Providence rolls by Knights

Updated: May 20, 2011 9:04PM

The new scoreboard that debuted Friday at Tom Dedin Field was put to the test as Providence exploded for a 14-0 nonconference victory over Lincoln-Way Central.

The No. 1 Celtics sent 15 men to the plate in the third inning, when they scored nine times to blow the game open.

“We swung the bats really well,” Providence coach Mark Smith said. I was a little worried. We had two days off without a game and at this time of year, you want a lot of repetition. So I thought we might come out sluggish, but it was the exact opposite.”

The Celtics (29-3), who took advantage of eight walks and three hit batsmen, scored four times in the top of the first on RBI singles by Sam Travis, Collin McEnery, Dominic Olszta and Nick Gould.

In the huge third inning, Kevin DeFilippis started the merry-go-round a two-run single. Travis narrowly missed a grand slam homer, settling for a three-run double, Dan Potempa doubled in a run, McEnery hit a two-run homer (his third) and Branden Boggetto capped the outburst with a bases-loaded walk.

A Sean Carroll single plated the final run in the fourth.

Providence finished with 12 hits. Travis was 2-for-2 with four RBIs and McEnery 2-for-3 with three RBI.

“Yeah, I’ve had one grand slam before,” Travis said of his near miss. “This one hung up in the wind, but it’s all good. We’ll take what we can get.”

“We’re just trying to hit the ground running (for next week’s regional) and trying to do all the small things,” McEnery said. “It was a team effort. We all hit the ball well. If we swing the bats as well as we have been, it will be hard to beat us.”

Brandon Magollones pitched one time through the lineup of Central (14-16-1) and allowed an infield single to Evan Branyik while striking out four. Zak Kutsulis struck out five and faced the minimum seven batters over 2 1/3 innings as the pair combined on a one-hitter.

“I’m extremely happy with how we played,” Smith said. “Our pitchers threw strikes, and that’s a recipe for success.”

“They just beat us up today,” Knights coach Sean Bieterman said. “But I was not happy with the way we approached their hitters. You can’t allow 11 hitters to reach base on walks or hit by pitches against anyone, let alone a team of that caliber.

“They have a once-in-a-lifetime group. Mark (Smith) is a great guy and I wish them luck starting next week.”

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