Marist Club Baseball defeated Rhode Island Club Baseball 10-0 on Friday night in five innings at Heritage Financial Park. This is the team’s third annual game at the ballpark, and they now sit at 2-1 since the tradition began in 2024, following a win against Seina in 2024 and a loss to Sacred Heart in 2025.
At the home of the Hudson Valley Renegades, an affiliate of the New York Yankees, the event partnered with the Boys and Girls Club of Poughkeepsie, with club members attending the game and a donation drive collecting new and gently used sporting equipment. The night also featured performances from the Marist dance team in between innings. Senior outfielder and club president Michael Schiavone credits several groups working together to make the event possible.
“This event would not happen without the help of Stephen and Alexa,” he said. “To have the dance team and the Boys and Girls Club here, this is something I want to continue,” said Schiavone.
Facing the Red Foxes’ starting pitcher, senior right-hander Noah Kasper, the Rams threatened early in the top of the first and loaded the bases, but a groundout kept the game scoreless.
Marist extended a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third on a three-run inside-the-park home run by sophomore designated hitter Michael Olsey off of Rhode Island junior lefty Zachary Previte, to give Marist a 5-0 lead.
“The approach was basically just to sit back on it and drive the ball in the right center gap, and the pitch was perfect. It was right there down the middle,” said Olsey.
Marist continued the scoring thanks to an RBI single from junior first baseman Jason Due followed by an RBI double from Schiavone in the bottom of the fourth, putting Marist up 8-0. Previte finished with three innings pitched and 5 runs allowed.
Kasper’s day came to an end after 4 and 1/3 shutout innings when he was relieved by senior right-hander Tomas Norris-Oliva, who kept the Rams off the board throughout the remainder of the top half of the fifth. The outing marked a turnaround for Kasper, who gave up six earned runs in five innings during last year’s contest.
“I think I was in the zone this year. Every pitch was there,” said Kasper. “There were some of the fastballs on the outer corner that were not being called, and it was rough, but I persevered through…. Last year I was going well, going well, and then all of a sudden one blowup inning and everything turned around, but this year I was able to avoid that blowup inning and keep working through.”
Kasper credited the offense in supporting his dominant performance.
“It means a lot more for me to go out there with a lead, so it just allows me to pitch my game and I don’t have to worry about keeping us in the game,” he said.
Sophomore third baseman Will Mattias continued Marist’s strong offensive day with an RBI single to make it 10-0, giving his team the shutout victory.
Marist closes fall ball action with two more games against Rhode Island this weekend. First pitch of tomorrow’s doubleheader is scheduled for 8:30 am at Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh.
Edited by Ryan Eichem
Photo courtesy of Max Rosen
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