Vote Now for the Week 6 Longplex Athlete of the Week in Baseball: The Final Push to the Playoffs

The air is crisp, the stakes are sky-high, and the last full week of the Rhode Island high school baseball regular season is officially in the books. While a few scattered games linger on the schedule after Sunday, the road to Rhode Island College is already being paved. The playoffs are no longer a distant rumor—they are a sprint to the finish line, and every division is loaded with drama. This is the moment where heroes are made, and that is why we need your vote now for the Week 6 Longplex Athlete of the Week in Baseball.

From Bishop Hendricken’s relentless march in Division I to Woonsocket’s historic bid for perfection in Division III, this week delivered statement performances, clutch pitching, and walk-off moments. Below, we break down the biggest storylines, the players who dominated the diamond, and why your vote matters as we crown the last regular-season standout of 2025.

Division I: Hendricken’s Dominance and the Race for Seeding

Bishop Hendricken continues to set the pace in Division I, and they are doing it with the swagger of a team that knows October is their month. The Hawks currently lead La Salle in the tournament standings and hold a one-game edge in the loss column over East Providence. After suffering a lone defeat to the Townies, Hendricken responded like champions, ripping off an eight-game winning streak. Two of those victories came directly against the Rams, silencing any doubt about their resilience.

This week, the Hawks’ pitching staff was nearly untouchable. Senior ace Matt Correia tossed a complete-game two-hitter against a tough Cranston West lineup, striking out 11 while walking just one. But the real spark came from sophomore outfielder Liam O’Brien, who went 6-for-11 over three games with two doubles, a triple, and five RBIs. O’Brien also made a game-saving catch in center field against La Salle, robbing a potential go-ahead home run in the seventh inning.

Meanwhile, East Providence is lurking. The Townies have won four of their last five and are led by shortstop Jake Medeiros, who batted .500 with three stolen bases this week. If Hendricken stumbles in their final tune-up games, East Providence could steal the top seed. But for now, the Hawks look like the team to beat.

• Key Player to Watch: Liam O’Brien, Bishop Hendricken – Power, speed, and defensive wizardry.
• Prediction: Hendricken secures the No. 1 seed, but East Providence will be a nightmare in a three-game series.

Division II: East Greenwich Hanging On as Ponaganset Heats Up

East Greenwich still sits atop the Division II standings, but the Avengers might be hearing footsteps. Ponaganset is sizzling, and they proved it by handing East Greenwich a second defeat of the season to begin last week. The Chieftains rode the arm of junior right-hander Ryan Sullivan, who fired a six-inning, nine-strikeout gem while allowing only one earned run. Sullivan also helped his own cause with a two-run double in the fourth inning.

But East Greenwich is not backing down. Senior first baseman Ben Carney responded with a monster week, crushing three home runs and driving in eight runs across a doubleheader split with Ponaganset and a win over Coventry. Carney’s power is a legitimate game-changer, and his ability to carry the lineup makes the Avengers dangerous even when their pitching is not dominant.

Beyond the top two, Middletown, West Warwick, and Narragansett are all lurking. These teams should be considered dangerous once the double-elimination format takes hold. Middletown’s Tommy Silva struck out 14 batters in a complete-game shutout of Cumberland this week, while West Warwick’s Derek Pacheco hit for the cycle in a 12-4 win over Moses Brown. Narragansett, meanwhile, is riding a five-game winning streak behind the bat of catcher Ethan Gorman, who threw out four base stealers in a single game.

• Key Player to Watch: Ben Carney, East Greenwich – Power bat that can change a series in one swing.
• Prediction: Ponaganset catches East Greenwich for the top seed, but the Avengers still reach the final four.

Division III: Woonsocket’s Perfection and the Chase for History

If you want to talk about pure dominance, look no further than Woonsocket. The Villa Novans are four games from an unbeaten regular season in Division III and have opened a gap over Exeter-West Greenwich, Scituate, Providence Country Day, and Juanita Sanchez. After a tight 4-3 win over Pawtucket Co-op in a finals series rematch, Woonsocket has posted three consecutive shutouts by a combined score of 38-0. Yes, you read that correctly: 38 runs scored, zero allowed.

The engine behind this juggernaut is senior pitcher Camden Laferriere, who threw a no-hitter against Central Falls this week, striking out 15 and walking only two. Laferriere has not allowed an earned run in his last 21 innings. But the offense is just as scary. Junior shortstop Jaden Rivera is hitting .512 on the season and went 7-for-12 with four stolen bases and six runs scored this week. The Villa Novans are deep, disciplined, and hungry.

Exeter-West Greenwich is the most likely challenger, but they will need to find a way to solve Woonsocket’s pitching. The Scarlet Knights have a solid ace in Luke Fontaine, who struck out 10 in a win over Scituate, but they lack the offensive depth to keep up with the Novans in a high-scoring affair.

• Key Player to Watch: Camden Laferriere, Woonsocket – Unhittable right now and the clear frontrunner for D-III Pitcher of the Year.
• Prediction: Woonsocket finishes the regular season undefeated and rolls into the playoffs as the heavy favorite.

How to Vote for the Week 6 Longplex Athlete of the Week

Now comes the fun part: picking your Week 6 Longplex Athlete of the Week in Baseball. The nominees are a reflection of the incredible talent across all three divisions. Here are the standout candidates based on their performances in the final full week of the regular season:

• Liam O’Brien (Bishop Hendricken): 6-for-11, 2 doubles, triple, 5 RBIs, game-saving catch.
• Ben Carney (East Greenwich): 3 home runs, 8 RBIs, .600 on-base percentage.
• Camden Laferriere (Woonsocket): No-hitter, 15 strikeouts, 0.00 ERA over 7 innings.
• Tommy Silva (Middletown): Complete-game shutout, 14 strikeouts, 1 hit allowed.
• Jaden Rivera (Woonsocket): 7-for-12, 4 stolen bases, 6 runs, .583 batting average.

Voting is open now until Wednesday at midnight. The winner will be announced on Thursday and featured in our playoff preview coverage. This is your chance to support the player who delivered when it mattered most. Every vote counts, and the Longplex Athlete of the Week award is a badge of honor that carries weight heading into the postseason.

Final Predictions and What to Watch in the Playoffs

As we turn the page to the playoffs, the storylines are rich. In Division I, Bishop Hendricken is the clear favorite, but La Salle and East Providence have the arms to pull off an upset. The key for the Hawks will be whether their bullpen can hold up in a double-elimination format where they may need to win four games in five days.

In Division II, Ponaganset is the hottest team, but East Greenwich has the star power. Do not sleep on Narragansett, whose defense and pitching depth make them a nightmare matchup for any top seed. The double-elimination bracket rewards teams that can grind out low-scoring games, and the Mariners excel at that.

And in Division III, Woonsocket is on a mission. An undefeated regular season would be historic, but the playoffs are a different beast. Exeter-West Greenwich and Scituate both have the pitching to slow down the Novans, but nobody has proven they can stop Camden Laferriere. If Woonsocket’s offense stays hot, they will be cutting down the nets at Rhode Island College.

Final Thought: The Week 6 Longplex Athlete of the Week is more than a trophy—it is a snapshot of a season that is about to reach its peak. Whether you vote for a power hitter, a flamethrowing pitcher, or a defensive wizard, you are acknowledging the hard work that defines Rhode Island high school baseball. So cast your ballot, share it with your friends, and get ready for a playoff run that promises to be unforgettable.

Vote now. The diamond is waiting.

Source: Based on news from Yahoo Sports.