Baseball preview: Old rivals mark Division I series when Hendricken plays North Kingstown
PROVIDENCE — It’s hard to imagine North Kingstown carrying more confidence into an Interscholastic League baseball state title series.
The Skippers are the defending Division I champions after outlasting Coventry in 2021. It was their first crown since 1967, the end of a quest that included near misses and some heartbreak while attempting to take the final step.
Bishop Hendricken stood in their way three times — the Hawks captured head-to-head finals meetings with North Kingstown in 2005, 2009 and 2013. The next installment of their rivalry begins on Wednesday at Rhode Island College, with Game 1 in the best-of-3 series beginning at 4:30 p.m.
Both teams boast identical 19-2 records and were the top seeds in their respective divisions — the Hawks in I-A and the Skippers in I-B. Both swept their way past stiff semifinal opponents, with Hendricken taking care of South Kingstown and North Kingstown turning back Portsmouth. There is college talent throughout each lineup and on the mound, beginning with an expected pitching matchup between Alex Clemmey (Vanderbilt) and Evan Maloney (Wake Forest) in the opener.
At least one of these programs has appeared in the title round 15 times since 2003. To call them traditional powers under Ed Holloway and Kevin Gormley might be stopping short of the proper label. That’s why it was such a shock when Bishop Hendricken was eliminated in its playoff opener against Cranston West last year.
“I was actually on deck when that last out happened,” Bishop Hendricken outfielder Jared Munoz said. “I couldn’t be any more excited.”
The Skippers have rolled through the majority of their schedule thanks to a veteran core. Maloney is backed by the strongest No. 2 starter in the state — University of Rhode Island commit Braeden Perry. T.J. Gormley (Maine) and Josh Lincourt are returning keys in the infield and at catcher, respectively.
How they got to the D-I championship:
North Kingstown earns a berth in the baseball Division I championship series vs. Hendricken
Hendricken bats, Clemmey's arm send Hawks to state baseball finals
The Hawks are starting to warm up with the bat, and it should be expected. Their lineup for Game 2 against the Rebels featured future college players for Louisville, Connecticut, Kentucky, Massachusetts and Wake Forest second through sixth. Munoz belted a three-run homer that essentially knocked South Kingstown out on its home field.
Hendricken won its latest title in 2019 while COVID-19 claimed the 2020 season. With North Kingstown winning last year means the most recent two champions will be on the diamond at Pontarelli Field — they didn’t meet during the regular season. Game 2 will be played Saturday at 1 p.m. and Game 3 is set for Sunday, if necessary.
Division II high school baseball
Division II features a pair of neighboring rivals from the southern part of the state. Westerly and Narragansett begin their best-of-3 encounter on Thursday at 4:30 p.m.
The Bulldogs and Mariners met for the crown in 2013, with Narragansett winning both games by a combined 16-2 margin. The Mariners have finished at or above .500 every year since 2011 as they've been a steady contender in this division. Westerly took the Class B crown in 1992 — that remains its only baseball championship since 1944.
The Bulldogs (20-2) were expected to be at RIC. They captured the II-B top seed and feature one of the state’s most powerful hitters in Bryant commit Greg Gorman. A hiccup in their opening semifinal game against St. Raphael was wiped out by a pair of dominant victories, the last a 10-0 shutout in Game 3.
The Mariners (14-8) are a pleasant surprise after taking out II-A top seed Woonsocket along the way. Narragansett has dropped just two games since May 3 and is a perfect 4-0 in the playoffs. A two-game sweep of Chariho in the semifinals propelled the Mariners to their first title series in nine years.
More high school baseball: Ben Brutti, South Kingstown’s standout, has been invited to the MLB Draft Combine
Westerly defeated Narragansett in each of its first two games this season, recording victories of 10-0 and 5-3. Game 2 will be played Saturday at 4 p.m. and Game 3 will be played Sunday if necessary.
Division I
Hendricken vs. North Kingstown
SCHEDULE: Game 1 — Wednesday, RIC, 4:30 p.m.; Game 2 — Saturday, RIC, 1 p.m.; Game 3 (if necessary) — Sunday, RIC, TBD.
REGULAR-SEASON RECORD: Hendricken 16-2 Division I-A, North Kingstown 16-2 Division I-B
HOW THEY GOT HERE: In the quarterfinals, Hendricken beat No. 4-B Mt. Hope, 6-1, while North Kingstown beat No. 4-A Cranston West, 2-1. In the semifinal series, the Hawks swept No. 2-B South Kingstown (6-1, 10-1) while the Skippers swept No. 3-B Portsmouth (4-3, 4-2).
HEAD-TO-HEAD: The teams did not meet this season.
TOTAL TITLES: Hendricken 22 (22 state), North Kingstown 2 (2 state)
LAST STATE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: Hendricken swept La Salle (1-0, 4-3) in the 2019 State Championship Series; North Kingstown beat Coventry in three games (4-1, 2-10, 8-2) to win the 2021 State Championship Series.
LAST STATE CHAMPIONSHIP WIN: Hendricken swept La Salle (1-0, 4-3) in the 2019 State Championship Series; North Kingstown beat Coventry in three games (4-1, 2-10, 8-2) to win the 2021 State Championship Series.
ERIC RUEB’S PICK: Hendricken
Division II
Westerly vs. Narragansett
SCHEDULE: Game 1 — Thursday, RIC, 4:30 p.m.; Game 2 — Saturday, RIC, 4 p.m. Game 3 (if necessary) — Sunday, RIC, TBD.
REGULAR-SEASON RECORD: Westerly 17-1 Division II-B, Narragansett 10-8 Division II-B
HOW THEY GOT HERE: In the preliminary round, Narragansett beat No. 5-A Ponaganset, 12-2; in the quarterfinals, Westerly beat No. 5-B Tiverton, 12-2, while Narragansett beat No. 1-A Woonsocket 15-3; in the semifinal series, the Bulldogs beat No. 2-A St. Raphael in three games (0-6, 10-1, 10-0) while the Mariners swept No. 6-A Chariho (7-0, 13-7).
HEAD-TO-HEAD: Westerly won its season opener at Narragansett, 10-0, on April 5, then won at home two days later against the Mariners, 5-3.
TOTAL TITLES: Westerly 4 (1 State, 3 Division II), Narragansett 1 (1 Division II)
LAST CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: Narragansett swept Westerly (9-0, 7-2) in the 2013 Division II championship series;
LAST CHAMPIONSHIP WIN: Westerly beat Mount St. Charles, 20-1, to win the 1992 Division II championship; Narragansett swept Westerly (9-0, 7-2) in the 2013 Division II championship series.
ERIC RUEB'S PICK: Westerly
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: North Kingstown high school baseball to face Hendricken in D-I series
