Warwick North primed for another deep summer run

By Jacob Marrocco
Posted 7/5/16

The Warwick North softball all-stars took the field for the first time this season last Tuesday, and they didn’t miss a beat from where they left off.

The old meshed with the new quickly, as …

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Warwick North primed for another deep summer run

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The Warwick North softball all-stars took the field for the first time this season last Tuesday, and they didn’t miss a beat from where they left off.

The old meshed with the new quickly, as Warwick North set South Kingstown/Narragansett down in five innings, 15-0, on opening night. Warwick North would go on to defeat SK/Narragansett again, 10-0, on June 29 to capture the district championship.

Warwick North returns four players off of the 2015 roster and adds a slew of new members to the mix. Destinee Santiago, Kelsey Burr, Madison D’Amato and Bryanna Rastella comprise the returning staff from the runner-up squad at the Little League Softball World Series last summer.

Burr, D’Amato and newcomer Riley Chartier each scored three times, while eight of the nine starters crossed the plate at least once.

Former ace Emily Carter was on hand to sing the National Anthem, after which she was able to see the heir to her throne step in the circle. Emily Tow dazzled for Warwick North, and she has the potential to carry the team to at least another state title.

She no-hit SK/Narragansett and impressively escaped a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the first inning. Catcher D’Amato caught Hannah Valee leaning off third base for the first out, and Tow did the rest. She got Frankie Delponte and Lennon Moclair to go down swinging to end the only real threat of the night.

Tow’s final line was four innings, three walks and five strikeouts. After the first inning, she worked only one full count for the rest of the game.

There was plenty of offensive pop to help Tow get the job done, as there should be all season. Lauren Fracassa, batting out of the No. 6 spot for Warwick North, drilled a 2-RBI single with two outs in the first to give her side a 3-0 lead.

The offensive explosion continued, as Warwick North sent 22 batters to the dish in the next two innings. The all-stars combined aggressiveness with patience, knowing when to lay off bad pitches. The second inning, for example, saw WN lash three singles, including a 2-RBI hit for D’Amato and another run-scoring knock for Fracassa.

In the third inning, though, Warwick North reeled it in. At one point, it took six consecutive walks that helped push across more insurance for Tow.

The 7-9 hitters, Santiago, Madelyn Narcavage and Rachel Kempf, combined to drive in two runs, score twice and reach base five times. There are no weak spots in the order at Warwick North, and with Tow commanding the circle, there’s no reason to think there won’t be another banner flying at the Pit this summer.

The climb towards the title continues Sunday at Elmwood, where the state championship rounds begin. Last year, Warwick North cruised past Cranston National Budlong, 20-3, en route to regionals.

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