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Here's a look back at the top Providence Journal sports stories of 2023

What were some of the most popular sports stories of 2023? There are lots to choose from — such as a plan to save McCoy Stadium, Ed Cooley's departure from Providence College, Smithfield Little League's storybook season and the passing of our friend and longtime columnist Bill Reynolds.

Here's a look back at eight sports stories that our readers identified as among the most interesting over the last year:

Billionaire makes pitch to save McCoy Stadium

Billionaire businessman Stefan Soloviev, who has ties to Rhode Island, was hoping to save McCoy Stadium and bring baseball back to Pawtucket, but the city’s mayor said the final pitch to save the stadium came too late. Soloviev initially made the offer in July, and in November, Soloviev Group representatives briefed city and school officials on a plan to renovate McCoy so it could be used as a multipurpose field capable of hosting a wide range of sports teams, including those of a new high school. But that meeting and a $40-million offer from the Soloviev Group's charity to the city emerged a few days after the City Council voted to hand over control of the McCoy Stadium property to the School Committee to begin planning a new high school.

Visiting Rhode Island, Quintin Soloviev wanted to take video and photos of McCoy Stadium from his drone. When father Stefan saw the footage, he decided he wanted to buy the stadium and bring baseball back to Rhode Island.
Visiting Rhode Island, Quintin Soloviev wanted to take video and photos of McCoy Stadium from his drone. When father Stefan saw the footage, he decided he wanted to buy the stadium and bring baseball back to Rhode Island.

Smithfield Little League's magical run

When Little League Baseball changed the format of the regional tournaments, placing Rhode Island in the same group as New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, the expectation was that Ocean State teams would have a real hard road to reach the Little League World Series. Well, the Smithfield All-Stars never got that message, as they won the Metro Regional Tournament in Bristol and headed off to the Little League World Series.

Farewell, Ed Cooley

When Ed Cooley surprised Providence fans by leaving PC for Big East-rival Georgetown after last season's NCAA Tournament run, the news was met with shock and anger among the Friar faithful. Cooley’s move south ended his 12-year tenure with the program he grew up following as a Central High student in the 1980s. His last game with the Friars was a 61-53 loss to Kentucky at Greensboro Coliseum, and marked the seventh time Cooley had taken the Friars to March Madness. So far this season, Cooley's rebuilding Hoyas are 7-6 and have a Jan. 27 date to play in Providence.

Georgetown's basketball head coach Ed Cooley motions while instructing players during practice on Oct. 19.
Georgetown's basketball head coach Ed Cooley motions while instructing players during practice on Oct. 19.

Friars go dancing

Before we got the news of Cooley's departure, the Providence Friars were getting ready for their latest trip to the Big Dance. On Selection Sunday, PC, which finished the 2022-23 season at 21-11 overall, 13-7 in the Big East, learned that it was a No. 11 seed in the NCAA Tournament and would face No. 6 Kentucky in the opening round. The ending happened all too quickly, with the Friars losing, 61-53, and learning a few days later of Cooley's exit.

Dis-Mounting from the Rhode Island Interscholastic League

The school that became synonymous with high school hockey excellence announced in November that it's leaving the RIIL. Mount St. Charles won 32 state titles, including 26 in a row from 1978 to 2003 under its legendary coach, the late Bill Belisle. The Mounties will begin play in the NEPSAC league next fall, in all sports. “Ultimately, being a member of the NEPSAC allows us to recruit and retain athletes who want a great opportunity and great participation and want greater exposure and, in some cases, greater competitiveness,” school president Alan Tenreiro said.

Big league dreams for Alex Clemmey

It's not every day that a Rhode Island pitcher signs a contract with a Major League Baseball team. But that's just what happened last summer when the Hendricken star lefty inked a deal with the Cleveland Guardians. The Middletown native opted to pass up his college commitment to Vanderbilt to sign with the team that selected him 58th overall in the MLB Draft.

Middletown native Alex Clemmey was drafted and signed by the Cleveland Guardians last summer.
Middletown native Alex Clemmey was drafted and signed by the Cleveland Guardians last summer.

Jared Grasso leaves Bryant

The full story behind Jared Grasso's departure as Bryant basketball's head coach may not have been told yet, but when the coach sat down with our Bill Koch, he pointed to his need for a mental and physical break from the game. The school named his assistant, Phil Martelli Jr., as the new head coach, while Grasso looks to step away from the pressures of basketball for a bit.

Then-head coach Jared Grasso works the sideline for the Bryant men's basketball team last December.
Then-head coach Jared Grasso works the sideline for the Bryant men's basketball team last December.

Rhode Island loses an icon

Bill Reynolds was the face of The Providence Journal's Sports staff since the 1980s. His passing in July at age 78 brought an outpouring of remembrances from folks across the state, and even the country. Reynolds was a basketball star for Barrington High School and Brown University in the 1960s before becoming one of the leading sports writers in the nation. His long-running Saturday column — For What It’s Worth — was a must-read for Journal subscribers.

Bill Reynolds died in July at age 78.
Bill Reynolds died in July at age 78.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Top-8 Providence Journal sports stories of 2023