Veterans spur EPHS softball team this spring

Pitching tandem, returning starters bolster Townies’ ambitions for 2019

By Mike Rego
Posted 4/11/19

EAST PROVIDENCE — The East Providence High School softball team opened up its Division I regular season schedule last week with a pair of one-run victories, a 3-2 over 2018 state runner-up Coventry …

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Veterans spur EPHS softball team this spring

Pitching tandem, returning starters bolster Townies’ ambitions for 2019

Posted

EAST PROVIDENCE — The East Providence High School softball team opened up its Division I regular season schedule last week with a pair of one-run victories, a 3-2 over 2018 state runner-up Coventry and 7-6 over Prout on a cold, wind-swept day in South County.

“We had a real good win against Coventry. They’re one of the teams in the division. They made the finals last year and I think they maybe lost one kid, so they should be back in the mix again this year,” said EPHS head coach Rob Traverse. “And against Prout, we played OK, but the other team played incredibly well given the elements. We played well enough to win, but we were fortunate to get the win.”

The Townies are coming off an 11-5 league record a year ago, an effort that ended unsatisfactorily for the seventh-seeded locals in the D-I playoffs with a 15-11 loss to 10-seeded and just 7-9 Woonsocket in the single-elimination preliminary round of the state tournament.

Back for East Providence in 2019 is a core group of upperclasswomen hoping for a deeper postseason run led by its four senior co-captains — Taylor Babcock, Tanya Cooper, Amaya Dacier and Emma DaSilva.

Babcock and Cooper provide the Townies with one of the best pitching tandems in the state. Babcock struck out eight Knotty Oakers in E.P.’s debut victory over Coventry. Against the Crusaders, the right-hander fanned a dozen in a relief effort of Cooper, who struggled in the first stint on the rubber but had four hits and two runs batted in at the plate.

When not throwing, Cooper is the Townies’ starting catcher and Babcock, who had two hits and a RBI in the Prout win, plays third base.

“It’s something we’re not used to, having two very good pitchers,” Traverse said, noting Babcock’s effort against Coventry may have been the best of her high school career. “When you have two good pitchers, if one isn’t on, you hope the other is. And if both are on their games, we should win our fair share.”

Dacier and DaSilva form the middle infield combo for the Townies, the former at second base and the latter at shortstop. Of note as well, offensively, Dacier plated all three E.P. runs and homered in the Townies’ win over Coventry.

Seniors Rebecca Landry and Alexis Giguere open sharing time at first base. Sophomore Hailey Martins opens at third and also catches when Cooper pitches.

The E.P. outfield is composed of one returning starter, junior Paige Messier who moves from a corner spot to center. Sophomore Alexis Munro plays left and freshman Viana Chamberlain plays right.

“The defense is good. The question mark going in was our outfield with having only person back. Alexis and Viana, so far, are doing fine,” said Traverse. “And at any given time we have five seniors on the infield. They have a lot of experience. Our infield defense has to be good, and it has been. They’re all good players with a ton of experience.”

The other players on the varsity roster expected to see time are freshman Sophia Patterson, at third and in the outfield, sophomore catcher/first baseman Madison Whittaker, junior utility infielder Mia Jackson, junior hitter Abigail Schwab, freshman first baseman Bree Riel and sophomore pinch runner Jules Riveira.

Martins, who had a pair of two-out hits vs. Prout, leads off the regular batting order followed by Babcock, Cooper, Dacier, DaSilva and Landry. Giguere or Chamberlain are next with the other right behind. Messier bats ninth.

“I think we can hit consistently,” Traverse said of the Townies’ offense. “I think we’re going to be able to put up some numbers.”

Looking around the rest of the league, LaSalle, with some seven players headed to Division I college programs in the fall, is considered by Traverse and most observers as the early favorite to win the state title. Pilgrim, Chariho and Coventry are others expected to join in the pursuit.

Schedule-wise, D-I softball has been realigned into four sub-groups or pods. Teams play the other three teams in their groups twice each and the remaining 12 once for 18 regular season games. The top three teams in each pod qualify for the playoffs, which have also been altered. The state tournament runs as a series of single-elimination games up to the semifinals and final , which are double elimination.

“I’m happy with where are right now,” said Traverse. “We need to continue to get better, more comfortable in certain defensive situations. If we can get some of the younger kids experience and win games in the process, you can’t ask for much more. I’m cautiously optimistic as usual. If we play well we can beat just about anybody and unfortunately if we don’t the opposite is also the case. But if our pitching keeps us in games, I think we can be a top five of six team again in the league.”

— East Providence Post and eastbayri.com staff photographer Rich Dionne shot the accompanying gallery of photos.

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MIKE REGO

Mike Rego has worked at East Bay Newspapers since 2001, helping the company launch The Westport Shorelines. He soon after became a Sports Editor, spending the next 10-plus years in that role before taking over as editor of The East Providence Post in February of 2012. To contact Mike about The Post or to submit information, suggest story ideas or photo opportunities, etc. in East Providence, email mrego@eastbaymediagroup.com.