About 10 days ago, I put up a post and an article asking you, the Rhode Island Baseball Community, who you thought was the best Rhode Island High School team since 1972. I wanted to hear from players, coaches, fans, family members, rival schools, and so many of the baseball resources I look forward to chatting with all baseball year long. The response was overwhelming and educational and uplifting to many of you who wrote to me, and to me as well. After all, I write as a baseball fan because I am a huge fan of baseball, especially here in Rhode Island. So, let’s have some fun with this unofficial tournament to determine who you think is the Best Rhode Island High School Team since 1972.
Before I get to the tournament format and brackets, here are the 20 teams who were nominated by you the fans over the past 10 days on social media, via text, and via email. In order of appearance, nomination and mention:
- Tolman High School, 1981
- Bishop Hendricken High School (BHHS), 2012
- Portsmouth, 2006
- Cranston East, 1979
- BHHS, 2004
- Cumberland, 1985
- BHHS, 1998
- St Raphael’s, 1996
- Warwick Vets, 1983
- South Kingstown, 2002
- Chariho, 2002
- BHHS, 1999
- Westerly, 2022
- BHHS, 2015
- Pilgrim, 1973
- North Kingstown, 2021
- Tiverton, 1982
- BHHS, 2005
- North Kingstown, 2022
- BHHS, 2008
Here are some of the comments, photos, and posts I received from fans on their pick for Best RIHS baseball team since 1972:
“Hendricken 1999 – Baldelli (best ever), Cantone (d2 all American), Henderson (drafted), Dauber (D1-2?), Brandon White (D1), Marano (D1), Stinson (d1 SEC)… AND THERES MORE.
And they beat one of the best public school teams in the history of baseball, 1999 NKHS.”
“2002 SK Rebels. Team was so deep. Shawn McGill, Marc Garofalo, Chris Brown, Jeff Collins, Will Swann, Brian Nelson, Matt White, Brian Wendell. They took down the almighty Hendricken loaded with many of the Cranston West Little League championship team.”
“Cranston East – Cahill, Ray Warren and Dave Stenhouse. All future pro ball players. Team also had great hitters in Mike Cantone and Alan Pelli. The Metropolitan division was stacked with great teams from Pilgrim, Lasalle and Rogers. Cahill threw 3 no hitters, including 2 back to back. At the time only 9 players were selected for 1st team all state honors. CE took 3 on the 1st team and 1 on the 2nd team.”
“Tiverton has always been one of the smallest schools in RI. The school only has maybe two Division 1 State Titles. Lead by legendary coach Steve Lake, the Tigers did the impossible by winning the 82 State Title. Players like Dick Phillips, Carl Reid, and Mark Von Villas we’re truly a Cinderella Story.”
“1983 Warwick Vets. Many D1 players on that team with some playing pro overseas. The team was dominate offensively and defensively.”
“1985 Cumberland High School 5 D1 Players in College Paul Murphy ,John Brodeur,Rob Fay ,Rob Stephenson and Jim O’Neil , D2 Will Tsonos , Harry Bramley . Beat LaSalle , Warwick Vets and Cranston East . I was a 24 yr old Assistant Coach. Bruce Villenueve was the Head Coach.”
“St Rays 1996 D1 champs went 26-3 and were dominant all season. 17-1 in League play. The 1995 Saints D1 championship team was a very close second. Back to back with a combined record of 54-6. Hard for me to pick which team was better.”
Huge thank you to the well over 100 emails, texts, calls, and posts I received for this project of mine. Ok, now to the tournament bracket and how the tournament will work. Each Saturday, starting this Saturday, September 3rd I will post a “schedule” of head to head matchups. Within the post, I will research some additional historical data on the team and provide a team recap, as best as possible from the information I can gather through my baseball resources. I will post any photos from newspaper clippings online, team photos at the schools, etc or from you the fans that have sent in your nomination. Fans will have one week to vote on the games as to who they would pick in a head to head matchup. For example, I may have St. Raphael’s, 1996 vs Bishop Hendricken, 1998 – you would just need to email me your pick and I will record it. Each Saturday, I will announce the bracket winners and who will be moving on in the tournament. As we get closer to the final teams, there will be a built in “Bye” for a top vote getter due to the number of teams in the brackets (20 becomes 10, 10 becomes 5, 5 becomes 3), so I will announce the team with the “Bye” on the Saturday bracket reveals. I will post the final reveal on Saturday October 1st and announce the winner of the Rhode Island Baseball Experience’s Fan Vote for The Best Rhode Island High School Baseball Team Since 1972.
Any Rhode Island businesses that would like to sponsor an announcement post and/or bracket reveal, please contact me. I can post your business card or logo or banner right on the article and mention how you support baseball here in Rhode Island. You can provide a discount or special offer or whatever you choose to promote. There is no fee to advertise with me, never has been and never will be!!!
So, if you are a baseball player, a coach, a friend, a spouse, a son or grandson, a daughter or granddaughter connected to one of these 20 teams and would like to add team information, player rosters, coaching rosters, home fields, photos, videos, etc, please email me at ribaseballexperience@gmail.com. Or you can text me at 401.533.0913. Or you can message me through social media as well. Or through the contact form below. I am looking forwarding to continuing this fun project that spans my 50 years of playing, coaching, writing, and promoting baseball here in Rhode Island. Good luck to all the teams in the 2022 Rhode Island High School Best Since 1972 Tournament!
The Baseball Storyteller 