Story and photos by Rich Dionne
The Tiverton girls' softball team pounded Paul Cuffee School 15-0 in three innings during a Division 3 home game on Wednesday afternoon. The mighty Tigers have scored 98 runs and are currently 8-0 after edging Cranston East 6-5 in a division game on Monday. They also beat D-2 Barrington 3-2 and have a pair of shutouts this season.
Sluggers Sara Poland, Lia Doster, Carlie Martin and Jersey Haste are leading the charge, combining for 33 RBIs while hitting an average of .525. Poland, the Tigers’ 3 hitter singled twice, drove in 2 runs and scored a run during the Paul Cuffee shut out. She is hitting .625 and has 9 RBI for the season.
Doster, the leadoff hitter, Singled, walked, scored 2 runs and drove in a run during the win. She is hitting .550 with 8 RBI. Martin, the cleanup hitter, and Haste the second hitter, are both hitting 491 with 8 RBI.
“We have a bunch of good hitters this season,” said team captain Sadie Pickering. “We are very focused. This year our motto is get ‘the sillies out’ and we get really locked in and it shows on the field when we play.”
Pickering, the 5-hitter, singled and scored a pair of runs during the Cuffee game. She and Poland both smashed homers this season during their win 11-1 pasting of Middletown on April 11.
“It’s a fun every time we play,” she said.
The Tigers have been receiving solid pitching from junior starter Lia Doster and relief pitcher Liliana Luis, when needed. Doster, a junior, threw a no-hitter vs Paul Cuffee, striking out 8 and yielding a walk in three innings of work for her second shutout of the season.
“Lia is great with her location,” said Tigers head coach Mike Brigham. “She keeps the hitters off balance. She has some success with strike outs this season, though she’s more of a contact pitcher.”
The Tigers have been playing strong defense behind her with Brooke Sowa at shortstop, Poland at second base, Pickering at third, Martin at first, Lexi Boissonneau at catcher, Haste at centerfield, Kelsey Conway in left field and Stella Valentino and Rylee Bordner in right.
“Defense is our strength,” he said. “Especially shortstop, second base and centerfield. I don’t think they’ve made an error all season.”