’Canes rout Islanders, improve to 6-0

Posted 4/21/16

The Warwick Vets softball team scored 54 runs over its first five games, and its offense didn’t slow down one bit on Tuesday against Middletown.

The ’Canes put the game away with a five-run …

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’Canes rout Islanders, improve to 6-0

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The Warwick Vets softball team scored 54 runs over its first five games, and its offense didn’t slow down one bit on Tuesday against Middletown.

The ’Canes put the game away with a five-run fourth inning, highlighted by a three-run homer from Natasha Savage, as they downed the Islanders, 10-1, to move to 6-0 in Division II.

Pitcher Kayla Morin retired Middletown in the top of the first, before helping herself out at the plate in the bottom half of the inning.

She drew a leadoff walk and moved to third on a single from Savage. Morin then gave her team a 1-0 lead when a throw down to second was misplayed with Savage stealing second.

The Islanders would respond with their only run of the day, with Hannah Gibbison scoring on an Alexandra Firlings groundout to second, tying the game at 1 in the top of the second.

Vets would take over the game with its bats from there.

The ’Canes added three runs in the second, one in the third and five in the fourth, resulting in nine unanswered runs.

Vets’ bats have simply been explosive lately, with its lineup averaging more than 10 runs per game over its first six games.

“We’ve been swinging the bat really well,” Vets head coach Paul Kennedy said. “We’ve just continued to hit up and down the order. I’m not so sure right now that we have a weak link.”

Arietta Chevian got the offense going in the second inning with a leadoff single. Senior catcher Emily Walason followed by smacking a triple to swing the lead back in Vets’ favor, scoring Chevian. A throwing error allowed Walason to scurry home, as well, giving the ’Canes a 3-1 lead.

That lead would be pushed to 4-1 later in the frame when pinch runner Destinee Charette touched home on third baseman Alexis LeBelle’s single.

After the second inning, Morin silenced Middletown’s bats, scattering a total of nine hits on the day, while allowing just one run. She also fanned five.

Freshman Caitlyn Fallon has been Vets’ ace in the circle, but with two big games coming up, Morin was awarded the start and didn’t disappoint.

Having depth at pitching is never a bad thing, and Kennedy certainly has that. In addition to Fallon being lights out, Morin has also provided two quality starts.

“Last week we played three games in a row, so we mixed Kayla in,” Kennedy said. “I think Kayla’s pitched two games and has given up two runs. That’s nice, too. I have some quality pitching on this team. It’s nice to have some options.”

With Morin stifling Middletown’s lineup, Vets’ offense continued to go to work.

Michelle Spremulli started the bottom of the third with a fly ball to left field that was misplayed, allowing her to move to third.

Fallon would plate Spremulli with a hard groundball to shortstop, increasing the lead to 5-1.

Any comeback hope for Middletown was erased in the bottom of the fourth.

After Mallorie Link and Morin reached safely due to a pair of errors, Savage stepped to the plate and crushed a one-out pitch over the left fielder’s head. With the ball rolling all the way to the fence, Savage had more than enough time to round the bases for a three-run home run, making it 8-1.

“Natasha has been struggling just a bit at the plate, but it was nice to see her come out of it,” Kennedy said. “She’s a talented hitter. When she starts clicking on all cylinders, the lineup’s going to be even better. When she starts clicking like she can, we’re an order to be reckoned with.”

Chevian provided an RBI single later in the inning, and Walason drove in another with a sacrifice fly to up the advantage to 10-1, capping the scoring for the day.

Vets is now one of just four teams in Division II that are unbeaten. However, no team has as many wins as the ’Canes do.

“We’re a good team, I know we’re a good team,” Kennedy said. “Are we a great team? I’m not going to say that yet. We have a lot to do before I use that label. We’re a solid team – we hit, pitch, run, play defense, field. We’re a good, good team. I’ll hold off on any other niceties until a little bit later.”

There’s no question that this Vets team has high aspirations in its last season. And with the amount of talent that it possesses, it should have a chance to be there at the end of the postseason.

“There’s no more building for next year,” Kennedy said. “The future is now. And I’m maybe coaching a bit differently with that in mind – there is no more building. We’d like to finish the season maybe on a college campus. There are a lot of good teams out there, but I think it’s possible.”

The ’Canes will have a tough test today when they travel to 2-0 Portsmouth for a 4 p.m. start.

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