Northmen stop Prout
Venkataraman sharp in Division II road win
WAKEFIELD — Coming into Monday afternoon’s Division II softball showdown between Prout and North Smithfield, Northmen head coach Paul Mercier told his players he wasn’t concerned about the final result. Rather, he was looking for his team to improve on what they lacked in a one-run loss to Mount St. Charles last Friday.
“Coming here, I know Prout is a very tough team and it’s a long haul to get here,” he said. “I said to my team, the outcome is not really what I’m looking for. I’m looking for that heart and fight in those 1-on-1 battles at the plate.”
Even though the outcome was of less importance than it may have been normally, it was still there for the Northmen, who improved to 4-1 on the season with a 4-1 win. Hannah Goodier had three RBIs and senior starting pitcher Vanessa Venkataraman scattered four hits throughout a complete game, one-run performance.
“We lost that tough game to Mount,” Mercier said. “Good bounce back for us. It was a good showing for the team. Great game, back-and-forth. Vanessa on the mound had pinpoint accuracy. She wasn’t overpowering but her pinpoint accuracy really helped her out a lot.”
Venkataraman had six strikeouts and the only run she allowed came on a pair of errors in the sixth inning. The Crusaders loaded the bases in the first inning, but the threat ended with a ground out to Liz Jalette at third.
The Northmen had at least one runner on in all seven frames, and worked their way into scoring position in every inning but the seventh. Goodier broke the scoreless tie in the fourth with an RBI single.
The first baseman came up to bat again the following inning, this time with the bases loaded. After Alex Ledger and Jalette set up a second-and- third situation with two hits to the outfield, the Crusaders opted to put Alyssa Murray on and face Goodier instead.
“They chose to intentionally walk Alyssa Murray and Hannah Goodier came up in a big spot,” Mercier said. “Big hit, two RBIs that broke it open.
“We hit the ball hard today, they made the plays. We can hit, but we seem to have some tough luck, too. Line drive to the pitcher, line drive to center field. We can hit, I told ‘em that they will start to fall. Be patient.”
Leading 3-0, the Northmen came to the plate in the sixth with some added confidence. The Crusader defense recorded consecutive outs on line drives by Venkataraman and Kayla Butler.
They still managed to pad their lead, even after the two tough outs. Hope Trowbridge reached safely on an error by the shortstop, and Ledger laced a two-out double over the head of the centerfielder.
Aside from their pair of miscues that allowed a run to score in the sixth, the Northmen exhibited the kind of defense that could take a team far into the D-II tournament. Only two of the outs Venkataraman induced came on fly balls, with the infield knocking down nearly everything that came their way.
Winners of their first four out of five to start league play, the Northmen are part of the crowded top half of D-II. St. Raphael Academy is the sole remaining undefeated team at 5-0, while four teams have one loss.
“Prout will be right there at the top,” Mercier said. “Prout, Barrington, St. Ray’s, even Johnston, they’re scrappy. There’s some good teams in this league, this is a good Division II. Anybody can beat anybody.”
Mercier also named South Kingstown as a team that will compete with the top dogs of the division. The Rebels are also 4-1. The two teams play this Saturday.
About the only negative takeaway from the Northmen’s start to their season is that they haven’t played a true home game yet.
“I’d like to get to our home field,” Mercier said. “Haven’t been there yet. Our field isn’t ready.”