Microulis dazzles again
Righty moves record to 8-1
PAWTUCKET – Tolman coach Theo Murray didn’t have much time to talk after his Tolman High squad dismantled Smithfield, 9-0, in a key Division II clash at Ted McConnon Field on Wednesday afternoon.
But while gathering his gear to hurry to watch his son Cam represent
Providence Country Day in a home playoff tilt, he did indicate his pleasure with a stellar overall outing, one that included a six-run third inning.
“We’re now 11-6 (in league action), and that puts us in position to host a playoff game on May 31,” he stated. “That’s just what we were going for. We played good defense and got another great outing from (senior) Peter Microulis.
“Peter is Peter; nothing surprises me,” he added of his standout righthander, who whirled a complete-game fivehitter with three walks and six whiffs. “He’s 8-1 on the season, and now should be in position to earn All-State honors.”
Offensively, sophomore third baseman Izaiah RiveraLopez finished 2-or-4 with two RBI and a run scored, while junior Kyle Depatie went 2for-4 with an RBI and run; classmate Ethan Bernardo 1for-2 with a walk, stolen bag and run; and senior Tim Greene 1-for-3 with a run.
Microulis also helped himself, going 1-for-3; and fellow senior Ben Capela 0-for-1 with two passes and an RBI.
The Tigers did make one error, but it came with no harm. In fact, Bernardo aided his crew with three putouts and five assists at second base.
“It was one of the best games I’ve had this year,” Bernardo noted of his afternoon, one in which Tolman hailed its soon-to-be graduates with a “Senior Day” triumph. “We’re closing in on the playoffs, so we’re just trying to stay focused, continue to play well. We want to head into the playoffs as one of the best teams in the league.
“We’re starting to realize we can play as one big family, as a whole,” he added. “This is a huge win.”
Murray’s bunch utilized a six-run third to turn a chesslike affair over the first three frames into a blowout. Freshman righty Morgan Doughty took the loss, yielding four hits, six runs (two earned) and four walks (with a hit batsman) while fanning one in a stint lasting 2 2/3 innings.
The Sentinels (8-9 Division II) threw a scare into the Tigers at the start, as Doughty punched a one-out single to center and took second on a wild delivery. Senior Nick DiDonato walked, and Doughty hustled to third on another wild pitch. Senior Brian Goodwin then dribbled a grounder to the mound, and Microulis fired to second to get DiDonato.
SHS mentor Steve Quattrini called for a delayed double steal to try to score Doughty, but Microulis picked him off, Bernardo chasing him down, to end it.
In the back half, Tolman managed its own threat, as Microulis drew a walk and Doughty struck Bernardo. Junior Noel Hernandez attempted a sacrifice bunt, yet the hurler pegged to a toss to third to catch the lead runner.
Rivera-Lopez’ groundout to first pushed up Bernardo and Hernandez, but Doughty escaped unscathed.
In the top of the second, sophomore Justin Gorgone roped a hit to center and moved to second on a passed ball before classmate Dante Lewis was issued a pass. When the tandem attempted a double steal, Microulis took advantage of Gorgone’s slip at short and picked him off before whiffing junior Joe Paiva.
Smithfield also threatened in the third, though nothing came of it.
Doughty appeared invincible after retiring Capela and Microulis in succession in the bottom half, but Bernardo beat out an infield hit (the first of the game for the hosts) and stole second before Hernandez walked. Rivera-Lopez followed with a ground single up the middle to plate Bernardo, and Depatie’s hit to left scored Hernandez.
Greene’s infield single juiced the bags, and sophomore Seth Watson plated a pair when his grounder was booted by shortstop DiDonato.
Senior Aaron Massey drew another “freebie” to refill the bags, as did Capela to push across Greene; that’s when Quattrini replaced Doughty with Gorgone. Watson raced home on a wild pitch, but Microulis grounded out to end the flurry.
All told, the Tigers sent an astonishing 11 batters to the plate in the six-run rally.
It appeared SHS might chisel into that deficit with a two-out surge in the fourth, though Gorgone’s hit and Lewis’ pass went for naught. In the fifth, sophomore leadoff hitter Jesse Greene reached on the lone miscue, but he was thrown out at second on Corey Mabray’s fielder’s choice. Doughty moved him up with an opposite-field hit to right, though Microulis forced DiDonato to pop out to second and Goodwin to ground to short.
In the end, Microulis retired eight straight, though Doughty and Gorgone each finished with two hits.
The Tigers tacked on three more in the sixth when Capela walked and scored on sophomore Justin Klemanchuck’s groundout; Microulis singled and pinch-runner Jakob LeFort came in on Rivera-Lopez’ infield hit; and Klemanchuck scored on a passed ball.
“My Zone 3, or outside, fastball and curveball worked the best,” Microulis stated softly. “I don’t know how comfortable I was on the mound, (as) my heel was bothering me a little. A few games ago, I ran through first base, and when I hit it, I sort of bruised the heel. I was in a lit- tle pain, but thought I pitched pretty well.”
Offered batterymate Jeff LaRose: “Pete’s fastball and slider weren’t hitting their spots in the first three innings. I think it was just a combination of him settling down and me doing a better job of framing.
“Coach had told us beforehand that we had to play like we wanted to play at McCoy Stadium (in the D-II finals) in June,” he added. “That was our goal, and that’s the reason we won this game.” Smithfield 000 000 0 –0 – 5 – 2 Tolman 006 003 x –9 --7 – 1 Morgan Doughty, Justin Gorgone (3) and Dante Lewis. Peter Microulis and Jeff LaRose.