Late efforts end to save Tigers’ playoffs

Attempt had sought to undo COVID cancellation of soccer tourney for boys, girls

By Bruce Burdett
Posted 11/17/20

TIVERTON — For both the Tiverton boys and girls soccer teams, the playoffs apparently came to an abrupt and most disappointing end this week, although feverish efforts were said to be …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Register to post events


If you'd like to post an event to our calendar, you can create a free account by clicking here.

Note that free accounts do not have access to our subscriber-only content.

Day pass subscribers

Are you a day pass subscriber who needs to log in? Click here to continue.


Late efforts end to save Tigers’ playoffs

Attempt had sought to undo COVID cancellation of soccer tourney for boys, girls

Posted

TIVERTON — For both the Tiverton boys and girls soccer teams, the playoffs apparently came to an abrupt and most disappointing end this week, although feverish efforts were said to be continuing into Tuesday to keep the teams in the tourney.

Late yesterday, though, several people acknowledged that the teams won't be able to play — "Time ran out on us," one said.

Both teams saw their already abbreviated seasons cut short when a decision was made Sunday night to cancel the boys’ and girls’ quarterfinal playoff games due to coronavirus cases on opposing sides (players on both PCD and Rogers had tested positive — since the Tiverton teams had played those squads recently, the Tigers had to quarantine too).

The elimination did not appear to be a sure thing early Tuesday afternoon, however.

Players had been alerted Monday night, as one parent said, “for the boys to be prepared to play possibly Tuesday at 4 and girls should be Wednesday.”

Asked about that early Tuesday afternoon (at the Sakonnet Times deadline), Tom Marcello, assistant executive director of the RI Interscholastic League, confirmed that strong efforts are being made to allow the teams to continue. The RIIL schedule continued to include Tiverton games.

It’s at the school level, he said, to deal with contact tracing issues. He said he knows that Tiverton Athletic Director Bob Murray has been “working nonstop for the past 12 hours on this … time is of the essence.”

The third-seeded (south) boys were scheduled to travel to Providence Monday afternoon to take on second-seeded (north) Paul Cuffee School in the Division III quarterfinals. The decision to cancel came so suddenly that the RI Interscholastic League still showed the game on its website playoff schedule for the day.

And the two-time defending champion and top-seeded girls team was supposed to host fourth seed Woonsocket on Tuesday.

Senior Mariah Ramos called it heartbreaking. “I was in disbelief,” she said.

Others wondered how it is that students continue to be allowed in classrooms after COVID cases have been detected yet an outdoor playoff game is cancelled.

On Facebook, Coach Heidi Lebeau wrote, “I guess what I don't understand is if masks work and being outside is better then why would the entire team need to be quarantined? There have been positive cases in the classroom where only two kids in the whole class have been considered close contacts and needed to quarantine. It just seems unnecessary for the entire team to be shut down.”

2024 by East Bay Media Group

Barrington · Bristol · East Providence · Little Compton · Portsmouth · Tiverton · Warren · Westport
Meet our staff
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.