The Tiverton softball team fell to Mount St. Charles 8-2 in the Division III Championship game at Rhode Island College on Monday night. 

“I’m super proud of all of us and how we battled back and ended up where we are,” said senior shortstop Samantha Bettencourt.

“We had low expectations this season,” said Tigers’ first year head coach Mike Brigham. “Then we got here. They worked real hard this season. They didn’t blink and eye and the result was they did well.”

The Tigers finished the season with a record of 14-6. They crushed Exeter-West Greenwich 18-8 in the first round of the playoffs, then beat the Mounties 4-1 in the winner’s bracket final. But Mount beat Cranston East 11-1 in the loser’s bracket final for the right to face the Tigers in the championship. 

Tiverton fell to the Mounties 6-0 in the first game at RIC on Thursday night and lost to Mount 8-2 in game two on Monday night. 

“I’ll probably cry about it later,” said senior first baseman Abby Monkevicz. “It’s been a good season. I’ve made some of my best friends here. It’s going to be hard leaving them.”

Mount belted 7 hits off Tiger’s junior ace Abby DeMello and scored 2 runs in the first inning, 5 more in the third and 1 in the fourth. DeMello struck out 3 batters and allowed 4 walks in six inning of work. The Tiger’s defense played solid, committing just one error. 

Mounties senior pitcher Olivia Young kept Tiverton off balance with off-speed pitches and a hot fastball. Young struck out 9 and allowed just 3 hits, 1 walk and 2 runs in seven innings. 

“She throws her outside pitches and her change-up very well,” said Monkevicz. “I think that’s what got the best of my team today.”

Senior Samantha Bettencourt drew a two-out walk in the sixth inning. Abby Monkevicz singled to plate Bettencourt and Paige Peace-Fortin laced a hit to the left centerfield gap to score Monkevicz to cut the lead to 8-2. 

“Mount St. Charles has a strong team. They made plays and they hit the ball a little better,” said Coach Brigham. 

Monkevicz wanted to remind the underclassmen of their motto for next season. “We do good when we are mentally here and mentally all together,” she said. “The energy is good and the vibe is good. Everything has to be good. You win games like that.”