This team’s probably the best team that I’ve ever played for. This team felt like love. The parents, coaches and players have been so supportive. This team has made me feel safe over the years and I really appreciated it.”

Huskies pitcher Reily Amaral

The Mt. Hope softball team fell to East Greenwich 9-1 in the Division II Championship at Rhode Island College on Monday afternoon. The Huskies finished their season with a record of 17-4. The Huskies have been runner-ups to the division champs, 3 of the last 4 years with head coach Craig Giarrusso at the helm and Reily Amaral as the Huskies’ ace. The only year they didn’t make the championship game, was 2020 when they canceled the season due to Covid. 

“We didn’t play our A game,” said head coach Craig Giarrusso. “I thought that we were prepared coming in, but I guess that I didn’t prepare them good enough. East Greenwich is a great team. They beat us during the regular season. They only had one loss all year long. They’ve got a great pitcher. All in all, I am pleased with the year that we had. A lot of teams want to get to this point and fortunately for us this is our third year in a row.” 

Amaral, a senior, led the league with 255 strikeouts this season. She put the Huskies on her back and they won five playoff games including an 8-0 route of Ponaganset in the semifinals game. But Monday wasn’t her day. East Greenwich pounded eight hits off Amaral and scored 3 runs in the first inning, 3 more in the second and 3 more in the fourth. The Huskies defense which had been terrific all season, gave up 4 errors. Still Amaral struck out 12 Mounties and allowed just one walk in six innings of work. 

“This team’s probably the best team that I’ve ever played for,” said Amaral after the game. “This team felt like love. The parents, coaches and players have been so supportive. This team has made me feel safe over the years and I really appreciated it.”

Mt. Hope who had been bashing the ball during the playoffs, struggled against East Greenwich junior pitcher Ava Fairbanks, who led the league with an 0.39 ERA. The Avengers’ ace struck out 12 and allowed 3 hits, 3 walks and a run in 7 innings. Fairbanks stymied Mt. Hope until the sixth inning when they were able to push across a solo run. Shortstop Julia Allen doubled and scored on a single by Sammy Malafronte to cut the lead to 9-1. Senior Chloe Simmons, who was pressed into action and filled in at third base over the final two games, belted the first hit of her career in the championship. 

“Getting the hit felt great,” Simmons said after the game. “I was proud to play in my senior year and play when the team needed me.” 

“Chloe filled a tough spot,” said Coach Giarrusso. “I couldn’t be happier with the effort that the girls gave all year. Even in the championship, they never quit. They kept battling all the way through. The girls played well and I’m very happy where we finished. I would have loved to have finished first, but I can’t complain. I really can’t.” 

“We really worked hard this season,” Amaral said. “The girls take it to heart. I think we deserved better, but a medal is a medal. I’ll take it.”

To her underclassmen teammates coming back next season she said, “Good luck, I love you all so much. I really want to come watch them play. I am nervous to see how they’ll do, but I’m excited, because I think that they have potential. They will just need to work their asses off. And I think they will.”

Huskies crush Ponaganset in semis

The Mt. Hope softball team crushed Ponaganset 8-0 in the Division II semifinal game at Rhode Island College on Friday afternoon. It was the first time Mt. Hope beat the Chieftains this season.“We got clutch hits, great defense and great pitching from Reily,” said head coach Craig Giarrusso. “She pitched solid and kept them off balance. She did a great job as usual.”

Mt. Hope ace keeps Ponaganset off balance

Huskies ace Reily Amaral kept the Chieftains off balance all game, throwing a variety of pitches. The senior struck out 6, allowed 5 hits, no walks and no runs in 7 innings of work.

Huskies bash 10 hits, score 8 runs 

“The bottom of the order came through today for us,” said Coach Giarrusso. “Most of our run production came from the bottom of the order. I couldn’t be more proud of Kylie, Sofia and Sammy for coming through.” 

The Huskies offense flexed their muscled and bashed 10 hits off Ponaganset pitching with clutch hits by Kylie Rolando, Sofia Haberman and Sammy Malafronte.  Julia Allen, Reily Amaral, Haberman and Rolando each belted two hits, Hailey Ferreira, Malafronte each laced one hit. 

Defense makes key plays

The defense made key defensive plays when they needed it. The Huskies gobbled up 5 grounders and caught 6 fly balls for outs. Allen the Huskies shortstop snared a grounder in the second inning and cut down Alayna Medina at the plate, throwing a perfect strike to freshman catcher Ava Waddell who stood in and tagged Medina out. 

Crowell made a few key snags in centerfield. Haberman the left fielder, backed her up on a grounder to keep runners from scoring and Rolando caught a fly ball in right field. 

Waddell also caught back to back fly balls, the second ranging into foul territory in front of the Mt. Hope dug out, to thwart a Chieftains rally in the the seventh inning.