La Salle softball states case for top seed in D-I, and after Tuesday, it's hard to argue

PROVIDENCE — Who did or didn’t pitch, the friendliness of the field dimensions for hitters, what it means going forward — Tuesday might have created more questions than answers.

Here’s one thing for certain. La Salle is now more likely to claim the top overall seed in the Division I softball ranks after taking care of Coventry. The Rams cracked four home runs and made it a short evening at McLaughlin Softball Field.

Kayleigh Ventura went deep twice. Phoenyx Silva and Lily Roumelis each added a homer, the second of those a game-ending grand slam in the bottom of the fifth inning. La Salle cruised past the Oakers, 13-0, in a meeting of two programs that have split the last four state championships.

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“Offensively, we were amazing,” Ventura said. “It’s not hard to be when you have a whole lineup from one through nine working as hard as we do.”

The Rams rallied for seven runs in the bottom of the second and six more in the bottom of the fifth. They now own a four-game lead atop Division I-B and have scored double-digit runs seven times against in-state foes. Coventry still holds a two-game lead in I-A but has dropped two straight.

“We’ve been preparing for this moment all season,” La Salle pitcher Hailey Vigneau said. “We knew we were going to face them and that they’re one of the top teams in the state. We just had to bring our game.”

The sophomore might have expected a different opponent in the circle. The Oakers opted for Mary McGovern instead of Sage Soares, the left-handed junior being recruited at a national college level. Soares isn’t infallible — a 3-1 loss to Pilgrim last time out proved it — but you’d imagine she’ll get the call if we see a rematch between these two teams in June’s playoffs.

For now, La Salle gained the psychological advantage by spreading this one out in the bottom of the second. Its first three batters reached and Samantha Sell raced home on a passed ball to make it 1-0. Ventura added to that with one swing, lifting a three-run homer to dead center that staked the hosts to a 4-0 lead.

“That was definitely my favorite,” Ventura said. “I was really locked in. Our only goal was to win this game, and, of course, winning this one meant a lot to us.”

Silva crushed a two-run shot to the trees in deep left and the Rams (12-0) took a 7-0 advantage out of the frame. That was more than enough for Vigneau, who allowed a leadoff double to center by Leah Lapham and nothing else. Vigneau retired the next 12 batters she faced and struck out eight despite what she believed was a shaky pregame bullpen session.

“I warmed up afterward a little bit as well just to make sure I felt better going into the game,” Vigneau said. “I felt better as the game went on.”

McGovern kept La Salle quiet over the next two innings, but the Oakers (10-2) found trouble again after recording two straight outs in the fifth. Ventura lifted a solo homer to left, Silva lined an RBI double to left and Giuliana Ialongo was intentionally walked with a base open. Roumelis nailed a drive to deep center that landed well beyond the fence, closing the evening via the mercy rule.

“We’re always working hard,” Ventura said. “We have long practices — two hours, two and a half hours. We’re watching film. We’re trying to be our best on and off the field.”

La Salle and Coventry broke through at the top level in consecutive seasons, capturing titles in 2008 and 2009. At least one of those programs has reached the championship round 13 times since 2006, including a head-to-head meeting that went to the Rams in 2019. The Oakers beat the Patriots for the next two crowns before La Salle stopped Bay View last season.

“I would love it, honestly,” Vigneau said of potentially seeing Coventry again. “The better the competition, the better. We love to get better by playing better teams every day.”

Coventry 000 00 — 0 1 1

La Salle 070 06 — 13 11 0

Mary McGovern and Gabby Fennessey. Hailey Vigneau, Kayleigh Gouchie (5) and Alivia Ring. HR — Kayleigh Ventura 2 (LS), Phoenyx Silva (LS), Lily Roumelis (LS).

bkoch@providencejournal.com

On X: @BillKoch25

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: La Salle softball routs Coventry, 13-0, eyes top seed in Division I