MYSTERY PICTURE SOLVED: Learn about the 1985 Tiverton High baseball team

The most recent Mystery Picture, showing a Tiverton High School baseball team, prompted rapid and thorough responses.

Based on the feedback, this was the 1985 Tigers who advanced to the Rhode Island semifinals before losing to Cranston East 8-1. Special thanks to Jim Byrne, Scott Laverdiere, Kyle Welchman and Jim Hines.

The identifications.

Front: Tony “Duke” Martin, Dan Pimental, Gary Doster, Jim Hines, Marc Sefrino, Chris Morrow, Jimmy Duclos, Kyle Welchman.

Rear: Head coach Steve Lake, Scott Laverdiere, Dave Rosa, Jim Byrne, Mike Farias, Mike Brigham, Matt Cunningham, Bill Phillips, assistant coach Ron Westmoreland, assistant coach Bob Murray.

Among those I recognized in a hurry, beside coaches Lake and Murray, were former Case High and Durfee girls’ hoops coach Tony Martin and Bill Phillips, now a longtime assistant football coach at THS. Martin still has the same hair-do. But I learned his nickname is/was Duke. Very cool. Phillips, with his impish grin (dusted that expression off), looks the same, just a tad stouter.

Covering Tiverton baseball games was not my favorite chore back in those days only because Lake, a good guy, had a firm policy of NOT revealing his lineup to anyone before the pre-game meeting with the umpires and opposing coach. You may as well have tried breaking into Fort Knox. Given a time machine, I would actually go back in time and try to steal/copy Lake lineup before the game. It would require serious planning and require, perhaps, an accomplice faking cardiac arrest on the field, near the backstop. It would be easier, of course, if the smart phone could some back in time with me for snapping a quick picture.

Still, I would probably need to bring in Danny Ocean for this one.

Back to the '85 Tigers, here are a couple of the Mystery Picture comments received via Facebook or email:

“Lowest seed in the playoffs. We went to Chariho and knocked them off in 12 innings. Matt Cunningham pitched the best game I ever saw. I warmed up 4 times. He wasn’t coming out. I remember sitting next to him while he held a rock in his throwing hand so the ball felt lighter. His arm was hurting that bad. Then Jimmy and I pitched against Lincoln and beat them on the road. Lost at Cranston next. But we went to McCoy the following year.” – Kyle Welchman

“1985 Varsity Baseball Team. We were a low seed in the playoffs and beat some good teams to get to the state Semi-Finals before losing to Cranston East 8-1. We scored 1 run in the first inning and that was it.” – Jim Byrne

If bored, email Greg Sullivan at gsullivan@heraldnews.com. In Twitter Village he hangs @GregSullivanHN.