Varsity girls victorious in quarter-final

Ed. note: The Varsity Softball Hurricanes squared off against Tiverton High School on Thursday, May 31. We’ll report on that game next week.
The Block Island School Varsity Softball Hurricanes showed up for battle on Tuesday, May 29, to take on the Wheeler School Warriors.
In a back and forth duel for the lead, the Lady ‘Canes snuffed the Warriors 16-11. Fueled by their recent loss to the Wheeler School in the last game of the regular season, the team was out for revenge. Mary Conant, a junior, commanded the circle for all seven innings. Taking a different look for the first time all season, the defense settled into their positions and limited the damage of the hot Wheeler bats. Ruby Crawford, Sophie Mott, and Mikhaela Brown-Padien combined for a speedy left side defense and collected 11 of the 21 outs, while Conant sat down six more players single-handedly. 
Before the game, the Hurricanes were told to leave it all on the field, and that they did. Each player showed grit, composure, and class with each pitch. While Wheeler jumped out to a quick lead, the Hurricanes chipped away all game. In the bottom of the third inning, Julia Gasner led with a walk, stole second base, and scored on a base hit from Brown-Padien. Crawford, Conant, and Mott also crossed the plate that inning to take a 4-1 lead. The Hurricanes picked up three more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning off a triple from Brown-Padien.  
In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Hurricanes found themselves in a tie ballgame 9-9. Doing her job, Brown-Padien made it safely to first base on an error from the second baseman. Stealing on the pitch, the Wheeler defense stood no chance of throwing Brown-Padien out on a fielder’s choice ground ball from Ruby Crawford, now also safe at first base. Mary Conant picked up a single to load the bases for Sophie Mott. Speed on the bases didn’t matter much as Mott launched a ball to deep left field clearing all three baserunners and leaving herself at third with a stand-up triple. Savannah Brown stepped in and hit a single to drive Mott home. Moira O’Neill and Charlotte Hall also picked up singles and scored more runs. Julian Gasner also chipped in with an RBI in the hot sixth inning.  
Leading 16-9, the Hurricanes needed three more outs to secure the quarter final win. Limiting Wheeler to only two runs, Crawford and Conant retired the side with huge defensive plays. The Hurricanes returned to Heinz Field, Thursday May 31, for a semi-final matchup against Tiverton.  
On another positive note, some Hurricanes players will be honored for their All-Division III Team selections. Six Hurricane players have earned accolades:
First Team All Division III
Mikhaela Brown-Padien
Julia Gasner  
Second Team All Division III
Mary Conant
Third Team All Division III
Savannah Brown
Sophie Mott
Honorable Mention 
Ruby Crawford 

 

Block Island Times Article

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