Girls Softball: MSC Ends Coventry's Fastpitch Reign, 2-0

Kristen Rodrigues pitched a three-hitter and Brianna Castro drove in the only runs of the game, bringing  Mount St. Charles Academy to a 2-0 victory over Coventry and eliminating the two-time defending state champions, in a RIIL Division One opening round fastpitch softball game.

MSC, the #9 seed, now advances to play #1 Lincoln in a best-of-three quarterfinals series at Lincoln High School on Saturday, June 4, starting at 6 p.m.

In swirling, dust-devil conditions that sometimes halted play, the Mounties strung together three hits on just four pitches in the third inning to get all the runs they needed. Emily Georgeu stroked a first-pitch single, Taylor Messier laid down a bunt hit on the first pitch and Castro smashed a double to left to bring her teammates home.

But the key to the game was the pitching by Rodrigues, who allowed just three hits, including two by opposing pitcher Sarah Koerner.

“Last time we played them and lost, 8-5, we allowed 13 hits and committed six errors,” said MSC head coach Clifford Matthews. “This time we played much better defense behind Kristen and I told her to keep the ball down and she did.”

When the Oakers did get runners on base, the visitors didn’t allow them to advance far, erasing four Oakers on 4-6-3 double play in the second and a heads-up double play later.

When Koerner bunted for a hit just inside the third base line, left fielder Carissa Gould caught a fly ball hit by Tatiana Webb. Despite colliding and tumbling with centerfielder Taylor Messier, Gould held on for the out with Kearns making it to second. Amanda Reid then hit a crisp grounder to MSC shortstop, Emily Hendricks, deliberately hesitating before throwing to first for the out. First baseman Nicole Grinsell immediately threw across the diamond to third, where Aria DiMeo easily tagged out Kearns.

“That is the fourth time we’ve done that this year and has become our signature play,” said Matthews.  "And that is why Hendricks is an All-Stater."

The Oakers were retired 1-2-3 in their last at bat of the season on three grounders and successful throws to first, two to Hendricks and the other by Castro from second.

Coventry was hoping to become the only other fastpitch team other than St. Raphael Academy (1998-2000) to three-peat.

“We’ve got to hit the ball to win,” said Oakers head coach Chris Daigneault. “I never thought she (Rodrigues) could shut us out.  But she kept the ball down low and many of our players are a high-ball hitting team and that might have had something to do with it.”

With five seniors graduating, including Koerner, Charlotte Bracken, Amanda Reid, Megan Bell and Haylee McHale,  Daigneault added: “I am really proud of this team. They won two state championships in a row and not too many players on any team at any school can say that."

Koerner, who will be attending southern Connecticut State University next year, said she will be playing softball there for the Owls. "I'm disappointed, but we definitely gave it our best effort," she said.

MSC has played Lincoln (14-2,) its first-place Division One North rival, tougher than any team this season. The Mounties won, 4-3, a few weeks ago and lost by just 1-0 at the start of the season.