Tigers straighten it out

Stage walk-off win after trailing by 7 runs in the 6th

PAWTUCKET — After watching his team slog its way through a disappointing top of the fourth inning against winless Juanita Sanchez, Tolman head coach Theo Murray felt he had no choice except to make wholesale changes to his lineup.

Removed from the lineup were many of the rocksteady contributors who were largely responsible for the Tigers’ three-game winning streak in Division II play entering Saturday’s contest at Slater Park’s McConnon Field. Taking the place of the veterans were guys who when presented the opportunity to make plays made them. The list of notables included freshman Connor Serra, who made a nice pick at first base on a double-play ball that ended an inning.

The drastic alterations seemed to

pay off as the Tigers went on to stage a 12-11 walk-off win. Ethan Bernardo touched home plate with the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh, the junior scoring on a wild pitch that capped off a furious rally. On the strength of a seven-run fourth inning, the Cavaliers led 11-4 heading into the last of the sixth.

It goes without saying that the Tigers ran the emotion gamut on Saturday. To go from sinking into a major hole, to watching as unheralded contributors kept the ship afloat, to rising up and ultimately preserving … it was a day that anyone who’s associated with the program won’t forget any time soon.

“I had to send a clear message and remove some upperclassmen from the game. We had some guys who were huffing and puffing,” Murray said. “We got back into it and I had a choice to make. Do I keep the subs in or was the message sent and I can put the guys back in?

“It was tough, but when we got to within striking distance, I had to re-enter those guys,” Murray added.

Tolman (5-2 Division II, 6-2 overall) struck for five runs in the sixth and three in the seventh. The big hit in the sixth belonged to senior Tim Greene, who delivered a fly ball that just kept carrying over the center fielder’s head for a bases-clearing double. The Tigers sent 10 to the plate in the sixth and in the same frame took full advantage of three errors and four walks.

After a scoreless seventh that was tossed by senior workhorse Peter Mircoulis, who earlier in the week earned the win as the starting pitcher, Tolman applied the finishing touch in the seventh. The frame began with senior Ben Capela getting hit by a pitch and Mircoulis serving a two-strike single to shallow right field.

Abunt single by Bennardo loaded the bases with no outs. A single into right field by Kyle Depatie cut the Cavaliers’ lead to 11-10 with the tying run coming courtesy of a groundout to second by Izaiah Rivera.

With Greene at the plate, Bennardo broke for home as soon as he saw the ball get away from Juanita Sanchez catcher Jeison Munoz. Scoring the game-ending run was one of three runs that Bennardo scored in addition to four singles and one RBI.

In addition to earning the win on the mound, Microulis had two base hits, two runs and one RBI. Depatie, who started the game for Tolman, added two singles and one RBI.

Tolman will play four games this week, starting with Tuesday’s game against Barrington at McCoy Stadium.

Knights prevail over Clippers

PROVIDENCE — Central put its rally caps on twice Saturday at Davis Park and emerged with a 6-5 walk-off win over Cumberland. The issue wasn’t settled until the bottom of the 10th inning when the Knights’ Stephon DeLeon singled with the bases loaded.

Cumberland (5-3, Division I) twice stood three outs away from locking down its third consecutive win and second straight in less than 24 hours. The Clippers took a 4-2 lead into the bottom of the seventh and enjoyed a 5-4 advantage as the game progressed to the home portion of the 10th.

Alas, Central responded each time. The Knights (5-4, Division I) tied the game in the seventh behind a one-out, two-run home run by Dariel Ramos. Both sides turned in scoreless eighth and ninth innings before the Clippers struck for the go-ahead run in the top of the 10th. Central forced the game’s second tie score when Edgar Rosales doubled in a run to make it 5-5.

Cumberland sophomore Joe Mollis had a brilliant day at the plate, belting two solo home runs and driving in another run with a single. He also drew two walks. Mollis’ first home run was part of the Clippers’ three-run uprising in the second inning. The second extended Cumberland’s lead to 4-2 in the sixth.

Another Cumberland sophomore, C.J. Davock, added a RBI double. Of the Clippers’ three losses in league play, two have come by a single run.

“We’ll figure out a way to win those close games,” CHS head coach Andy Tuetken said.

Another three-game week awaits Cumberland starting with Tuesday’s home game against North Kingstown.