Patalano leads Cranston Western into District 1 final

By Matt Metcalf
Posted 7/14/16

Jason Patalano did it all for the Cranston Western 11/12-year-old all-stars on Saturday, both at the plate and on the mound.

While stifling Johnston’s offense on the hill, Patalano broke a …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

E-mail
Password
Log in

Patalano leads Cranston Western into District 1 final

Posted

Jason Patalano did it all for the Cranston Western 11/12-year-old all-stars on Saturday, both at the plate and on the mound.

While stifling Johnston’s offense on the hill, Patalano broke a scoreless tie in the top of the fourth with a two-out, bases-clearing double that pushed Cranston Western ahead 3-0.

That was more than enough insurance with Patalano continuing to deal in the late innings.

But just for good measure, he delivered a solo home run that cleared the right center field fence to lead off the sixth to make it 4-0.

Patalano would slam the door shut in the bottom half of the sixth to secure the victory, as the right-hander allowed just three hits and struck out 13 in a complete-game effort.

The 4-0 win earned Cranston Western a spot in the District 1 final on Wednesday night at 5:30 p.m. at Varrato Field, where it was set to meet Johnston again.

“Honestly, Jason Patalano, and I’ve been doing this about 10 years, he’s one of the best hitters I’ve ever had,” Cranston Western head coach Gary Bucci said. “He’s easily in the top three, four, five. He just doesn’t get rattled. It was just a phenomenal performance – one of the best I’ve ever seen.”

Cranston Western had its chances to strike early and often in the first and second innings, but couldn’t cash in.

Colby Kuzman led off the game by drawing a walk against Johnston starter Jeremy Urena, before advancing to third on a single by Jake SanAntonio with one down.

But Urena would bear down, fanning both Mason Bissitt and David Mansour to escape the jam unscathed.

Cranston put two on in the second as well, but Kuzman hit a chopper back to Urena to end the threat.

“I was thinking about bunting with some kids early on there, but I didn’t want to take the bat out of their hands when they can change the game with one swing,” Bucci said of those first two innings. “Maybe I should have looked to play a little bit of small ball early, but it worked out.”

Johnston had its best offensive opportunity in the bottom half of the second, when Mike Capraro drew a leadoff walk, before pinch-runner Joe Acciardo advanced to second on a wild pitch.

But Patalano would keep him there, striking out Connor Kennedy, Tom Zednik and Isaiah DeBritto in order keep the game scoreless.

After a quiet third, Cranston Western made some noise in the fourth.

Mike Izzo reached safely to start off the frame, as Capraro mishandled a pop fly at first base.

Urena then hit Colin Blessing with a pitch to put runners on first and second with no outs, before Marcus Chung advanced pinch-runner Matt Lamarre and Blessing with a sacrifice bunt.

With two outs, Urena drilled Kuzman with a pitch to load the bases for Patalano.

He didn’t disappoint, lining a two-strike pitch to the wall in right center field to score all three baserunners and make it 3-0.

Cranston Western looked to up its lead in the fifth when it loaded the bases, but Iafrate came on in relief of Urena to strike out Kuzman to keep the score where it was.

However, Cranston would add on to its lead in the sixth thanks to Patalano, as he deposited a ball over the fence to start the inning and push the lead out to 4-0.

Iafrate notched his second hit of the game with one down in the bottom of the sixth on a perfect bunt, and Joe Domenico kept the inning alive when he pushed a single into left field with two outs.

Patalano would preserve the shutout, though, finishing the game by striking out Capraro.

The loss dropped Johnston to the losers’ bracket, where it routed North Providence West 16-0 on Monday night to earn a rematch with Cranston Western.

Results from Wednesday night’s game were unavailable at press time. If Johnston were to win on Wednesday, the two teams would play a winner-take-all game on Friday at 5:30 p.m. for a spot in the state tournament.

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here