Freshman Costa hurls shutout, Saints walk off with win

PAWTUCKET – St. Raphael Academy had suffered a tough 7-5 loss to crosstown rival Tolman inside McCoy Stadium on Monday afternoon, though sophomore James Coleman keyed a near comeback in the seventh.

Coleman continued his hot hand at the plate on Thursday, clubbing a base hit and scoring on senior Pat Fleming’s gap double to deliver the Saints a phenomenal 1-0 Division II victory over Westerly at Vets Park.

Freshman Rob Costa earned the win, yielding just five hits and a walk with four whiffs in a complete-game outing.

Naturally, Coleman closed with a pair of hits, as did senior Brandon Aldridge for SRA (3-6), who will host Chariho at 11 a.m., Saturday in another critical league game. Westerly 000 000 0 –0–5–0 St. Raphael 000 000 1 –1–7–1 Tom Algier and James Pedersen. Rob Costa and Jackson Rush.

Northmen crush Raiders

PAWTUCKET – North Smithfield High exploded to a 9-0 cushion after the top of the third frame and later celebrated a 13-2 “mercy-rule” victory over Shea in a Division II blowout at Max Read Field on Thursday.

Adam Blakemore earned the win after hurling a three-hit, nine-strikeout gem through 5 1/3 innings. His teammates’ bats more than produced, as Nolan Quinn finished 3-for-3 with three RBI and a trio of runs; Cullen MacDonald 2-for-3 with three RBI and two runs; and Jake Forbed 2-for3 with another three RBI.

For the Raiders, Manny Ortiz clubbed a two-run single to plate Tyree Rodrigues and Ethan Newman in the back half of the third.

The Northmen improved to 5-1 in league play and will bus to Hope for a Friday afternoon tilt. North Smithfield 135 31– 13 – 12 – 3 Shea 002 00– 2 – 3 – 4 Adam Blakemore and Devin Albino. Ethan Newman, Keanu Vicente (3), Manny Ortiz (3) and Isaias Medina.

Davies falls by run on road

PROVIDENCE – It appeared Davies Tech would break its losing streak of six straight on Thursday afternoon, but Paul Cuffee School and an error got in the way.

With the Division III tilt knotted at 3-3 in the back half of the fifth, Sammy Diaz beat out an infield hit, robbed second and scored on a mis- cue to lead Cuffee to an improbable 4-3 victory.

The reliever Diaz also gained the win, as he tossed three scoreless frames with five whiffs.

Despite a stellar, complete-game performance, John Hemond took the loss; he yielded just four hits and fanned 13.

Cuffee upped its league mark to 61. Davies Tech 010 200 0– 3 – 5 – 3 Paul Cuffee 300 010 0– 4 – 4 – 4 John Hemond and Ryan Carrion. Jose Tirado, Hendry Abad (3), Sammy Diaz (5) and Diaz, Abad (5).