Schools
Softball: McCoart Leads Lions Past Skippers
Lincoln defeats North Kingstown 4-0 at Saylesville Elementary School.
It's the end of the road for the North Kingstown High School girls softball team. The Skippers traveled to Saylesville Elementary School in Lincoln to take on the Lions on Tuesday afternoon. The winner would advance to the next round of the one loss bracket in the Division I state championships and the losing team would be playing their last game of the season.
Thanks to a sensational pitching performance by Lions senior Alyssa McCoart, Lincoln won the game 4-0. McCoart pitched a complete game, allowing only three hits and recorded 10 strikeouts on the afternoon.
"Alyssa McCoart did a fantastic job today and she has come up big for us in the stretch run," Lions coach Jon Bruckner said.
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North Kingstown coach Adam Laliberte added, "Alyssa did a great job today and she is one of the best pitchers in the state."
The Lions got on the board in the bottom of the first inning. With runners on first and third and two outs, McCoart attempted to steal second base. When the throw went into centerfield, courtesy runner Casie Beauchemin crossed home plate, giving Lincoln a 1-0 lead.
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McCoart proved to be a double threat in the game as she also provided a spark on offense. In the bottom of the third inning, her three-run blast to center field extended the Lions advantage to 4-0. Skippers senior center fielder Katie Marquis almost made a sensational catch at the fence, but the ball went just over her glove.
North Kingstown threatened in the top of the sixth with two outs as Sarah Deal doubled to center, but was stranded there when McCoart retired the next batter on a ground out.
Lincoln will play Cumberland at 5:30 p.m. today at Rhode Island College.
Bruckner spoke about his team's unity. "We have great chemistry and these group of girls care about each other a lot," he said.
Laliberte reflected on the season and spoke about his starting pitcher, Taylor Butler. "Taylor pitched a great game and did an amazing job in the playoffs for us," he said.
"Overall I am very happy and proud of these kids," the coach added.
