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Miss any of Saturday’s high school championship action? Don’t worry, The Journal was there

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Miss any of Saturday’s high school championship action? Don’t worry, The Journal was there


Saturday crowned another batch of high school champions in Rhode Island, ending the spring season for all but a pair of teams, and The Journal staff — Eric Rueb, Bill Koch and Jake Rousseau, along with freelancer William Geoghegan and photographers David DelPoio, Louis Walker III and Glenn Osmundson — was there at every stop, from the baseball and softball diamonds, and the volleyball courts, at Rhode Island College to storied Cardines Field in Newport.

Here’s a wrap-up of Saturday’s championship action.

BASEBALL

Hendricken sweeps its way to state championship

Bishop Hendricken star Griffin Crain had a game he’ll remember the rest of his life. The Louisville commit threw a complete game on the mound and the Hawks offense mounted a pair of rallies that made the difference in the Division I state championship against South Kingstown. Hendricken won, 7-1, to finish a Division I sweep in this best-of-3 title round at RIC’s Pontarelli Field.

“It feels like I needed it,” Crain said of winning the title. “It feels like I’m complete. Going three years without it, a couple of heartbreakers — it’s just great to be out of here with a win.” 

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Westerly meets its high expectations

The Bulldogs put the finishing touches on a second Division II championship at Rhode Island College, more glory for a town and a team that endured three decades without something similar. Jack Tenuta, Zach Miner and Tom Fiore all starred at Pontarelli Field. East Greenwich was blitzed early and couldn’t catch up, as Westerly eased to a 6-3 victory and a best-of-3 series sweep.

“I’m just happy we could represent the community in a positive way,” Tenuta said. “Everybody was behind us. It just feels great to do this for our town and do this for our community.”

Not done yet

The third baseball championship game of the day wasn’t as decisive as the first two. That’s because West Warwick, which lost its first game of the season on Wednesday when Rogers stunned the Wizards, 3-1, in the best-of-three Division III title series, returned to form in Game 2 at Cardines Field. West Warwick rolled to an 11-1 victory over Rogers and forced a winner-take-all game Sunday at 1 p.m. (Check providencejournal.com/sports later today for the outcome.)

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SOFTBALL

Chieftains outlast Bulldogs for Div. III championship

In what was a see-saw battle for the Division II championship, it was a freshman who delivered in the bottom of the eighth for Ponaganset against Westerly at Rhode Island College. Ponaganset’s Ava DiFiore opened the bottom of the eighth with a double and two batters later, freshman Mia Duncan hit a single that brought DiFiore home with the winning run in a 9-8 victory over Westerly that gave the Chieftains the D-II title.

“I’m ecstatic,” Duncan said. “There’s really no thoughts going on up there. I’m just over the moon right now.”

BOYS VOLLEYBALL

La Salle clinches second-straight state title

The Rams appeared ready to claim another championship, but surrendered five straight match points to North Kingstown to turn a fifth-set lead into a deficit in the Division I boys volleyball finals. But La Salle wasn’t going to be put away without its own fight for the crown on Saturday at Rhode Island College. Christopher Benell won a point in the middle to regain the lead, and again back on match point, the Rams turned to their star.

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Ephraim Abhulime, lined up on the outside, loaded up for the game-winning block. And the senior came through with a denial on North Kingstown’s spike in an emphatic return-to-sender finish for a 3-2 (23-25, 25-18, 25-15, 16-25, 17-15) win for La Salle’s second consecutive state championship.

“I’m ecstatic at that point after the block,” Abhulime said. “I was hoping to bring it home because they were fighting for every ball, so it felt great to get the last play of the game.”

Confident Pawtucket walks the walk

Hayson Ortiz called his team’s shot after the semifinals. He knew Pawtucket boys volleyball was destined to win the Division III crown before Saturday’s match even began, and he said so. And the No. 1 seeded Shea/Tolman (19-1) co-op made good on the junior’s claim as Pawtucket swept its way to the league crown, 3-0 (25-19, 25-22, 25-12), against Central Falls.

