Knights Battleground Week 29

Softball:  

Softball had some cancellations this past week due to the unforseen April snow showers, but did manage to get 4 games in.  

The Lady Knights dominated Roxbury in a commanding 20-2 victory on Wednesday, April 9th. The Knights set the tone early with a two-run homer by Zoe Battersby and a flurry of hits that kept the scoreboard busy, including a seven-run third and an eight-run fourth inning. Kileigh Hodgskins and Janina Mazzulla led the charge with multi-hit, multi-RBI performances, while the team as a whole displayed patience at the plate and flawless defense in the field. Pitcher Sophia Chevian was stellar in the circle, tossing five innings without a walk, allowing just two runs, and striking out six—earning her 100th career strikeout in the process and securing the win for CCRI.  

Rhode Island would look to match the same energy they gave in game 1 for game 2.  CCRI cruised to an 18-1 win over Roxbury on Wednesday behind a lights-out performance from pitcher Sophia Valentini, who struck out 11 batters while allowing just two hits and one run over five dominant innings. Valentini also contributed at the plate with two hits and an RBI, helping power a well-rounded offensive outburst. Zoe Battersby had a perfect day, going 3-for-3 with a triple and two doubles, while Hannah Smith matched her with three hits and drove in a team-high three runs. The Knights jumped out to an early lead in the first and never looked back, piling on runs in every inning and capitalizing on timely hits and Roxbury’s miscues.  

Their games Friday against Central Maine were postponed. They would then travel to New York on Sunday April 13th to face Monroe-Bronx for a doubleheader.  

Rhode Island again delivered a dominant performance, shutting out Monroe Express in game 1, 16-0, behind stellar pitching and explosive offense. Janina Mazzulla was nearly untouchable in the circle, striking out 15 batters over seven scoreless innings while allowing just three hits.  She also hit her 100th career strikeout in game, marking the second Knight this week (Sophia Chevian) to enter that exclusive list.  Zoe Battersby provided the biggest spark at the plate, driving in five runs—including a thrilling inside-the-park grand slam in the seventh inning that capped a nine-run explosion. CCRI’s bats were on fire throughout the game, with 15 total hits and multiple players notching multi-hit performances, including Sophia Chevian, who went 4-for-5. Kayleen Kim and Hannah Smith each drove in key runs, and the team’s aggressive baserunning and relentless pressure proved too much for Monroe to handle. 

In game 2, the Knights would round out their week with a 19-0 blowout win on Sunday, powered by Sophia Chevian’s standout performance both at the plate and in the circle. Chevian drove in five runs, highlighted by an inside-the-park grand slam during a 10-run second inning, and added an RBI single in the fifth. She also pitched five shutout innings, allowing just two hits while striking out seven and walking two. The Knights’ offense was relentless, piling up 18 hits, with Kathryn Motta and Zoe Battersby each going 3-for-4 in back-to-back spots in the lineup. Jaiden Harding added a three-RBI single in the second and later knocked in another run, while Brianna Grenier contributed a solo inside-the-park homer. With dominant hitting, strong pitching, and heads-up base running, CCRI cruised to another emphatic win.  

Softball has another potential 6 game slate this week, all doubleheaders, starting with Roxbury at home on Wednesday at 3 and 5 PM, followed by a trip to Central Maine on Friday at 1 and 3 PM, and finish off the week at home on Saturday against Monroe-Bronx at 12 and 2 PM.  

Baseball:  

Knights Baseball has not lost a game since returning home from Florida, and they looked to continue that streak with games against UCONN Avery Point and Holyoke.  

It was a nail-biter vs UCONN on Wednesday as the CCRI Knights edged out Avery Point in dramatic walk-off fashion, 1-0. The pitchers on both sides dueled deep into the game, but an Alan Bolwell single with two outs extended the game and it was Chris Piscione who broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the ninth with a clutch RBI single to seal the victory. Brayden Beard set the tone early with six scoreless innings, allowing just one hit while striking out six, and Owen Aivalitis closed it out with three strong frames, fanning four and allowing no runs. CCRI totaled 10 hits, with Chris Piscione and Derek De La Cruz each collecting three while batting back-to-back. Alan Carpenter added two hits of his own in the tightly contested battle. CCRI’s timely hit made all the difference in a thrilling win. 

Their next game was on Thursday vs Holyoke at home. Josh Pedus got the Knights on the board with an RBI single in the first, and Derek De La Cruz extended the lead in the second with another key single. The bats stayed hot in the third as CCRI piled on with runs from a Pedus fielder’s choice, a Dylan Perreault popup, a sharp single by Kelvin Santos, and a costly HCC error. Logan Dean delivered a stellar start on the mound, tossing six innings of two-hit, one-run ball with seven strikeouts, while Chris Torres closed the door with a scoreless frame. The Knights racked up 12 hits overall, with Pedus driving in a team-high three runs, and De La Cruz, Santos, Alan Carpenter, and Kody Fretts each recording multi-hit games. The Knights would cruise to a 12-1 victory and extend their winning streak to 7.  

Baseball has 4 games this week starting with a rematch at UConn AP Tuesday at 3:30, followed by an away game vs Northern Essex on Wednesday night at 7 PM, and will finish with a double header home against Northern Essex Saturday at 12 and 3 PM.