Grays Battle Through Double Header Vs. EP

The Johnston Grays played a double header on July 16 at Providence Country Day School against the East Providence Knights, dropping both contests — but not after putting up a serious fight in the early game.

Knights' Jeff Kolb took the mound for the first game. For the Grays, Ilya Menyaylov pitched his first game since an arm injury in May, following a game where he gave up just one run in seven innings against Tom Ready & Sons Excavating.

Grays Chris Castiglioni hit an RBI to right field during the second inning of the early game, bringing home Andrew McKeon to start the game off 1-0.

The Knights' Bill Letizia responded with an RBI single to right to tie the score 1-1 in the home half of the second, but was thrown out trying to turn it into a double on a solid relay throw from Grays right fielder Matt Larson to second baseman Robert Kazarian.

The game stayed tied until the bottom of the sixth, when the Knights took advantage of an errant pick-off throw to first by Menyaylov to make the score 2-1. East Providence added an insurance run on a single by Mike Pannozzi to make it 3-1.

Knights pitcher Jeff Kolb wrapped up the game by pitching a 1-2-3 seventh inning to preserve the win.

Knights cap series with shutout

In the second game, the Knights (14-8) put in pitcher Pat Rock, while Andrew McKeon started off pitching for the Grays.

In the top of the second inning, Grays key offensive players Nathan Camara and Andrew McKeon were injured in two different plays. The Knightscranked up their offense and capitalized on Grays errors to take an 8-0 lead into the sixth.

The injury list for the Grays (2-16) got longer in the seventh, as second baseman Robert Kazarian injured his arm.

EP eventually won the nightcap, 12-0.

The Grays' next game is this afternoon against the Ocean State Dogs at Cimilore Field in Central Falls.

Find scores and standings at the Rhode Island Amateur Baseball League website.