The Pilgrim softball team was set to head back to Rhode Island College after a 4-3 victory over the Cranston East Thunderbolts Monday afternoon in an elimination game at Aqueduct Field in Cranston. Pilgrim, coming off a
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The Pilgrim softball team was set to head back to Rhode Island College after a 4-3 victory over the Cranston East Thunderbolts Monday afternoon in an elimination game at Aqueduct Field in Cranston.
Pilgrim, coming off a 10-8 loss to Woonsocket on Saturday, and Cranston East, fresh off a 10-4 win over Johnston on Saturday, were both looking to keep their seasons alive.
The Pats brought a 4-1 lead into the bottom of the sixth inning. The ’Bolts would piece together a two-run sixth, starting with back-to-back singles and a walk to load the bases with no outs.
A sacrifice fly to left field and an RBI double play ground out would leave the ’Bolts within one.
Their comeback would fall short as they went down in order in the bottom of the seventh as Pilgrim starter Morgan Almon struck out the side.
Almon finished the day allowing three runs on six hits while striking out eight.
Almon’s performance and the early-inning offense from Pilgrim would both help secure the victory.
The Patriots would strike first in the ballgame. Pilgrim senior Madison Balutowski reached on an error to start the first inning. After a single from shortstop Jeriann Evans, Pilgrim had runners on the corners with no outs.
A base hit RBI for catcher Olivia King would push the Pats up 1-0 after one full. King would finish the day 1-for-3 with two RBIs.
The Pats would add to that lead in the third when King plated Balutowski on a sacrifice fly, and Evans scored on an RBI ground out from sophomore Rachael Serra. After three, Pilgrim led 3-0.
“Getting a lead helped,” Pilgrim head coach Bill Aquilante said. “I think this is the type of game if we had fell behind early we might have let everything sink a little bit. I think having the 3-0 lead really kept us in the game.”
East would chip away at the three-run deficit in the bottom of the fifth. With one out, sophomore Brianna Schneider launched a double off the right field wall. Schneider would score after another double from leadoff hitter Amber Pinheiro.
Heading into the top of the sixth, Pilgrim held on to a 3-1 lead. The Pats added an insurance run as sophomore right fielder Emma Hlavacek lined an RBI single into center field to score Megan Cooney.
Pilgrim’s four runs off of East pitcher Kaitlynn Drowne would be all the offense that it needed.
Drowne finished the day going all seven innings, allowing four runs on seven hits while walking two and striking out a pair.
“The game could have went either way,” Cranston East Head Coach P.J. Bessette said regarding the loss. “If we don’t go down in a 3-0 hole the game could have changed.”
The ’Bolts’ season may have come to an end, but there was plenty of optimism surrounding the conclusion of the season.
“It is a little bittersweet,” Bessette said. “It’s the seniors’ last game and they tried hard. We do have a young team and hopefully we will be back in this situation next year.”
The Pats fell to Moses Brown, 11-1, in six innings on Tuesday evening. The loss ended Pilgrim’s promising season, but it will return nearly its entire roster next year for another run.
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SCOT63
That's great most of the team will return, now if you can find a coach who knows how to run the team they might go a lot farther.
Thursday, June 9, 2016 Report this
WAquilante
Dude, I’m not sure why you have an axe to grind with me, but I have done nothing but coach these outstanding young women by providing a safe, positive, and fun environment, in which time the program has been very successful. The last time you went on here with your insulting comments, my players read them, and used them as inspiration to play even harder. I have had nothing but positive feedback from my current and former players, and their families, along with the athletic administration in Warwick. Bring your negativity somewhere else.
Thursday, June 9, 2016 Report this
rmuzz7
SCOT63 quick question for you. How boring is your life that you sit on your computer all day in hopes that someone will post an article about pilgrim softball? What's your grudge? Very curious as to how awful your life is and how horrible of a human being you probably are. You don't even have the courage to say who you are or why you have a grudge. Come back with some factual information to back up your opinion. Aquilante is one of the most respected coaches in Rhode Island High School softball; you're just an irrelevant loser who is going nowhere or has gone nowhere in life,
Thursday, June 9, 2016 Report this
SCOT63
You guys are legends in your own mind!! RESPECTED that was a good joke!!! MUZZY go cut your grass
Thursday, June 9, 2016 Report this
SCOT63
my name is very clear maybe your to stupid to figure it out!!! BRING IT ON !!!! CAN'T WAIT!!!!!
Thursday, June 9, 2016 Report this
WAquilante
Apparently I need to defend my reputation once again. For the past nine seasons I have been the Head Varsity Softball Coach at Pilgrim. During that time I have abided by all the rules and regulations of the Rhode Island Interscholastic League and the Warwick School Department’s policies on athletics. I have maintained a safe playing environment for my student-athletes, and have fostered a fun, positive culture within the program that emphasizes teamwork, confidence, and positive re-enforcement. I believe that all of these are critical and are the main purpose of high school athletics. The confidence and reputation the I have earned from my players and our administration is not earned overnight, but rather over the course of several years of hard work and dedication and doing things the right way. It is unfortunate that one person with an agenda is attempting to discredit the person and coach that I am for some unknown reason. What is fortunate is that the opinion of this one person is irrelevant, for it is the positive feedback and opinions from my players, and the schools administration that matter.
Thursday, June 9, 2016 Report this
SCOT63
Billyboy believe me nobody likes you.
Thursday, June 9, 2016 Report this
Laura64
Bill, Dont even justify those comments, those that know you know the truth!! Its just fueling ignorance and you are bigger and better than that!!!
Saturday, June 11, 2016 Report this