Following a long series of games against Moses Brown, Johnston High School baseball is moving on to the Final Four at McCarthy Field.
After a 10-0 win over Central on May 31, the Panthers faced Moses Brown three times in the double elimination bracket that was the Division I-B regional pod four.
The Quakers picked up the first win on June 1 by a score of 7-1, forcing Johnston into the losers’ bracket. However, after a 2-0 win over East Greenwich, the Panthers went on to face Moses Brown again in the regional finals.
With a 13-5 victory over the Quakers on Saturday, Johnston set up a winner-takes-all game at Johnston Memorial Park on Monday for the Regional Championship and a spot in the statewide Final Four
“We were pumped for this game,” Johnston head coach Steve DeMeo said. “[The team’s attitude] was upbeat because we played so well on Saturday. We’re a confident bunch anyways.”
After a close contest, the Panthers came out on top 6-4.
“The kids were pumped,” DeMeo said. “Even the guys who didn’t play were into the game. The atmosphere was crazy.”
Johnston senior captain Jake Coro handled the intense atmosphere well, earning a complete-game win and four strikeouts while allowing four runs and seven hits in his first start all season.
“He just pitched unbelievable today,” DeMeo said. “That’s a great hitting team. Until he ran out of gas a little bit at the end, we held our own with him.”
Coro started strong, allowing just two runs, five hits and no walks in the first six innings.
However, he struggled slightly in the seventh going in with a 6-2 lead. Coro allowed two runs, two walks and two hits, including an RBI double by Moses Brown’s Joseph Voccola.
Both Moses Brown runs came with two outs, but the Panthers were able to hold on after Michael Provazza grounded out to second baseman Zach Clesas with runners in scoring position. The throw to first baseman Luis Nunez came just in time.
“I was trying to throw a little bit too hard [in the seventh inning], but I’m glad we got the [win],” Coro said.
According to Coro, the most crucial reason for the team’s success was, “Executing with runners in scoring position. Usually when that doesn’t happen we don’t win. We’ve got to score to win.”
One player, in particular, who executed with runners in scoring position was senior Luis Nunez, who went 2-for-3 with two RBIs, two runs and two doubles.
The first of his doubles came in the fourth inning on a hard line drive deep down the left field line.
“It was a hit-and-run so I just had to put the ball in play. [I saw] a good pitch to hit to the line,” Nunez said.
Nunez’s second double came on another rip down the left field line, this time in the sixth inning.
“He threw me two curveballs and I knew he wasn’t going to throw me a third one because I was ready for it so he threw me a fastball inside and I pulled it,” Nunez said.
“It felt good. I just wanted to help my team win and move on to the Final Four.”
Senior captain Nick Raposo was also instrumental in helping the Panthers move on. Raposo went 2-for-3, earning one RBI and two runs.
The Panthers’ offense thrived under the plan put in place for Moses Brown pitcher Jared Schott.
“We knew that Schott pitches to keep you off balance. So our game plan was to just sit back and wait for him,” DeMeo said.
Johnston will face South Kingstown in the Final Four in a best-of-three series at McCarthy Field in West Warwick. Game 1 was scheduled for Wednesday, but results were unavailable at press time.
“We’re very familiar with South Kingstown,” DeMeo said. “They’re the best team in our division by far. They’ve [beaten] us twice. We just have to go and play our game. It’s baseball. It all depends on the guy on the mound.”
According to DeMeo, Jacob Podmaska will likely start the first game, followed by Jacob Pratte. If the series goes to game three, Clesas will likely get the start.
As Nunez puts it, “We’re confident right now and ready to go.”
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