By CHARLIE ADAMS

Following their 6-4 win over Pilgrim High School to clinch a spot in the playoffs, the Cranston East baseball team celebrated Senior Night in their final game of the regular season. The Thunderbolts shared their Senior Night with “that school on the other side of the city,” with both teams having seven graduating seniors.

Pregame festivities honored the following players for Cranston East: Fernando Tavares, Matthew Talabac, Michael Smith, Nate Lopes, Devante Viveiros, Caleb Maytum, and Anthony Fernandez. Each player was escorted by family members as they received flowers, and Coach Gary Bucci stated after the game, “The entire group will be sorely missed and always have a place in my heart.”

The seniors got their chance to shine, as all seven of them started: Maytum on the mound, Viveiros behind the plate, Lopes at first base, Smith at second base, Talabac at third base, with Fernandez and Tavares in the centerfield and right field, respectively.

Maytum escaped the first inning scoreless despite two runners reaching base. In the bottom of the first, a one-out double from Anthony Fernandez set up an infield single from Carlos Merejo that would score the first run of the game for the Bolts.

After striking out the side in order, Maytum received some more run support via Fernando Tavares launching a solo home run over the left-field fence in the bottom of the second inning.

Maytum escaped a bases-loaded jam in the top of the third to keep the score 2-0 in favor of the Thunderbolts. Fernandez added two more with an absolute bomb over the right-center field, complete with a long stare and huge bat flip.

A Merejo single followed by a Devante Viveiros triple pushed the lead to 5-0 early and knocked West’s starting pitcher out of the game, all before an out had been made in the bottom of the third. An RBI-groundout by Nate Lopes and a liner up the middle that scored Tavares pushed the lead to 7-0.

Maytum was relieved by Joshua Pozo in the top of the fourth. West was able to get one run back on a passed ball, but that was all they could muster in the inning against the new pitcher. Fernandez came up and once again got his pitch in the bottom frame, hitting his second no-doubt home run of the game.

Adrian Pimental came in relief of Pozo with one runner on in the top of the fifth. Colby Kuzman, pinch-hitting for Thomas Cabana, hit a two-run home run to cut the lead to 8-3. A string of singles in the bottom of the fifth got both runs back and some more, scoring another five for the Bolts and ending the game short due to mercy rule, 13-3.

Top performances came from the seniors as they scored 10 of the 13 runs scored. Fernandez went 3-for-3 with three RBI on two home runs and a double. Tavares also went 3-for-3, including a home run and double. Maytum performed well on the mound, pitching three scoreless innings, striking out five while only giving up one hit.

After the game, senior Talabac, who went 2-for-2 with a walk and two RBI, said what he’ll miss about Cranston East baseball: “The thing I’ll miss most about Cranston East baseball is being with my teammates. Whether it’s the competitiveness on the field or having fun with each other off the field. This is probably the tightest group I’ve been a part of, we all hope for each other’s successes. Being with the guys every day is what I’ll miss most.”

Fellow senior Viveiros shared a similar sentiment as he responded, “I’ll miss my teammates and all the fun we’ve had on and off the field.”

The Thunderbolts baseball team looks forward to the playoffs, which begin on Tuesday, May 31st.

Bucci stated, “I feel pretty good about how we are playing now and I think we could have some success in the playoffs.” East ace pitcher John Devine added he was “very excited” to be able to compete in the playoffs.

Cranston West finishes at 11-8, while East checks in at 10-9 on the season. In their two previous matchups this season, they split victories, with West winning, 11-5, and East winning 6-4 in their next game against each other. This was the “rubber match” between the rivals with the ‘Bolts winning 13-3 to take the season series.

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