Tiverton girls down South Kingstown to win Major Division state softball title
TIVERTON — The mentality never changed even though the scoreboard did.
Whether it was on offense or defense, first inning or last — or in most cases, the third — the Tiverton Major Division All-Star team played with a fearless aggression, immediately pressing its foot on the gas pedal and not letting it off until the final out in the game was recorded.
That style of play allowed Tiverton to breeze through its District 2 Tournament and take control against South Kingstown in a best-of-three series for the state title. After a 24-1 win in Game 1 on Monday, Tiverton’s offense hit and Adalie Wolfe threw a gem in a 13-1 victory on Wednesday, giving Tiverton the state title and a trip to Connecticut to play in the New England regional.
“It feels awesome,” Tiverton first baseman Carlie Martin said. “It’s crazy and kind of unbelievable.”
“It’s a little weird,” Wolfe said. “It’s very overwhelming and shocking and I’m just proud of my team and how they were able to get through it with a good attitude.”
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When you play the way Tiverton does, it’s hard not to have that attitude.
Despite the big win in Game 1, Tiverton didn’t come in thinking South Kingstown was going to hand over the title. The offene stepped up with six runs in the first and its aggressive nature on the basepaths — six stolen bases alone in the first inning, including Brooke Sowa’s delayed steal of home for the first run — put its hitters in advantageous situations in nearly every at-bat.
Tiverton never let up, either. It stole six more bases in the second inning before only swiping two bags in the third.
“He teaches us to be very aggressive both defensively and offensively,” Martin said of coach Mike Martin’s approach. “When it comes to games, it’s just natural now.”
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It helps when you’ve got bats like Tiverton’s. Every player in the starting lineup reached base and either scored or drove in a run, with seven getting hits. Martin had herself an evening, going 2-for-2 with a triple and two RBI, and Wolfe also drove in two runs. Sowa scored two from the top of the order and Kaylyn Aubuchon and PaisleyParisee had an RBI each in the win.
Perhaps the biggest highlight of the six-run first was off the bat of Liliana Luis. The No. 9 hitter smoked a shot to left-center for a double that drove in Wolfe to make it 6-0.
“It was amazing,” Martin said of her teammate's big hit. “It makes everyone so happy and gives everyone so much confidence.”
It gave Wolfe plenty in the pitcher's circle.
She’s been working in relief of Sowa most games, but was given the start for Wednesday’s Game 2. Battling some nerves, she got through the first inning on five pitches before the offensive exploded. Wolfe struck out the next five hitters she faced and had a no-hitter going until South Kingstown’s Makaidyn Silvia’s infield single in the fourth.
“I do get nervous sometimes but [Wednesday] I was just really happy to pitch,” Wolfe said. "[The runs] just made it so much easier. I was feeling very good.”
Brooke Lancaster’s RBI fielder’s choice prevented the shutout and, after giving up a walk, Wolfe took a breath and calmed down. She ended the game with a strikeout, sealing the win Tiverton had been working so hard for.
“Every person on our team has a job,” Wolfe said. “If one girl wasn’t there, the team wouldn’t be the same. We all have our spots on the team and it really helps.”
“Everyone’s just friends with each other and we all work together well,” Martin said. “It’s just fun playing with everyone.”
The team’s summer of fun will continue in Connecticut. The tournament runs from July 23-28 and while Tiverton isn’t sure what to expect from other teams, it knows what it wants to do.
“I want to win,” Martin said, “but I want to have fun doing it.”
“The goal is to go and have fun,” Wolfe said. “We’ll try a new thing and really just give it our all.”
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Tiverton beats South Kingston for Major Division softball title
