Ciacciarelli, Crudale chipping in for Yellow Jackets
This spring, a pair of Cranston natives are suiting up for the American International College baseball team, with both Andrew Ciacciarelli and Anthony Crudale logging significant playing time for the Yellow Jackets.
Ciacciarelli has become an instant starter as a freshman, usually appearing in the lineup as AIC’s right fielder.
The Hendricken alum has played in 27 of the team’s 36 games, logging eight doubles, a triple and 11 runs batted in for the Yellow Jackets.
Despite making offensive contributions at the dish, putting the ball in play and reaching base safely has proven to be a stiff challenge for Ciacciarelli, as evidenced by his .202 batting average and 23 strikeouts.
However, the former Hawk’s bat came to life in the second game of Sunday’s doubleheader versus Adelphi, going 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored as AIC defeated the Panthers, 5-2.
While Ciacciarelli’s collegiate career is in its infancy, Crudale’s is winding down as the senior righty and Cranston West graduate is preparing to throw his last pitches as a Yellow Jacket.
He has made 13 appearances this spring, compiling 25 innings of work while mostly pitching out of the bullpen.
In those appearances, Crudale has accrued a 1-2 record, picking up the win in the team’s season opener against Mercy on March 5 by pitching 3.2 innings in relief, scattering seven hits in his stint on the mound as AIC outlasted the Mavericks in a 16-12 slugfest.
The former Falcon has also struck out 14 batters on the season, fanning three in the Yellow Jackets’ 7-4 loss to Assumption on March 25 and a pair against Saint Michael’s on April 9 as the Yellow Jackets stung the Purple Knights, 8-5.
After taking three of four from Adelphi last weekend, AIC will be venturing south towards Connecticut this week, hitting the road for a non-league tussle with Post on Wednesday before a three-game set versus Southern Connecticut that starts with a twinbill on Saturday.
Mensinger contributing as a freshman
Native Cranstonian and St. Andrew’s product Geneva Mensinger is making an immediate contribution to the Mitchell women’s lacrosse team, having started every game for the Mariners thus far this spring.
She has instantly fitted in as one of the team’s midfielders, doing a little bit of everything by notching an assist, six ground balls and winning a pair of draws for a squad that has 10 underclassmen in their ranks.
The helper came on April 18 in Mitchell’s 26-18 setback to Bay Path, coming with 6:40 remaining in the contest as she set up Ashley Murtha for her next-to-last goal of a Division III record-breaking 15-goal haul.
More recently, Mensinger scooped up a season-high four ground balls last Saturday in the Mariners’ 10-8 upending of Daniel Webster, while also getting off three shots against the short-handed Eagles.
The victory upped Mitchell’s record to 3-6 on the campaign with two games remaining this week, a Thursday meeting against Southern Vermont coming before Saturday’s finale versus Purchase.
