2021 -- H 6485

========

LC003116

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021

____________

H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

JOYOUSLY CONGRATULATING THE HOPE HIGH SCHOOL BOYS BASEBALL TEAM

ON WINNING THE 2021 RHODE ISLAND HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL DIVISION III

STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

     Introduced By: Representatives Diaz, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Ajello, Filippi, Slater,
Williams, J Lombardi, Hull, and Kislak

     Date Introduced: June 30, 2021

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, The Hope High School Baseball Team compiled a sterling 10-2 regular

season record and entered the Rhode Island Division III playoffs as a one seed with high hopes of

winning a State Championship for the first time in 79 years; and

     WHEREAS, In the opening round of the Rhode Island Baseball Playoffs Bracket, Hope

High School easily dispatched Shea High School by the score of 16 to 6 to advance to the

semifinals where they faced Davies Career & Technical High School. In a hard fought series,

Hope and Davies split the first two games. In the decisive third game, the gutsy Hope team

battled tenaciously despite having four players injured. They emerged victorious in the clinching

game by a 7-6 score thanks to a clutch walk-off hit provided by Eddison Ramos; and

     WHEREAS, In a thrilling series contested against Exeter-West Greenwich at McCarthy

Field in West Warwick, Hope High School prevailed in a rousing, bitterly fought three game

contest. Hope won game one thanks to a strong pitching performance provided by Livio

Rodriguez. After dropping game two, things were looking bleak for Hope High School in the

deciding game as they trailed by one run in the seventh inning. However, the Hope baseball team

once again displayed the grit and toughness they had exhibited all season as they rallied and

scored the two game-winning runs on a clutch walk-off extra base hit provided by Erick Batista to

win the 2021 Rhode Island High School Division III Baseball Championship; and

     WHEREAS, Winning a State Championship in any team sport is an incredible

accomplishment only possible if everyone on the team gives their all and puts team needs first

ahead of individual aspirations. The 2021 Hope High School Baseball Team had those amazing

qualities in abundance as they were led all season by the outstanding play and support provided

by Loudwin Almanzar, Erick Batista, Jose Corporan, Jesus Cortorreal, Julio Minyety, Ruben

Ogando, Eddison Ramos, Gerlin Reyes, Livio Rodriguez, Victor Suarez, Victor Suazo, Abraham

Ventura, Osvaldo Jose Zaputa, and Osvaldo Samuel Zapata. The Hope Baseball Team was also

aided all season by the outstanding leadership provided by Head Coach Steve Breitbach, who just

finished his fifth season as a math teacher and head baseball coach at Hope High School, and

Assistant Coach Pedro Correia who has been coaching at Hope High School for about forty years;

now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby

joyously congratulates the 2021 Hope High School Baseball Team on winning the 2021 Rhode

Island High School Baseball Division III State Championship; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Hope High School Baseball Head Coach, Steve

Breitbach.

========

LC003116

========

LC003116 - Page 2 of 2