phenomenal and has done a great job all season.”

East led 3-1 in the top of the second

Armani Pimental scored for East in the top of the second to give Cranston a 3-1 lead. It could have been worse, as East had the bases loaded with no outs, but two hitter Tony Fernandez hit a sharp grounder to Huskies second baseman Parker Camelo who snared the ball and threw a dart to shortstop Dayton Van Amberg for a force out at second base. Denson bore down and struck out East’s Carlos Morejo for the second out and the junior pitcher got East clean up hitter Devante Viveiros to hit a pop fly to first baseman Matt Gale to end the inning. 

Offense flexes muscles, scores four runs 

Spurred on by Denson’s heroics, the Mt. Hope offense flexed their muscles and scored four runs in the bottom of the second inning off East starter John Devine to take a 5-3 lead. AJ Jones led off with a base hit. Third baseman Dan Desilets walked and center fielder Aidan Ramaglia singled to load the bases for lead off hitter Ethan Santerre. The freshman drew a walk to score Jones and cut the lead to 3-2. Huskies two hitter Dayton Van Amberg smacked a base hit to left field to score Desilets and even the score 3-3. Standish stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs and delivered a base hit to right center field to score Ramaglia and Santerre and put the Huskies up 5-3 lead. 

“We knew we were going to hit today,” said Coach Mazzarella. “It was just a matter of can we keep them from hitting. That’s a team that scored well over a hundred runs all season.” 

During inning, East assistant coach Chris Genao and head coach Gary Bucci got into a heated argument with the home plate umpire over the calling balls and strikes. Genao lost his cool and was tossed from the game. Bucci was resigned to the dug out for the remainder of the game.

Denson strikes out side in third, but need a fourth out

Denson struck out Michael Smith to start the top of the third inning, but the ball glanced off Standish’s glove and Smith took off for first base. The catcher picked up the ball and hurled it over first baseman Matt Gale’s head into right field and Smith took second base. Denson bore down once again and struck out the next two batters. The tall righty with flowing locks then got Pimental to hit a high pop up to Gale just behind first base to get out of the inning. 

Huskies add three more runs in the third

Jones, Gale and Ramaglia scored in the bottom of the third as Mt. Hope stretched the lead to 8-3. Ramaglia and Santerre each drove in runs during the inning. 

Cranston scored three runs in the top of the fourth when Fernandez and Marejo hit back to back triples off Denson and cut the lead to 8-6. East pitcher Randy Guzman who relieved John Devine in the bottom of the third, pitched well and held the Huskies offense scoreless in the bottom of the inning. 

Van Amberg and Jones to the rescue

Coach Mazzarella replaced Denson with Van Amberg in the top of the fifth. The senior relief pitcher struck out Matt Talabac, but gave up two straight blooper hits and a walk to load the bases. Van Amberg then got Santos to hit a high chopper towards the mound. The pitcher leap up and extended to snare the ball hit well over his head and threw home to Standish for the second out of the inning. 

Coach Mazzarella went to the mound and replaced Van Amberg with Jones, who needed just one pitch to end the inning. Fernandez, the Cranston two hittter scorched a line drive right at Camelo. It short hopped and he knocked it down with his glove. He quickly corralled the ball and threw to first base to end the inning. “That was a big play by Parker,” Coach Mazzarella said. 

Huskies stretch the lead in the fifth 

Mt. Hope scored two more runs in the bottom of the fifth to stretch the lead to 10-6. Griffin Berardo hitting for Desilets, singled to lead off the inning. Ramaglia drew a walk to give Mt. Hope runners at first and second. Coach Mazzarella put on a bunt and run play. Santerre showed bunt but pulled the bat back when Guzman’s pitch was high and inside. The speedy Berardo took off and stole third base easily to give Mt. Hope runners at the corners. Santerre hitting away, blasted a line drive to the left centerfield gap to plate Berardo. Ramaglia went to third base on the play. Van Amberg placed a bunt up the first base line to score Ramaglia to push the lead to 10-6. That was more than enough runs for Jones and the Huskies defense as they shut down the East offense in the final two innings. 

“It was an overall great team win for us,” Coach Mazzarella said. “I’m really happy that all the players were very involved in the game. The energy was very contagious.”