East Greenwich Softball Wins District 3 Championship

The 11/12 year-old East Greenwich Girl’s softball team won the District 3 championship yesterday after defeating Westerly National 8-1. 

East Greenwich jumped out to an early lead after Cassidy Kosh singled and then stole second, advanced to third on a passed ball, and then finally scored on a Maddy Graul groundout giving EG the early 1-0 lead. 

EG left the bases loaded in the second inning and their 1-0 lead would remain until the 5^th inning.

Hometown pitcher, Cora Geunes, stifled any Westerly National offensive attempt during the first 4 full innings. Geunes, who allowed 2 hits the entire game, struck out 10 in East Greenwich’s victory.

“She stepped up, and she did what she had to do,” commented Coach Tom Graul on his pitcher’s performance.

In the fifth inning, Westerly National’s offense woke up and tied the game after Olivia Riley’s bloop single into right-center field.  However, Geunes was able to get herself out of the inning by only allowing one run, despite the two runners that were left in scoring position.

Despite the rally by Westerly National, East Greenwich came back swinging in the bottom half of the fifth by adding 7 runs.

“We’re a good hitting team,” said Coach Graul, “but it took a little while to get to (Westerly National’s) pitcher.”

After a leadoff single by Maddy Graul, Courtney McMullen singled giving EG the 2-1 lead. Two more RBI singles by Skylar Fontaine and Remy Chester extended East Greenwich’s lead to 4-1.

However it was Samantha Licciardi’s third hit of the day, a 2 RBI single, which stopped any momentum that Westerly National might have had left and increased EG’s lead to 8-1. 

Coach Graul was proud of his team, who he thought may have been in the “shadows” of last year’s talented 11/12 group. “This is a good group of kids and I’m happy they got their own this year,” he said commenting on the district championship.

With the district win, East Greenwich will move onto the state tournament and play the District 2 champion.