Ok, so by now you have probably realized that I am from Rhode Island, follow Rhode Island baseball, and will always have a special place in my heart for anything Rhode Island. I have written about Rhode Island baseball for more than 2 decades and will remain interested in the baseball journeys of Rhode Island based players. And even though I no longer live in Rhode Island, I still check box scores, GameChanger apps, and social media for Rhode Island players I covered and follow. Cue the theme song, “It’s the greatest little state in the Union, Rhode Island, Rhode Island,”…

Last night at Buffalo’s Sahlen Field, Cranston, RI native and Bishop Hendricken High School standout Thomas Pannone was on the mound for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders. His opponent, batting 8th and catching, was Johnston (RI) High School’s Nick Raposo. Both Pannone and Raposo have been in professional baseball for several years, so I’m not entirely sure if this was the first time they faced each other. Pannone has been with several organizations, Raposo was a Cardinal until recently moving over to the Toronto Blue Jays organization. Regardless, they faced each other last night as a RailRider (Pannone) and a Bison (Raposo). Here is how it went:

In the bottom of the 3rd, Pannone and Raposo battled for 6 pitches, with Pannone getting Raposo to ground out. Here is the snip from the MILB game action:

Fast forward to the bottom of the 5th, Pannone jumped out quickly on Raposo to an 0-2 count. Then, Raposo ripped a single to left field for a base hit. Here is the snip from the MILB game action:

The third matchup was set for the bottom of the 7th inning, when Pannone was replaced by SWB P Joey Gerber, who came in to face Raposo. So, we have no tiebreaker but who cares. In my opinion, it was another win-win for the families, friends, coaches, teammates, communities of these two outstanding Rhode Island baseball players. Pannone ended up getting the win, going 6 plus innings, and stretching his win-loss record to 10-9 for the season (combined for multiple teams.) Raposo collected 1 hit out of 4 at bats, the one being off his fellow Rhode Island native, Pannone.

Two players I will continue to follow – Thomas Pannone and Nick Raposo. Both are outstanding representatives of Rhode Island baseball and both have had tremendous professional baseball careers and journeys. I salute you, the Rhode Island High School baseball legends that you are. Pannone and Raposo – continued success on and off the baseball diamond!!!