Sports
Frantic Finish Lifts Falcons Over Skippers
Cranston West defeats North Kingstown 3-2 in Division I state tournament.
A tight game ended in victory for Cranston High School West as the North Kingstown High School girls softball team fell to the Falcons 3-2 in the Division I state playoffs. The third-seeded Falcons got a late-inning hit to win the game 3-2 in walk-off fashion against the seventh-seeded Skippers.
It was scoreless through three innings of play, as both pitchers were extremely effective. Each had surrendered two hits and had not given up a run through three innings. Sophomore Kelly McDonough started on the mound for the Falcons and sophomore Taylor Butler was on the hill for the Skippers.
Jeff Smith, Falcons head coach, spoke about his pitcher's performance. "Kelly continues to focus and does not let anything bother her," he said, "She got stronger as the game went on."
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McDonough proved her strength both on the mound and at the plate as she broke the scoreless game in the bottom of the fourth with her RBI triple, giving the Falcons a 2-0 lead.
The Skippers squandered a chance to score in the top of the fifth as Katie Marquis, who led off the inning with a single, was thrown out at home plate for the final out of the inning.
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North Kingstown refused to go down without a fight and applied pressure in the sixth inning. Sarah Deal drove in the Skippers first run with a single to left field. When Lomas (who came in to run for Deal) successfuly stole second base, the throw went into centerfield, allowing the tying run to score.
The inning ended in familiar fashion for the Skippers. A runner was thrown out at home, although it was a disputed call. Members of the crowd were torn on the call at the plate, but the umpire made the call, ending the inning with the game tied at 2-2.
"Our style all year has been to be super aggressive," Skippers coach Adam Laliberte said.
In the bottom half of the seventh, the Falcons assured there would be no extra innings. Captain Isabel MarcAurele drove in the winning run on an RBI double to left center. Cranston West won the game 3-2 and will face Cumberland on Wednesday night.
North Kingstown moves into the losers bracket and they will play on the road against Lincoln game today at 3:30 p.m.
Laliberte felt his team would respond well to the tough loss. "A lot of my kids are veterans and have been here before," he said.
"Taylor has been throwing the ball really well lately," the coach added.
