2016 Reds Top Navigators to Capture Second Island (RI) MSBL Title

Island (RI) MSBL 30+

Portsmouth Reds 12, Narragansett Navigators 7

‘Reds Win Second Island Baseball League Crown’

Submitted by Steve Schneider, Portsmouth Reds

The Island Baseball League’s eighth season came to a close Sunday night, September 11, at Cardine’s Field, with the Portsmouth Reds defeating the Narragansett Navigators 12 to 7.

Navigator’s starter Rusty Forgue scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the first as Josh Carlisle knocked in two to give the Nav’s an early start. Reds Stephan Billings singled to put the Reds on the board in the second inning and Rob Burns scored in the third to tie the game at two apiece. The Navigators came right back in the bottom of the third scoring Tony Stall.

Reds Justin Hackley would rip a double to deep left to score Jon Desrosiers to tie the game in the fifth. The Navigators, playing in their fifth Championship game in the league’s eight seasons, pulled ahead again as Brody Karn and Steve Schneider led off the bottom of the sixth with singles and both came around to score.

It seems appropriate that on September 11, Portsmouth Police officer George Grassi would start the winning rally for the Reds by scoring the first run of four as Reds manager Dutch Dutcher, Patrick Cole and Max Buerman all singled to give the Reds a two-run lead. Navigators Manager Mark Brown would single to lead off the bottom of the seventh and scored, but the Navigators would leave the bases loaded without adding another run. The Reds would add another run in the eighth and go to the ninth with a 2-run lead.

Portsmouth fireman Dan Smith hit an opposite field double with two out and the bases loaded to score two as the Reds added another four runs to their lead. Navigators Jim Pierce singled and scored but it was too little to stop the Reds from winning their second Island Baseball Championship.