The Mt. Hope softball team isn’t just winning games, they’re pounding their opponents into submission. The Huskies crushed Barrington 13-0 on Tuesday and clobbered Exeter-West Greenwich 11-0 on Thursday. The Huskies are undefeated with a record of 5-0 at the top of Division II. The offense has amassed 63 hits with eight homers and has outscored their opponents 55-1.

“We are off to a real good start,” said Huskies head coach Craig Giarusso. “I’m pleased with their effort and with the adjustments that we are making through the course of a game. So far so good.” 

Huskies clean up hitter Grace Stephenson leads the team with 10 hits, 4 homers, 2 triples, 4 doubles, 13 RBI and a .750 batting average. The senior gave the Huskies a 7-0 lead in second inning of their game against Exeter-West Greenwich with a blast over the left field fence. 

Lead off hitter Elsa White and eight hitter Alice Grantham also hit inside the park homers during the Exeter-West Greenwich game. White has 10 hits with a homer, a double, 3 RBI and a .538 batting average. The speedy, quick-thinking White is a menace on the base paths. In the second inning White laced a hit between through the hole between short and third and into left field. She rounded first, saw that the left fielder was slow to get to the ball and stretched her single into a stand up double. She scored on a double by two hitter Sydney Crowell. 

Crowell has been mashing the ball as well. The sophomore has 10 hits with 2 triples and a homer and a .615 batting average. Senior Jayda Sylvia, the team’s three hitter, has hit .538 in the five games with 9 hits, 4 doubles, a triple and a homer. 

“The seniors are at the top of the order and they are consistently getting 2,3,4 hits a game,” said Coach Giarusso, “Against Narragansett (4-0 win), we struggled a little bit offensively. Our runs came from the top of the order and once the bottom starts to put the ball in play, we’re going to be really tough to beat, I think.” 

If it wasn’t for the ten run rule, the Huskies stats would even be better. But in most cases, the team has only had to play five innings due to the beating they have been handing their opponents. 

“We are getting good swings at good pitches and we’re getting great results right now,” Coach Giarusso said. 

Pitching just as good with Amaral on the mound

The Huskies’ pitching is just as good with junior Reily Amaral on the mound. Amaral is 5-0 with 61 strike outs and just three walks in 27 innings of work. Amaral has been stingy, giving up just 13 hits and only one run this season. 

“We are relying a lot on Reily’s arm,” Coach Giarusso said. “Defensively we are making plays behind her.”

Amaral struck out 12 Knights in five innings and gave up just three hits and two walks. The right hander throws five different pitches, a rise ball, screw ball, curve ball, changeup and fastball for strikes. She has been able to keep hitters off balance and shaking their heads as they walk back to the dugout.

“Reily throws all five pitches effectively and can throw any pitch at any count for a strike,” said Coach Giarusso. “The strikeouts are up there. She’s pitching very, very well.”

In the field

The Huskies in the field are Reily Amaral on the mound, Grace Stephenson at catcher, Sammy Malafronte at first base, Alice Grantham at second, Sydney Crowell at third, Julia Allen at short stop, Elsa White at left field, Jayda Sylvia at center field and Logan Levesque in right field. Stephenson, Sylvia, Levesque and Grantham are seniors. 

The Huskies don’t have an easy road according to Coach Giarusso, “It’s not an easy division by any means. We still have to play Prout who came down from D-I. We still have to play Middletown who has a really good pitcher. We still have to play Barrington again. They just had an off day. They have a pretty good team, so it’s not going to be a cake walk.” 

Coach Giarusso stresses to his team that in order to succeed they will have to come to play every single game. 

“I’m really happy with the start to the season. We’ll continue to get better and see where it takes us,” he said. 

Next up: 

The mighty Huskies will host Middletown on Tuesday at 11 a.m. and play at Westerly on Thursday at 11 a.m.