It's been an admittedly unsatisfying start to the 2024 Rhode Island American Baseball League season for the Riverside Post 10 Senior Division club. The locals, however, are hoping to turn around their fortunes in the second half of the summer, beginning with a double-header sweep of Pawtucket Post 25 Wednesday night, July 10, at Pierce Field.

Riverside, sponsored by the ATC (Athletes Turn Champion) Training Facility, raced past its neighbor to the north in the opener, winning by a 10-0 count in just five innings due to the 10-Run Rule as Will Haggerty threw an abbreviated no-hitter while facing just one batter over the minimum.

The nightcap was must closer, Post 10, as it did in the first contest, again took control early, but this time needed to fend off a Post 25 rally to hang on for a 7-5 victory.

The wins were the first for the locals in nine games to date. Riverside saw its record improve to 2-6-1. Co-coach Kyle Marquis said Post 10's early struggles were due to a number of factors, including some poor play as well as conflicts with work and other athletic commitments as well as summer vacations.

"It was nice to finally get a couple of wins, which were long overdue for us. And considering we blew leads in multiple games we lost," said Marquis, who coaches the team along with his brother Keith and Adam Duarte.

One of those six losses where Post 10 let a lead slip away came to the same Post 25 side before the Fourth of July break when Riverside led 2-0 only to succumb in the end by a 3-2 score.

"Hopefully, we can build off this over the next couple of weeks going into the playoffs," Marquis added.

Riverside still wasn't at full form Wednesday, needing a call-up from the Post 10 Juniors to fill out its roster. That pick-up, soon-to-be Barrington High sophomore Graham Franke, was more than just a name on the lineup card. Franke singled, stole and scored what proved to be the game-ending run in the bottom of the fifth. He scored on a passed ball with Mt. Hope's Dan Desilets at the plate.

The inning prior, the locals exploded for eight runs. Oliver Andrews and Kyle Desrosiers each drove in a pair during the rally. David Redmond and Will Francis both drew bases-loaded walks to force in runs. Brian Rutkowski had a run-scoring single.

Desrosiers actually was hit by a pitch to start the inning. Cole Kepner singled to center. Will Haggerty walked to load the based then Andrews drove in his two with a fielders choice to third. Desilets. Rutkowski followed with his single. Andrews scored on a wild pitch. Francis walked to force in a run as did Redmond. Rutkowski then scored on another wild pitch and Redmond came around on a error the final run of the onslaught.

Post 10 took a quick 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first when Haggerty drew a walk, stole second, went to third on a wild pitch and came home on an Andrew's groundout to account for the first of his three RBI on the night.

All the while, Haggerty was cruising on the mound for the locals. The incoming Moses Brown sophomore right-hander struck out 12 and did not issue a walk, but he did hit a batter in the second. He fanned the side in the fifth, throwing 68 pitches total in his five innings of work.

"Will's stuff was electric," Marquis said. "He was throwing everything for strikes. There's a reason why he's one of the best  pitchers in the state at 15 years old."

Post 10 once again took the lead with a run in the bottom of the first to begin Game 2. Haggerty tripled to deep left field and scored on an errant throw to make it 1-0. The locals went up 3-0 with a pair in the second. Kepner and Desilets drove in both by drawing bases-loaded walks.

Riverside then scored four in the third. Francis led off with a single followed by a Redmond base hit. They moved into scoring position on fielder's choice. Starting pitcher Dylan Annicelli walked to load the bases again. Two scored when Pawtucket misplayed Franke's grounder to the left side. Annicelli came home on a wild pitch. Franke then scored on Kepner's single to left.

Pawtucket's rally began when the visitors scored unearned three runs in the top of the fifth off Annicelli, who allowed just four hits and struck out seven before departing the game at the end of the frame. He earned the decision.

Desilets came in to relieve to throw a scoreless sixth, facing just three batters, but ran into some trouble to begin the seventh. He gave up three hits and walked a batter as Post 25 scored a run and loaded the bases. Kepner entered the game, enticing a run-scoring grounder to make it 7-5. He then struck out the last two batters he faced to close out the Riverside win and earn the save.

The locals are off for the rest of the week. Post 10 returns to action Monday night, July 15, for a road game against West Warwick Post 2 at McCarthy Field. First pitch is 5:30 p.m. Riverside returns to Pierce Field Wednesday night, July 17, to face first place Cumberland Post 14/Upper Deck. Game time is 6 p.m.