The CCRI Lady Knights softball team traveled to Dean College’s Longley Field in Franklin, Mass. Sunday and won the Region XXI championship against rival Dean College, sweeping the Bulldogs in a doubleheader by scores of 5-0 and 13-2.

CCRI improved its record to 12-12 overall and 9-3 in Region XXI play. The Lady Knights also advance to the District I Championship and will face No. 6 Mercyhurst North East from North East Pennsylvania, the winner of the Region XV Championship.  

Game 1

In the circle for the Lady Knights, freshman Taylor Butler (North Kingstown) was dominant, throwing seven shutout innings and allowing just four hits, walking none and striking out seven. At the plate, Butler also helped her cause with two hits and a run scored.

The game was much closer that the score would indicate, with the teams tied 0-0 going into the sixth inning. The Lady Knights were able to score one in the sixth and four in the seventh to secure the game one victory.

The Lady Knights had four hits in the first five innings. Butler had one in the first, Jess Brosnahan (Warwick) had one in the second, captain Alex Place had one in the third and captain Liz Coburn (Chepachet) had one in the fifth.

Sarah Deal (North Kingstown) hit a one-out single in the sixth inning, followed by singles from Ashley Spear (Harrisville) and Brosnahan, and Sam Archambeault (Harrisville) knocked in Deal on an RBI single. The Lady Knights’ four runs in the seventh inning all came with two outs.

Overall offensively, Brosnahan led the way, going 3-for-4 with a double, two RBI, and a stolen base followed by Ashley Spear with two hits a run scored and a RBI. Also having a big game was Place with two hits and a run scored, Deal with a hit, two runs scored, a walk and a stolen base, Archambeault with a hit, an RBI and a stolen base and Coburn with a hit. 

Game 2

In the circle for the Lady Knights was sophomore Macayla Paiva (West Greenwich), who threw five strong innings allowing just three earned runs on five hits, walking one and striking out one. 

The Lady Knights offense came out blazing. CCRI scored twice in the first inning. Butler singled with one out and advanced to second on passed ball, Spear hit a two-out RBI single and Brosnahan added an RBI single.

In the third inning, the Lady Knights exploded for six runs to blow the game open. Deal led-off with a single and advanced to second on a passed ball, Brosnahan had a one-out RBI single, and Coburn and Archambeault each singled to load the bases. Amber Boucher cleared the bases with a big three-run double. Place then singled to score Boucher. The inning wasn’t over, as Butler singled and Deal followed with an RBI single.

CCRI scored three more runs scored in the fourth inning.

For the game, Brosnahan was a perfect 4-for-4 with two doubles, two RBI and a run scored. Boucher had two doubles, four RBI and two runs scored. Also having a big game for the Lady Knights was Sarah Deal with two hits, an RBI and a run scored.

The Lady Knights will now travel to Vineyard Field in North East Pennsylvania to play the No. 6 Saints of Mercyhurst North East for a best-of-three series to decide who will be District I Champion. The District I Champion will also receive a berth in the NJCAA Division II Softball National Championship in Clinton, Miss. May 14-17.

Knights clinch

conference with win at UCAP

The CCRI Knights baseball team edged UConn-Avery Point on the road Monday afternoon, 5-3, to claim the conference title. With the win, the Knights earned the right to host the regional tournament this weekend against UCAP. CCRI also improved its record to 20-8 on the season.

In the biggest game of the season, starting pitcher Stew Braman (Middletown) picked up the win, putting together another solid outing. Braman stifled the Pointers by only allowing two runs on three hits over five innings of work. With a lead, the Knights then went to ace righty Ryan O’Dell (Lincoln), who promptly shut the door, pitching an efficient four innings and only allowing one run en route to his second save of the season.

Offensively, the Knights received clutch hitting from Joe Yankee (Lincoln), who delivered one hit and drove in two runs. O’Dell and Jon Vazquez (Bridgeport, Conn.) each chipped in with a hit and an RBI apiece, while Steve Adams (Jacksonville, Fla.) laced a team-high two hits. Sophomore Jake Tillman (Scituate) added a hit, a run scored and a stolen base as well to help pace the Knights’ offensive attack.

In its previous two games, CCRI had split with UCAP, losing 12-4 and winning 7-5. Prior to that, CCRI laced a season-high 19 hits on Thursday en route to a 14-1 win over Southern New Hampshire.

The Knights will now host the best-of-three Region Championship this weekend against rival UCAP. The site is to be announced and it is presumed that there will be one nine-inning game Friday (4 p.m.), Saturday (12 p.m.), and Sunday (12 p.m.), if necessary. CCRI will look to ride its momentum, as it has won six of its last seven games.

CCRI Tennis wins

regional

The CCRI co-ed tennis team traveled to Bristol Community College in Fall River, Mass. to compete in the Region XXI Tennis Championship on Thursday afternoon. CCRI shut-out the Bees of Bristol CC 9-0 to improve to 3-0 in Region XXI play and win the Region XXI Championship. 

In first doubles, captains John Chammat (Cumberland) and Sean Gorman (Wakefield) defeated Dylan Clement and Nicole McCaulay of BCC 8-0. In first singles, Chammat defeated a very talented Courtney Medeiros of BCC 8-2. In second singles, Gorman defeated Dylan Clement 8-0. Rounding out the victorious matches played by CCRI was third singles Otniel Lopes (Pawtucket), who managed to beat Nicole McCaulay 8-0. 

“BCC had to forfeit positions today during our Region XXI match, and that was very unfortunate,” said head coach Deb Panzica. “With that said, I was pleased that all players have shown improvement and only gave up a total of two games the entire match.”

CCRI advances to the NJCAA Division III National Championship May 11-16 at Collin County CC in Plano, Texas.  

Teixeira shines at Regis Pride Invitational

The Knights’ outdoor track team traveled to Weston, Mass. this past weekend to compete in the Regis Pride Invitational, hosted by Regis College.

Shenelle Teixeira (Barrington) ran a season best time of 1:07.32 in the 400m hurdles for first place. Haley Beausoleil (Plainfield, Conn.) placed fourth in the 200m in a time of 27.88 seconds. She also placed fourth in the javelin with a toss of 35.08m.

Samson Olowoporoku (Osun-State, Nigeria) placed third in the 400m with a career best time of 51.53. He also placed fourth in the 200m with a time of 23.52. Kevin Redmond (South Kingstown) placed sixth in the shot put with a season-best throw of 11.28m. He also placed ninth in the discus with a toss of 26.03m. Britton Laney (Pascoag), Joseph Gareri (Uxbridge, Mass.) and Nelson Moreno (Pawtucket) all ran career-best times in the 800m. Laney placed 10th in a time of 2:07.12, Gareri placed 21st in a time of 2:15.87, and Moreno placed 24th in a time of 2:23.31. All three joined Olowoporoku in the 4x400m relay to place foruth in a time of 3:54.22.

Teixeira and Beausoleil will compete in the Division III NJCAA National Championships, which are set to take place May 8-10 at Mohawk Valley Community College in Utica, N.Y. Teixeira will compete in the 400m hurdles, while Beausoleil will throw the javelin.