Tiverton Boys' Tennis Team Ousted From State Playoffs

BOYS’ TENNIS (7-5 final regular-season record)

After (4-1) in the quarterfinal round of the Division III State Playoffs, was eliminated in the semifinal round by Exeter-West Greenwich Regional High School, 4-2, at Wheeler School Farm in Seekonk, MA. The Tigers claimed just one singles’ triumph – Jordan Hancock at No. 4 over John Amaral (6-1, 6-0) – and one doubles’ victory – Rob Walsh-Alex Rosa at No.3 (6-0, 6-0) – and finished the 2011 season with an 8-6 record against divisional rivals.

“Exeter-West Greenwich is a very good team and they just outplayed us today,” said THS Coach Jeff Heath. “Overall, I think we had a heck of a season and I’m very proud of how much we progressed over last year. Our guys gave a great effort in every match we played and they were dedicated to each other and to improving.”

Earlier, Tiverton captured the last two doubles’ matches and subsequently a critical 4-3 Division III-South victory at West Warwick High School. The Tigers split the singles’ tilts with No. 1 Jordan Darkow (6-0, 6-3) and No. 4 Jordan Hancock (6-1, 6-3) triumphing handily and won in doubles behind No. 2 Matt Correia-Alex Rosa (6-4, 6-4) and No. 3 Robert Walsh-Willie Blake (7-5, 6-2).

Also, the Tigers lost three of four singles’ matches and bowed to visiting Narragansett, 4-3, in a Division III-South outing. Andrew Sampaio (6-0, 6-0) recorded the lone singles’ victory for Tiverton, while its doubles’ tandem of Correia-Walsh (6-1, 6-3) also triumphed and the Tigers gained a point on a forfeit.

BOYS’ LACROSSE (2-10 final regular-season record)

Tiverton closed the books on its 2011 campaign with a 13-3 loss to host Warwick Veterans High School in a quarterfinal-round match of the Division III playoffs. The Hurricanes zipped to a 9-2 lead by halftime and never looked back while earning a berth in the semifinal round this week against city rival Toll Gate High School.

Ken Welchman scored all three goals for the Tigers and netminder Evan McGreavey rejected 15 shots.

Tiverton concluded its regular-season schedule with a 2-10 record after bowing to Narragansett High (6-2) and besting Scituate High School (4-3) in Division III outings.

GIRLS’ LACROSSE (14-0 final regular-season record)

Tiverton methodically wore down visiting Cranston East High School en route to a 12-6 victory over the Thunderbolts in a quarterfinal-round pairing of the Division II State Playoffs. Megan Raposa and Samantha Welchman keyed the Tigers’ assault with 3 goals apiece, while Maya Bergandy totaled 2 goals and Kara Lotz, Kate Karzenski (along with 2 assists), Olivia Bergandy and Jackie Wilson scored 1 goal apiece. Winning netminder Alex Azevedo rejected 10 shots.

Tiverton now advances to the semifinal-round of the Division II playoffs and will host Cumberland High School on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

Earlier, Tiverton clinched no worse than a tie for the Division II-South regular-season title when it crushed host Chariho Regional High School, 20-6. Welchman and Lotz both scored 4 goals for the Tigers, while Raposa and Olivia Bergandy each notched 3 goals and Maya Bergandy added two goals.

Tiverton capped their perfect 14-0 season finish on Tuesday, May 25 with a 16-13 double overtime .

SOFTBALL (12-4, final regular-season record)

Tiverton scored two runs in the top of the sixth inning and staved off a late comeback to nip host Narragansett High School, 5-3, in a Division II crossover contest. Winning pitcher Jessica Drolet scattered eight hits and struck out 10 batters in a complete-game effort and Sarah Barboza fueled the Tigers’ attack with 3 hits and 3 runs batted in.

Earlier, Tiverton twice squandered four-run leads and lost a Division II-East heartbreaker at Classical High School of Providence when the Purple pushed across five runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. Jenny Burton pitched a complete game for the Tigers and notched 4 strikeouts.

Also, Tiverton snapped a scoreless duel with a four-run outburst in the bottom of the third inning and held on to edge visiting Tolman High School of Pawtucket, 4-3, in a Division II-East clash. Winning pitcher Drolet scattered 7 hits and whiffed 4 batters in a route-going performance and fueled the Tiger attack with three hits, including a three-run home run in the third chapter.

Tiverton in a 10-0 win on Saturday afternoon.

BASEBALL (6-12 final regular-season record)

The Tigers completed a season sweep of rival , using an eight-run uprising in the top of the fifth inning to fuel an 11-6 road victory over the Islanders in their 2011 season finale. Mike Perella and Mitch Hartnett both had run-scorings hits in the fifth frame, while John Hartnett slugged a two-run home run in the first chapter and finished with 2 hits. Derrick Paquette, with relief help from Mitch Hartnett, was the winning pitcher.

Earlier, Tiverton pulled off its biggest victory of the season, using Jacob Kapstein’s two-out, run-scoring single in the bottom of the seventh to shock visiting (and division-leading) North Kingstown High School, 7-6, in a Division I-South encounter. Mike Perella picked up the win for the Tigers, tossing a complete game, scattering 7 hits and striking out 7 Skippers. Perella also shone offensively with 2 hits and 2 runs batted in. In a see-saw battle, Tiverton was tied five times and led five times.

Despite the late-season surge, the Tigers finished with a 6-12 record and missed out on a playoff berth.

GOLF (1-11 final regular-season record)

Tiverton cracked the win column for the first time this season, nosing out of Newport, 202-203, in an Eastern Division competition played at the Montaup Country Club in Portsmouth. Mike Pacheco topped the Tigers with a 48 and was followed by Matt Amaral (49), Matt Bessette (52) and Lucas Munafo (53).