CRANSTON — Two teams arrived at Pagano Field with undefeated records yesterday.

When the dust settled, Portsmouth (10-0), the defending Division II state champions, had shocked Cranston West (9-1), the defending Division I state champions, 4-1, in a Division I crossover game.

Cranston West’s Daniel Lovejoy reaches second base after the throw to Portsmouth’s Matt Billington hits Lovejoy yesterday. For more photos, visit: www.projo.com/highschool

The providence journal / Ruben W. Perez Ruben W. Perez

“We knew that we had a good chance to win coming in with the way we’ve been hitting the ball, so it feels pretty good to beat them,” Portsmouth pitcher John Sleeper said. “They are the defending champs. We were coming in hoping to get some recognition so people could see that we are actually going to be a contender this year.”

Cranston West had entered the gamescoring nearly 12 runs per contest, but Sleeper dominated the Falcons’ batters. He had excellent movement on his curveball and he mixed it in well with his fastball and changeup.

“I was feeling really good today,” Sleeper said. “I was just throwing a lot of curveballs and a lot of two-seam fastballs to keep them off-balance and get them leaning. I was trying to keep it away for the most part. … I wanted to be on the hill today to help the team win.”

Sleeper pitched a complete-game two-hitter, finishing with six strikeouts.

“His fastball is not overpowering, but when he backs it up with that curveball and changeup he’s pretty tough,” Portsmouth coach David Ulmschneider said. “Sleeper kept us off-balance,” Cranston West coach Robert Malo said. “He mixed it up well and we had a tough time staying back and hitting the junk. … When we did hit the ball, it seemed like we hit it right at them.”

Cranston West starter Ben Hanson pitched well early. He fanned 10 batters in 5 2/3 innings and had a no-hitter going through three innings, but the Patriots caught up to him in the fourth after Stephen Kemble had given the Falcons a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning with a solo home run.

Matt Billington tied the score when he drove in John Pedrotty with an RBI double he crushed to deep center field.

In the top of the fifth inning, Sleeper helped his cause when he one-hopped a double off of the center-field fence. Ryan Westmoreland scored.

“I was just sitting on a fastball,” Sleeper said. “He threw a high fastball and I just went with it and took it deep.”

Dan Dugan joined the hit parade in the top of the sixth when he hit an RBI double to right field that plated James Ayars.

Billington, who was 2-for-3 with a walk, two doubles, and two RBI, added an insurance run in the top of the seventh inning when he lined an RBI double to left-center that plated Adam Reece.

“Billington hasn’t gotten as much credit as some of the other guys, but he’s been hitting the ball hard and all over the place,” Sleeper said. “He’s been coming up big when we need him to.”

“That’s what Matty does,” Ulmschneider said. “He forced his way into the lineup and he’s doing a great job. Every time there is a big situation he rises to the occasion.”

“My hat goes off to them,” Malo said. “They played a great game. They had all the assets today. They had great pitching, they played extremely solid defense and they got timely hits.”

roblee@projo.com