Cranston Bulldogs

     Despite not having the opportunity to play as a team during the summer of 2008, the Wizards continue to play competively in Division I this spring.  One year after finishing 4-14 in league play, the Wizards are now 3-3 in league play and 4-4 overall against Division I opponents.

     Led by the pitching of senior Richard Lizotte, the Wizards defeated the Avengers of East Greenwich, 7-2, in a game played under rainy conditions.  Lizotte, who has gone the distance in Wizards' last two victories, did not allow an earned run while striking out 11 batters and allowing only five hits.  In fact, Lizotte recorded 8 of his 11 strikeouts in the last four innings. 

     In the top of the first inning, West Warwick took a 1-0 lead when Aaron Richards singled, moved to second on a fielding error, and scored on Richard Lizotte's double off the centerfield fence.

     After allowing two unearned runs in the bottom of the second inning, the Wizards tied the game at 2-2 when Richards doubled and Lizotte singled to left scoring Richards.

     In the top of the fourth inning, West Warwick took the lead with one run on two hits and an error.  Charley Parent led off with a double.  After Dominic Bisceglio entered the game as a pinch runner, Sam Williamson's single to centerfield was mishandled allowing Bisceglio to score.

     After Richard Lizotte struck out the side on nine pitches in the bottom of the fourth inning, West Warwick broke the game open with three runs on two hits, one walk, one hit batsman, and one error.  Jeff Sampaio led off the inning by beating out a slow infield grounder.  Aaron Richards followed with a walk, putting runners at first and second.  After one out, Lizotte singled loading the bases.  One out later, Charley Parent was hit by a pitch, forcing Sampaio in with the Wizards fourth run.  Sam Williamson, then, hit a hard grounder to second base which was misplayed allowing two unearned runs to score.

     In the of the sixth inning, the Wizards scored an insurance run when freshman Max Motroni doubled, moved to third on a Jeff Sampaio's sacrifice bunt, and scored on Aaron Richards' sacrifice fly to left field. 

     Offensively, the Wizards had 8 of their starting nine reach safely via a hit.  Recording hits for the Wizards were Jeff Sampaio, Aaron Richards (single, double, three runs scored, and 1 r.b.i.), Rich Lizotte (two singles, one double, one run scored, and 2 r.b.i.'s), Derek Hebert, Charley Parent (one double and 1 r.b.i.), Sam Williamson, Chris Morrison, and Max Motroni (one double and one run scored).