Grays Open Abbreviated 2020 Season with Two Wins, Return to Action Today

July 12, 2020

 

WETHERSFIELD, Conn. – The Providence Grays Historic Base Ball Club traveled to the Wethersfield Cove on Saturday, June 20, for a pair of 1860s matches to open the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign. The squad headed home with two victories on the day to extend a 15-game win-streak dating back to last October. In the opening game, Providence defeated the Tunnelmen of Lisbon, Connecticut, 23-16 in an 1865 bout, then downed the Mutuals of New York 12-4 in the 1864 matinee to start the season. This Sunday, July 12, the Grays return to Wethersfield for an 1884 match with the Connecticut Base Ball Club of Hartford followed by an 1864 tangle with the Red Onion club of Wethersfield.

Providence vs. Lisbon, 6/20/1865

In game one, Lisbon struck first and tallied an ace in their opening frame off pitcher Brian Travers. Providence inaugurated the season’s offense with a three-run first, powered by singles and runs scored by Travers, third baseman Mike Duggan, and a double from center fielder Kai Henson. Lisbon opened the second inning with one more run scored before the Grays constructed a commanding lead, scoring five aces on singles from right fielder Dave “Grandpa” Watson and K. Henson, doubles from catcher Johnny Carlevale and Duggan, and a triple off the lumber of pitcher Travers.  Providence held an 8 to 2 lead after two innings.

Lisbon added one more in the top of the third before Providence’s Jamie Maynard (left field) reached based on an error then scored on a double from short stop Mike “Banquet” Swanson. The Tunnelmen continued to chip away in their fourth, tallying one more ace, but the Grays stayed hot, plating four runs in their fourth inning with singles from K. Henson and Grandpa for a 9 to 4 advantage. Lisbon picked up the pace in the late innings, scoring three runs in each frame, but their efforts fell short against the Providence bats. 

The fifth inning saw two more Grays’ tallies off singles from K. Henson, first baseman Jerry “Denny” McCormack, second baseman Jon “Bones” Henson, and Maynard. The Grays added three more in the sixth for a safer 18 to 13 differential, then added four more runs in the seventh off singles from Carlevale, Travers, Banquet, K. Henson, and a double from Duggan. Lisbon fought hard through the ninth but fell short, final score: Providence 23, Lisbon 16.

Providence vs. New York, 6/20/1864

The Grays took to the plate in the top of the first of game two and scored a run when first baseman Travers belted a double and was driven in by short stop Banquet with a sacrifice bounce out to right. The Mutuals tallied two runs in the bottom of the first off Grays pitcher Jon “Bones” Henson followed by a scoreless second inning for both clubs. Providence broke things open with a five-run third, with a single from catcher Carlevale, a sacrifice to center field from Travers, and a double each from second baseman Kai Henson and right fielder McCormack. New York answered back with two aces of their own to make it 5 to 4 in favor of the Grays after three.

After a scoreless fourth inning, Providence put up two more in the fifth with a Maynard single and a three-bagger from short stop Banquet. Center fielder Watson scored the Grays lone ace in the sixth, on a sacrifice bounce out from third baseman RJ Zimmerman. The Rhode Islanders finalized the scoring for the day in the seventh, with three more runners touching the dish off singles from Banquet, Bones, Zimmerman, and Banquet, and a double from K. Henson. The Grays defense behind Bones’ pitching held the New Yorkers scoreless from the third inning on for a final: Providence 12, New York 4.

Connecticut Return

The Nine from Rhode Island will reconvene at the Wethersfield Cove today for another twin bill, this time featuring an overhand (1884) matchup with the Hartfords followed by an 1864 face-off with the Red Onion BBC of Connecticut. First pitch is 11 a.m. 

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Photos: Nicole Prancer LaCagnina