Sports teams cut at Cranston East, West

CRANSTON, R.I. (WPRI) - The Cranston School Committee voted Tuesday night to cut several sports programs at Cranston High Schools East and West , with the aim of merging teams to represent both schools .

Freshman baseball, basketball, and football programs received the axe Tuesday night, as did boys and girls tennis, boys and girls indoor track, girls field hockey, and golf.

Board members made the cuts to close a $130,000 deficit in the athletic department.

However, the programs could come back, if Cranston East and West are allowed to merge their teams by the Rhode Island Interscholastic League.

Cranston Athletic Director MIchael Traficante plans to go before the Interscholastic League on Thursday.

He said he does not expect a decision right away, since the league would have to consider the impact of a merger on other schools.

The proposal to merge several of Cranston East's and West's teams has met with controversy , since both schools are rivals.