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“I knew we were going to win and we came in and won in three sets,” Ortiz said. “Once the ball fell out of bounds [for the final point], I was just so excited.”

Pawtucket never trailed by more than a point against second-seeded Central Falls (17-3) to cap a dominant season.



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Rhode Island

St. Patrick’s Day 2026: Your Guide To Fun In Rhode Island

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St. Patrick’s Day 2026: Your Guide To Fun In Rhode Island


Rhode Islanders who plan to join in the global celebration of Irish culture can choose from big and small events, including a parade in Providence.

The March 17 holiday falls on a Tuesday this year, and many big events will be held the weekend of March 14-15. Originally a modest, religious feast day honoring the patron saint of Ireland, St. Patrick’s Day today is a vibrant, boisterous holiday observed by millions of people regardless of their heritage.

The Providence parade is March 21.

We’ve rounded up 10 more events to help you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. But first, are you planning an event this spring? Feature it, so nearby readers see it all across Patch — including in roundups like this!

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Here’s your guide to St. Patrick’s Day fun in Rhode Island:





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Married couple from R.I. identified as victims in fatal Swansea crash

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Married couple from R.I. identified as victims in fatal Swansea crash


Local News

The two victims were identified as a husband and wife from Rhode Island, local officials said.

A Rhode Island husband and wife in their 50s were identified as the two people killed in a Swansea car crash Friday night.

Carlolyn Carcasi, 54, and James Carcasi, 53, of Bristol, Rhode Island, were killed in the Feb. 27 crash, the office of Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn said in a press release Monday.

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The crash occurred at the intersection of Route 136 and Route 6 in Swansea, Quinn’s office said.

Police in Cranston, Rhode Island identified the driver who allegedly hit the couple as Demitri Sousa, 28. Sousa allegedly shot and killed a man in Rhode Island nearly four hours before the crash, Cranston police said.

At around 12:18 a.m. Friday, Swansea police spotted Sousa’s Infiniti barreling down Route 6, Swansea officials said previously.

The couple was driving southbound on Route 136 when the Sousa crashed into the side of a Subaru Ascent. Both cars had “catastrophic damage,” and the Subaru was engulfed in flames, Swansea fire and police officials said. 

Both occupants of the Subaru were declared dead at the scene, Swansea officials said.

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Sousa was transported to a local hospital, where he is being treated for serious injuries. He is expected to live and will be held in Cranston police custody until he is medically cleared, police said Sunday.

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Women’s Fund of Rhode Island, leaders celebrate Women’s History Month with panel event

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Women’s Fund of Rhode Island, leaders celebrate Women’s History Month with panel event


Women’s Fund of Rhode Island and U.S. Sen. Jack Reed celebrated Women’s History Month in Cranston with a panel discussion on Monday.

The event was held at the Cranston Public Library at 9 a.m.

Reed and other leaders of WFRI hosted a panel discussion with women leaders in environmental and agricultural advocacy, education, community resilience, housing, finance, workforce development, and more, officials said.

Women’s Fund of Rhode Island and U.S. Sen. Jack Reed celebrated Women’s History Month in Cranston with a panel discussion on Monday. (WJAR)

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“Women have played a critical role in this process, most often without any recognition,” Reed said. “Today’s panel brings together an extraordinary group of women who are addressing the challenged of sustainability from various angles and I want to thank you all for your great efforts.”

The panelists highlighted their experiences, shared insights and tips on lifting up women’s voices, provided strategies for sparking change and more.

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According to officials, some of the panelists included Executive Director of the Rhode Island Food Policy Council Nessa Richman, Executive Director of Strategic Initiatives at Rhode Island College Kim Bright, Newport Housing Authority Executive Director Rhonda Mitchell and more.

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