By ERIC BENEVIDES

Sports writer

PAWTUCKET --- Jack Cruz has had some superb outings in his high school career, but none like the performance he delivered on Tuesday afternoon. 
The Tolman High senior pitcher was strong from start to finish in spinning a no-hitter at Davies Tech. Cruz struck out five batters and allowed just three batted balls to leave the infield as he and the Tigers rolled to a 7-0 victory in their Division II crossover game at Slater Park’s McConnon Field.
“Jack’s been great for us this year,” said Tolman coach Theo Murray, whose squad is now 3-1 and atop the Division II-East standings. “I’m very happy with his performance. Jack was throwing strikes early in counts and he was locating his fastball and curveball for strikes. He did a great job.”
The Tigers, who had totaled just 17 hits in their first three games, collected a season-high eight off Davies starting pitcher Adam Robinson and reliever Stephen Hereth, and no player had a bigger day that No. 2 batter Jeirel Ruiz, who collected three hard-hit doubles in four at-bats.
Cleanup batter Justin Tilley and catcher Troy Sawyer also went 2-for-3 for the Tigers, and one of Tilley’s hits was a solo home run in the bottom of the first inning to straightaway center field that left the ballpark in a hurry and cleared the fir trees beyond the fence.  
“Pitching and defense have been strong for us so far, but our bats have been kind of holding us behind a little bit,” added Murray. “I know it’s still early, but we have to get them going.”
Surprisingly, the Tigers made a season-high five miscues behind Cruz, who also issued four walks, but the Patriots (now 1-4) weren’t able to capitalize on their few opportunities.
“Our defense was a little shaky, but they’ve always had my back,” admitted Cruz, who raised his record to 3-0 and has allowed just 10 hits in 19 innings of work. “They’ve always made the plays when they need to (make them).”
The Tigers supplied Cruz with all the support they needed in their initial at-bats. Derek Ethier got things going by getting plunked by a pitch, and after he stole second and third base, Ruiz drove him home with a double to right-center field.
Later that inning, with two gone and no one on base, Tilley turned on a 2-1 pitch by Robinson and deposited it well over the 340-foot sign in center for his home run.
The Tigers upped their lead to 3-0 in the fourth when Sawyer ripped a one-out double to the fence in right-field, and with two outs, he came home with ease on Brandon Brown’s ground single up the middle.
The Patriots’ best chance to score came in the fifth, when with one out, Cruz walked Stephen Doyon and Max Lascola. But Cruz escaped the mini jam by getting the next two batters to softly pop out in the infield.       
“I knew what was going on,” noted Cruz. “I just tried not to think about (the no-hit bid). I knew that once I thought about it, I’d probably let up a hit.”
Cruz got a long rest on the bench in the bottom of the fifth, as his teammates went around the lineup and added four more runs. Tilley drove in Ruiz with the first run with a line single to left, and two batters later, Sawyer added the inning’s big hit with a single to center that scored Jon Gagnon and Tilley.
Cruz finished his gem strong, retiring eight of the final nine batters he faced and fanning three of his final six.
“It was a great game,“ said Cruz. “I don’t think I’ve ever thrown a no-hitter. I think the best I’ve done is a one or a two-hitter.”
The Tigers won’t have very long to celebrate Cruz’s no-hitter. They return to action this morning with an 11 a.m. ballgame against Burrillville High at the Broncos’ Eccleston Field. Davies will also host the Wheeler School today at 3:30 p.m.
***
Davies        000    000    0--0-0-3
Tolman        200    140    x--7-8-5
Adam Robinson, Stephen Hereth (5) and Marquis Melia; Jack Cruz and Troy Sawyer. HR -- Justin Tilley (T).