Paul Pitches Cumberland to 6-0 win Over Cranston West

With a dominating two-hit, 13-strikeout performance by Cumberland pitcher Bethany Paul, it still took a six-run outburst by the #4 Clippers in the eighth inning to finally get past #3 Cranston West, 6-0, to eliminate the Falcons in a Division I loser’s bracket softball game on Saturday at Rhode Island College.

While Paul was mowing down hitter after hitter, Falcons pitcher Kelly McDonough and her teammates hung in against the Clippers. The sophomore hurler allowed just five hits in the first seven innings with shortstop Gianna Hathaway and third baseman Denise Archetto recording several assists between them. Rightfielder Jamie Ricci also made a few running basket catches.

Cumberland got two runners on in the first, third and sixth innings, but McDonough and her Falcons defense didn’t bend to keep the Clippers from scoring and left them stranded.

Paul, meanwhile, was nearly untouchable, retiring all three batters in the order six of eight innings. The only Falcons batters to get hits were Alicia Hersey in the third and Ashleigh Rousseau in the seventh- both with singles.

But in the ill-fated eighth inning for the Falcons, the Clippers finally broke through by reaching base five successive times on just two hits, one a three-run triple by Rebecca Geddes.  They also capitalized on two errors.

With designated runner at second base to start the extra inning, Kristen Peffer laid down a bunt, but reached base on a fielder’s choice. Paul hit a grounder to third and made it to first on a dropped ball. Christina Speroni singled in the second run. Kaitlyn Pluta was intentionally walked to load the bases before Geddes cleared the bases with her extra-base hit to the right field fence. Samantha Bertherman’s sacrifice fly delivered final run.

“One miscue on a bunt and everything fell off a little bit after that in the eighth,” said Cranston West head coach Jeff Smith.  “Paul has a blazing fastball, a curve that comes in, a changeup and changes speeds, so it’s almost impossible to catch up to her unless you see her on a regular basis. “And she’s one of the best fielding pitchers you would see.

“The kids really responded and played past their potential,” Smith said of his season. “We had eight seniors- six of them starters- but this was a very cohesive group. It was a joy to coach them and they got along so well with each other. The seniors showed lots of leadership and maturity and were very good role models for the kids. Denise Archetto will be going on to play at Lasell College and Ashleigh Rousseau is going to Cornell on an academic and softball scholarship. Every single of our 24 players is on the honor roll.”

“The kids played great,” said Clippers head coach Marty Crowley. "Geddes came up with the triple to give us that big cushion and she had doubled earlier. It was our first game in our last four that wasn’t a one-run game. Our kids fought and I keep using the word ‘resilient’, but that’s what it is. Cranston West played great and they are a good team.”

“Beth was amazing,” added Crowley. “Big players step up in big games and that’s what she did tonight. Going into the seventh inning, they had 3, 4, 5 up, and she really bore down. She kept them off balance with her changeup.  A lot of credit goes to Krissy Peffer, our catcher, too.”

Cumberland and Mt. St. Charles wiill both vy for their first state softball championship, but the Clippers will have to win twice to gain the crown. The rivals split during the season, but the Mounties won a nailbiter, 1-0, against the Clippers earlier in the playoff.

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