The Cranston West Falcons beat the Cranston East Thunderbolts 2-1 on Thursday evening behind a no-hitter from starting pitcher Hayden Parkes.

Parkes ended the day with three strikeouts and five walks with one hit batsman.

“I was just trying to make pitches and let my defense work,” Parkes said. “I don’t strike out a lot of hitters, so I have a defense behind me that works and is doing their job and it was a whole team effort to get the win today.”

On the hill for East was Jacob Palazzo, who was also a workhorse in the pitchers’ duel.

“We’re definitely happy with that,” East head coach Mike Walsh said. “He gave us six strong innings and you can’t ask for more than that.”

Jacob Frost led off the game for East. He fouled off his first pitch before taking four straight balls for a walk. Frost moved to second on a fielder’s choice. Then, Alex Martinez was thrown out at first on another fielder’s choice, moving Frost to third. With two down in the inning, Parkes was able to get out of the jam when he forced Palazzo to fly out to right.

In the bottom of the first, captain Matt Lonardo led off for West. Palazzo made quick work of Lonardo, fanning him on just four pitches. Next, Palazzo walked Sam Franco. After Andrew Spirito popped up for the second out, Dan Smith hit a single up the middle, moving the runner to second. Then, Brett Traficante hit an RBI single past the shortstop, Anthony Ramos, to give West an early, 1-0 lead. Next, Mitchell Carvalho hit into a double play, stranding the runners at first and second to end the first inning.

In the top of the second, Parkes retired the side in order, getting Justin Neary to ground out, Steven Ellis to pop up and Chad Degnan to hit it right back to him for the easy out at first.

In the bottom of the second, Palazzo got two quick outs before walking Steven Piscopiello. However, Piscopiello was stranded when Lonardo flew out to shallow right. After two innings, West led 1-0.

Parkes also had a 1-2-3 top of the third inning.

In the bottom of the third, Spirito had a base hit. However, with two outs, Palazzo struck out Traficante to end the third inning.

Parkes, for the third straight inning, retired the side in order in the fourth.

In the bottom of the inning, Palazzo started by walking Carvalho. With one out, Carvalho stole second base and then Piscopiello followed with a bloop single to left center, leading to another run for West, giving it a 2-0 lead.

In the top of the fifth, Parkes started off the inning by striking out Neary. With one out, East got a runner on when Parkes walked Degnan. However, Parkes was able to get Josue Espanol to ground out to end the threat.

Palazzo started the bottom of the fifth by walking Franco. Then, Neary prevented any more damage when he made a leaping catch on a bad throw to complete a double play. Palazzo ended the inning when he got Smith to fly out to center.

Frost got on base for East to start the sixth inning when Smith threw an error high over the first baseman’s head. Next, Parkes began to struggle with his command. First, he walked Ramos. Then, Frost took third base when Parkes threw a ball in the dirt. Alex Martinez then knocked in Frost with an RBI on a fielder’s choice to pull East within 2-1.

Next, Parkes hit Palazzo. Parkes then threw three straight balls to Neary before the team called a conference on the mound. West began to warm up its bullpen, but it never got any work. Parkes came out of the meeting throwing two big strikes, but a ball on the next pitch sent Neary walking to first. With two out and the bases loaded, Parkes was able to work his way out of the sixth inning jam when he came up with a big strikeout against Ellis.

In the bottom of the sixth, Palazzo retired the side in order.

It was East’s last chance. Things started off well for it when Parkes walked Degnan to start the seventh. East would send out Peter Guest to pinch run for Degnan. However, Guest was caught in a pickle and thrown out. Next, Parkes got Luis Paulino to fly out to center. Parkes earned the win when he got Marcos Badia to line out for the final out.

Walsh was staying positive after the loss.

“We’re coming off a two-win season last year,” Walsh said. “So, I think we feel pretty good about the fact that we’re playing a lot better.”

Cranston West head coach Rob Malo explained that the games are always close when East and West play.

“One team could be the best team in the state, the other team could be the worst in the state and it’s always a battle,” Malo said.