Who should be the Providence Journal Baseball Player of the Week for the playoffs? Vote now
We’ve reached the end, folks.
The last spring season game of 2023-24 – the last of the academic year, in fact – was played Monday night.
Rogers outlasted West Warwick in a best-of-3 finale to capture the Division III baseball title. The Vikings joined Bishop Hendricken in Division I and Westerly in Division II among the champions.
The playoffs unfolded like an extended drama that started in late May and spilled into the second week of June. The Hawks rolled through undefeated – it was less straightforward for the Bulldogs and Vikings, respectively. Westerly held off East Providence to escape Pod 1 and Rogers handed the Wizards their first two defeats of the season to stage an upset.
There were a host of standout performers along the way, and we’ll attempt to settle who was the best among that group here. As was the case all season, you get to decide – a vote in this poll is your voice. These names were selected from games we covered with staff members from The Journal or through official submissions from coaches and athletic directors.
Thanks to everyone who was in touch with us this spring. We couldn’t do our jobs nearly as well without your help. We ask you to keep our contact information handy – (401) 277-7340, pjsports@providencejournal.com – until we all come back together next spring.
Better yet, save it for the near future. Football practice starts in about two months. On to the top performers of the playoffs.
Dylan Annicelli, East Providence
The right-hander fired a pair of 2-0 shutouts as the Townies extended Westerly to the limit in Division II. His first dropped Johnston into the one-loss bracket and his second forced a winner-take-all encounter with the Bulldogs back at East Providence’s home field. Annicelli has proven to be a big-game performer during his career with the Townies.
Anthony Burt, West Warwick
The Wizards rebounded from a first defeat of the season to post an 11-1 win over Rogers in Game 2 of their title series. Burt fired an abbreviated no-hitter at Cardines Field, as West Warwick needed just five innings to even the best-of-3 affair. It was a clutch effort after the Wizards dropped the opening Game 1 at home.
Griffin Crain, Bishop Hendricken
The state’s best player couldn’t have done much more to deliver a first title to the Hawks since 2019. Crain lined a walkoff double in Game 1 against South Kingstown, as Bishop Hendricken erased an early three-run deficit to steal a 4-3 win. He followed with a complete-game performance on the mound in Game 2, allowing just three baserunners over his final six innings in a 7-1 cruise.
Conor Donahue, Rogers
Donahue proved to be the only pitcher West Warwick couldn’t solve this season. He gave the Vikings the lead in the series with a strong Game 1 effort, a 3-1 victory at McCarthy Stadium. Donahue came back on the road in Game 3 and was even better, firing a one-hitter in a 5-2 win that gave Rogers its second title since 2019.
Ryan Fuscaldo, South Kingstown
What a time for Fuscaldo to hit his first career home run. It came in the Pod 2 winner-take-all matchup against La Salle, a grand slam that helped seal a 10-0 victory over the Rams and book a place in the finals series with Bishop Hendricken. Fuscaldo’s one swing went a long way toward the Rebels burying a lopsided loss against La Salle during their first bid to advance.
Zach Miner, Westerly
The postseason was a coming out party for the right-handed pitcher and second baseman. Miner fired a shutout in a 4-0 win over East Providence, pushing the Bulldogs through a tense last game in Pod 1. He added offensive and defensive highlights during the title round sweep of East Greenwich and picked up a save in Game 2, recording the last six outs after being summoned from the bullpen.
bkoch@providencejournal.com
On X: @BillKoch25
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Providence Journal Baseball Player of the Week poll
