And here we go.
The softball season has provided its usual entertainment and over the next two days – but maybe three – it will all be over.
Mother Nature made things interesting at the end, but the schedule is set and hopefully there won’t be more interruptions.
Here’s everything you need to know about the softball finals, including my picks to raise trophies. a
2023 RIIL Softball Division I Championship
No. 2 La Salle vs. No. 5 Bay View
WHEN AND WHERE: Sunday, 4 p.m., Providence College; if game – Monday, 11 a.m., RIC
REGULAR SEASON: La Salle 15-3, Bay View 12-5-1
PREVIOUS MATCHUPS: On April 28, La Salle won at home over Bay View, 11-6.
HOW THEY GOT HERE: In the winners’ bracket quarterfinals, La Salle beat No. 6 Cumberland, 10-0. In the winners’ bracket semifinals, the Rams beat No. 2 Cranston West, 11-4, and then beat No. 1 Pilgrim, 4-2, in the winners’ bracket final. Bay View beat No. 12 St. Raphael, 9-0, in the preliminary round, then beat No. 4 Coventry,1-0, in 10 innings in the first round. The Bengals lost to No. 1 Pilgrim, 1-0, in the winners’ bracket semifinal, but followed it by beating No. 6 Cumberland, 4-2, in the losers’ bracket quarterfinal, No. 2 Cranston West, 6-5, in the losers’ bracket semifinal, and No. 1 Pilgrim, 4-1, in the losers bracket final.
TOTAL TITLES: La Salle 2 (2 State), Bay View 1 (1 State)
LAST CHAMPIONSHIP GAME: La Salle lost to Coventry, 6-4, but then came back and won the if-necessary game, 7-3, in the 2019 State Championship. Bay View beat Scituate, 2-0, in nine innings, then lost the if-necessary game, 6-1, in the 2021 Division II Championship.
LAST CHAMPIONSHIP: La Salle lost to Coventry, 6-4, but then came back and won the if-necessary game, 7-3, to win the 2019 State Championship. Bay View beat Lincoln 1-0 and then won the if-necessary game, 5-2, to win the 2007 State Championship.
BRIEFLY: It’s not a surprise to see La Salle in this position. Quite frankly, it shouldn’t be a shock that Bay View made it either. Talent has never been the question for the Bengals, who struggled due to self-inflicted wounds at the worst times during the regular season. Bay View has put it together and with Sarah Trosin pitching the way she has been, look like a team capable of beating the Rams twice. La Salle’s reputation is built on its offense, but Hailey Vigneau has quietly become one of the state’s top pitchers. She’s showed up in big games and while the Rams don’t need the freshman to post zeroes, she’s been doing it anyway. La Salle’s biggest question over the next two days will be its energy, as most of its players are returning from a weekend at one of the biggest travel tournaments in the country and may be short a bat or two in the lineup Sunday. Pitching is going to be the difference Sunday and that should favor Bay View, but with pitchers trying to bounce back in under 24 hours, offense should be kind for an if-game Monday and that favors the Rams.
THE PICK: La Salle
2023 RIIL Softball Division II Championship
No. 1 East Greenwich vs. No. 3 Mt. Hope
WHEN: Monday, 3:30 p.m.; if game TBD.
WHERE: Rhode Island College
REGULAR SEASON: East Greenwich 14-1, Mt. Hope 12-3
PREVIOUS MATCHUPS: On April 17, East Greenwich won at home over Mt. Hope, 3-0.
HOW THEY GOT HERE: In the quarterfinals, East Greenwich beat No. 9 South Kingstown, 1-0, beat No. 4 Westerly, 3-0, in the semifinals and then took down No. 2 Ponaganset, 3-2, in the winners’ bracket final. Mt. Hope beat No. 6 West Warwick, 6-0, in the quarterfinals but lost to No. 2 Ponaganset, 3-2, in the winners’ bracket semifinal. The Huskies rebounded and beat No. 5 Johnston, 8-5, in the losers’ bracket quarterfinal, beat No. 7 Woonsocket, 6-0, in the losers’ bracket semifinal, and then took out No. 2 Ponaganset, 8-0, in the losers’ bracket final.
TOTAL TITLES: East Greenwich 3 (3 Division II), Mt. Hope 2 (2 Division III)
LAST CHAMPIONSHIP GAME: East Greenwich beat West Warwick, 4-0, and then won the if-necessary game, 3-2, in the 2014 Division II Championship. Mt. Hope lost to Prout, 3-2, in 10 innings in the 2022 Division II Championship.
LAST CHAMPIONSHIP: East Greenwich beat West Warwick, 4-0, and then won the if-necessary game, 3-2, to win the 2014 Division II Championship. Mt. Hope swept Rogers (11-0, 6-3) in the 2016 Division III Championship Series.
BRIEFLY: The Avengers dominated D-II, but have won with grit this postseason. Grit is what Mt. Hope’s does, setting up a Division II final that could be more interesting than one would think. East Greenwich has a vastly superior offense and depth that Mt. Hope can’t contend with, but the Huskies have something they haven’t in their last two trips to RIC – a rested Reily Amaral. Not playing Saturday and Sunday should help the Mt. Hope ace and after shutting out Ponaganset Friday, that’s a scary proposition for East Greenwich. Look for Amaral to take charge on Monday as Mt. Hope scraps out a win, but the Avengers’ bats to come around Tuesday and give Ava Fairbanks enough runs to win the title.
THE PICK: East Greenwich
2023 RIIL Softball Division III Championship
No. 1 Mount St. Charles vs. No. 2 Tiverton
WHEN: Monday, 6 p.m.
WHERE: Rhode Island College
REGULAR SEASON: Mount St. Charles, 16-0; Tiverton, 12-4.
PREVIOUS MATCHUPS: Mount swept the season series, taking the home game over Tiverton, 4-2, on April 27, then winning the road matchup against the Tigers, 6-1, on May 25. Tiverton beat Mount St. Charles, 4-1, in the winners’ bracket final on June 6 before Mount got its revenge, 6-0, forcing the if-necessary game.
HOW THEY GOT HERE: In the semifinals, Mount St. Charles beat No. 5 Cranston East, 7-2, and Tiverton beat No. 6 Exeter-West Greenwich, 18-8. In the winners’ bracket final, the Tigers beat the Mounties, 4-1. Mount beat Cranston East, 11-1, in the losers’ bracket final, then beat Tiverton, 6-0, in the Division III final, forcing the if necessary game.
TOTAL TITLES: Mount St. Charles 0, Tiverton 3 (2 Division II, 1 Division III)
LAST CHAMPIONSHIP GAME: Mount St. Charles lost to Barrington, 3-2, in the 2017 Division II Championship. Tiverton wept Davies, 11-3 and 8-4, in the 2018 Division III Championship Series.
LAST CHAMPIONSHIP: Mount St. Charles has never won a softball title. Tiverton wept Davies, 11-3 and 8-4, to win the 2018 Division III Championship.
BRIEFLY: Momentum has swung in postseason, with Tiverton taking it in the winners’ bracket final before the Mounties ripped it back on Thursday night. The spotlight will be on Mount’s Olivia Young, who put together one of the most clutch games in recent memory on Thursday and doesn’t look intent on letting her team lose. Tiverton put bat on ball Thursday, just not hard enough to put together a threat Young couldn’t handle. The Tigers need to get back to what worked in the winners’ bracket final – strong pitching, good defense and timely hitting – and take advantage of whatever Mount gives them. The Mounties’ plan of attack is simple – just do what they’ve been doing all season and let the momentum they have finish the season off right.
THE PICK: Mount St. Charles