Hendricken faces Cumberland in a rematch of last year's baseball title game; which team prevailed?
CUMBERLAND — It was Braeden Campbell, Cole Camara and the Crain Gang who did the heavy lifting for Bishop Hendricken on Monday.
The Hawks returned to the scene of their elimination in last year’s Division I baseball semifinals and departed feeling a little different this time. Their bats stayed hot on what started out as a warm, sunny day at Tucker Field.
The late cloud cover was left behind with the hosts after all was said and done. Bishop Hendricken slugged its way to a 12-8 victory over Cumberland, pounding out 16 hits and reaching double-digit runs for the fifth time in its last seven league games.
“We put some hits together,” Campbell said. “That was the biggest part — we play best when we all get singles. Keep moving and pass the torch.”
More: Who should be The Providence Journal Baseball Player of the Week? Vote here
Campbell singled twice, doubled and drove in five out of the cleanup spot. Camara singled three times, knocked in a pair and plated an insurance run in the top of the sixth. Griffin Crain reached safely five times and scored three runs out of the leadoff spot — it was quite the example for younger brothers Mason and Cullen, who both started in the infield.
“You want to play your best baseball at the end of the year,” Crain said. “It’s one of our big things as a team. We just want to keep going as much as we can, win every game, build up and get better every day.”
More: Which are the top HS baseball teams? Providence Journal Week 5 baseball power rankings
Campbell’s two-run single down the line in right and two-run double down the line in left spoke to his focus at the plate. The catcher is an all-fields hitter who added an RBI single to shortstop in the top of the third. The Hawks used almost all of that cushion against a Clippers group that never gave up the fight.
“We’re looking to collectively put hits together,” Campbell said. “We continue to do that, we’re going to continue to score runs. We’re having a lot of big innings.”
Cumberland’s infield error opened the door to four runs in the first. Jack LaRose’s sacrifice fly to center scored a solo run in the second and another infield error helped add two in the third. Hendricken (14-0) ultimately put it out of sight with three in the top of the fifth, as Campbell followed a balk with a two-out bullet to the corner.
“I’m feeling good in the box,” Crain said. “A bunch of other guys are too, so I’m just trying to do my part.”
The Clippers (9-5) have hit a bit of a rough patch, dropping four of their last six, but their resilience doesn’t appear dented. Connor Allard and Andy Ray scored on the same wild pitch as Cumberland hit back immediately with three runs in the bottom of the first. Micah Cousineau’s second RBI single in the bottom of the third and Tyler Hurteau’s two-run single to right-center in the bottom of the fifth were enough of an answer for the Clippers to survive late into this one.
Cumberland prevailed in a classic three-game series with the Hawks before outlasting La Salle in the state title round, a nail-biting stretch that ended with a first crown in 30 years. Ray’s three singles and three runs scored, Josh Lyon’s two walks and two runs scored and Hurteau’s three RBI hinted at the continued presence of that championship DNA.
“You remember it and it was a heartbreaking loss,” Crain said. “Obviously it’s a little extra motivation to go get them this year. But new guys — trust your teammates. It’s a new year.”
Want to keep up to date on all the latest action in high school sports? Sign up to get the inside scoop on every pitch, play and score with our High School Sports Insider newsletter sent straight to your inbox every Thursday and Sunday.
Crain sees a couple of those new faces more than some others. Christian Butera and Cooper Maher were scratches at third base and second base, respectively, while dealing with minor injuries. Mason Crain walked and scored a run while Cullen Crain walked, singled and served as the pivot man on an important 6-4-3 double play in the bottom of the sixth.
“I try to be the best captain I can be,” Griffin Crain said. “That goes for any teammate or my brothers.
"It’s a little more close to home with them. I feel like it’s a little more special to me to see them come through and just play well.”
Bishop Hendricken 412 031 1 — 12 16 3
Cumberland 302 030 0 — 8 9 4
Ryan Thompson, Alex Asermely (4) and Braeden Campbell. Liam Monahan, Marcus Gomes (5) and Andy Ray.
On X: @BillKoch25
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Hendricken outslugs Cumberland and stays unbeaten in D-I baseball
