No. 10 Novans upset Townies

EAST PROVIDENCE – Following what had been a rather interesting pitchers’ duel, No. 10 Woonsocket erupted for six runs in the top of the fifth inning and eight more in the sixth, then withstood a comeback attempt to finally eclipse East Providence, 15-11, in a wild Division I elimination playoff tilt at Townies’ Field.

The Villa Novans had held a comfortable 15-2 cushion entering the last of the sixth, and seemed destined to notch a mercy-rule victory over the Townies, but that never occurred, not with the host’s never-say-die attitude.

Two-run singles by sophomores Julia Beech and Hannah Moyen helped break a 2-1 EP advantage in the sixth inning, while classmate Maddie Thibadeau started the eight-run rally in the sixth with a beautifully-executed suicide-squeeze bunt, sophomore Mia Plasse drew a bases-jammed walk, and aftEr AnothEr BAgs-fillED wAlk to Beech, Roderick ripped a two-run single to highlight the frame.

“We started hitting the ball on the nose and it became contagious,” Woonsocket coach Dan Belisle said. “I didn’t say much to them over the weekend. We had some very good quality batting practice. It was only a month or a month and a half ago that we were putting up 20 runs, so I’m not surprised we found a way to do this.”

EP, however, struck back with six runs in the bottom of the sixth courtesy – in part – to junior Tanya Cooper’s tworun hit, then added three more in the seventh before luck ran out.

Woonsocket (8-9 overall, the tourney’s 10th seed, now will face second-ranked Pilgrim at its home today at 4 in a double-elimination contest. EP closed its season at 11-6.

“We didn’t play our best defensive game and the score got away from us a little Bit thE first timE wE plAyED them,” Belisle said of the Patriots. “But we know we can play with them.”

Roderick paced the Novas, going 3-for-5 with two RBIs and three runs scored, while classmate Holly Letourneau went 2-for-5 with two RBIs and a run; Peloquin 2-for-3 with an RBI and three runs; senior righty starter Lundyn Forcier 1-for-3 with a RBI and two runs; Hannah Moyen 1-for-3 with three RBI and a two runs; Beech 1-for-3 with three RBI; and Thibadeau 1-for-2 with n RBI and run.

Forcier earned the win, while Cooper, the former Davies Tech product, took the loss.