Tigers Softball Loses to Classical 2-0 Amid Rules Dispute

Lots of action, lots of controversy, but no runs.

The softball team drilled nine hits Thursday afternoon, but achieved nothing except frustration during a 2-0 Division II-East loss to Classical High School of Providence at the .

Despite allowing baserunners in all but one inning, right-hander Kathrine Paddock tossed a complete-game shutout and the Purple scratched out a couple of runs in the late innings to improve their divisional record to 3-1 and to hand the Tigers (2-1) their first loss of the season. At least for the time being.

Irate about what he deemed was a questionable rules interpretation, Tiverton Coach Art Mello played through, even with the game under protest stemming froman issue in the fourth inning. It will be referred to the Rhode Island Interscholastic League for resolution. There was a call among three critical ones during the contest which halted potential big innings for Tiverton and incensed Mello.

“Those calls changed the innings and changed our potential to change the score,” Mello said after the game.

The Tigers had loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the first frame when Jen Burton’s fly ball to left field apparently scored the fleet-footed Sarah Whiston from third base. Whiston, however, was called out for leaving too soon, canceling the score and ending the inning.

“She didn’t leave early, I was right there,” said Mello, who coached at third base for the entire contest. “We have the rocker step so that the back foot goes first, and so many umpires call it the wrong way.”

With Classical clinging to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth stanza, the Tigers placed runners on first and second base with one out when Taylor Furtado slammed a hard single to left field. Burton, running at second, was held by Mello at third, but ran into the coach and was called out for interference.

Mello vigorously disputed the decision, but was overruled and opted instead to protest at that point.

In the fifth inning, with two outs and runners at first and third base, Tiger Rachel Pimental, running at first base, broke for second, but stopped, delayed and returned to first when no play was made on her. Much to Mello’s disgust, Pimental was called out to end the threat.

“The umpire said there was no play on the runner,” Mello said. “We do that all the time. It’s called a fake steal.

“She (the runner) has to make a commitment one way or the other once the ball is in the circle. She did that; she went back to first base. I’ve been coaching for 14 years in this sport and I’ve never had that called.”

The rules disputes overshadowed a marvelous pitching performance by Tiverton Jess Drolet, who allowed just three hits, walked only two batters and recorded 11 strikeouts.

“She pitched very well today,” Mello said. “She wasn’t feeling good earlier in the week, but obviously pitched well enough to win.”

Paddock, however, proved to be just a little better as she issued no walks and fanned 4 batters. She also made a diving catch of a popped bunt in the third inning and fired to first base for a double play.

Classical snapped a scoreless duel in the fourth frame when Marine Rhodes walked, moved to second on an infield out and raced home on Brandi Carson’s ground single to right field. The Purple added an insurance tally in the sixth stanza when Crystal Morrison (who had 2 hits) singled, stole second and came home on a pair of wild pitches.

Classical loaded the bases later in the same inning with two outs before Drolet induced Melina Favalessa to pop out to third baseman Emily Masse.

Tiverton received two-hit performances from Whiston, Pimental, Furtado and Tammy Boutilier, but stranded a total of seven baserunners.

Despite the loss, Mello said he was pleased with his team’s performance.

“We held them to just two runs,” he said. “We’re a good team, we’ll bounce back and we’ll see them again.”

The Tigers return to action today (Friday, April 15), at 4 at Town Field against Mt. Hope Regional of Bristol in another Division II-East outing.