D-II Semis, Game 1: 'Novans Win, 8-6

Game 1 of the Division II varsity baseball semifinals came down to which team would land the final shot, and on June 1, it was the fourth-seeded Woonsocket Villa Novans who earned the win by a score of 8-6 over the Panthers at Pierce Field in East Providence.

Top-ranked Johnston, playing against their toughest opponent from the regular season, scored first on a Greg Doutre RBI single that brought home junior Chris Pistacchio in the bottom of the first inning. The 'Novans struck back in the top half of the second, with Victor Hunt propelling an RBI double to right that scored Kory Lawrence.

Panther starting pitcher, senior lefty Dylan Pingatore, tallied three strikeouts in the first two innings to keep the score 1-1. Doutre started behind the plate in place of injured senior captain Ryan Geraghty.

The Johnston squad put on a surge in the bottom of the second, scoring three — including Pingatore's tally on a suicide squeeze laid down by senior Steve Almagno and Pistacchio's free pass to the plate after Woonsocket's Daniel Rivera overthrew third base when "Stash" attempted a steal.

In the top of the third, the 'Novans battled back again and took the lead, 5-4. Andreas Brackett hit a grounder to shortstop and Johnston junior Gian Bianchi overthrew first base, allowing two runs to score. Hunt hit an RBI single back to the mound that allowed Lawrence to advance to the plate.

The lead changed yet again in the bottom of the third on a Pennacchia RBI single that scored Doutre, and a Steve Perfetto grounder to shortstop that Lawrence bobbled, bringing home senior captain Nick Loffredo.

With the score 6-5, the 'Novans made what would be the last scoring drive of the game by bringing home three runs. The defense shut down Johnston with a 1-2-3 bottom of the fourth.

Panther freshman Joe Bongiovanni took the mound in the top of the fifth in relief of Pingatore and held the 'Novans scoreless.

"Ping deserved better than what we gave him tonight," Johnston coach Steve DeMeo said afte the game. The senior racked up 4 strikeouts against 4 walks and 6 hits in 4 complete innings pitched.

Woonsocket and Johnston both threatened in the later innings, but tough defense kept the score unchanged. The 'Novans made a late pitching change in the bottom of the seventh after Bianchi reached first. With Doutre at the plate, Woonsocket coach John Marsella sent Lawrence to the hill, and he preserved the 8-6 win in spite of four errors by the 'Novans defense.

"That's a good hitting team over there," said Marsella of the Johnston squad. "We made some errors, but (pitcher) Brandon (Perrico) kept us close — I'm real pleased with his effort."

DeMeo said he plans to encourage his team to shake off the loss before the June 2 follow-up contest.

"We're lucky we have the first game  so we don't dwell on it," said DeMeo, who added that Bianchi is his scheduled starter.

Game 2 of the D-II semifinals between Johnston and Woonsocket is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. at Pierce Field.