KP Softball Remains Perfect With Tournament Win

It was another typical Meg Rico performance on the mound for the King Philip softball team, as the Warriors edged out Taunton 2-0 in a first-round MIAA Division 1 South Tournament contest.

The junior righthander faced the game-minimum 21 batters. Under the Plainville lights, twenty-one Tigers came to the plate, and Rico sent each and every one of them back to the dugout. Seventeen of those outs came via the strikeout.

"I felt really good. We went into the game with a good mindset," Rico said. "It's the tournament. So we were all pumped and excited to be here. This game was as important as the Milford game."

No once did any Taunton athlete reach first base — Rico saw to that. In addition to her 17 strikeouts (including the first seven batters), the junior induced two pop-ups, one ground out and one deep fly ball tracked down by right-fielder Kelsey Gray.

Taking the tough loss for Taunton (13-10) was Jesse Alexio, who scattered six hits (only once did KP have more than one in any inning), while walking five.

The home team jumped on the board in the third inning thanks to a Taunton error. As Jenn Robillard pushed one in front of the mound, a charging Meaghan Kirby cut in front of the pitcher and then proceeded to throw the ball away, leaving the KP shortstop on second with nobody out.

With still no outs, Robillard stole third base and put her team in excellent position to draw first blood. After Alyssa Siegmann struck out, Meg Carnase sent a shot back to the pitcher. Alexio made the stab, looked over to third and threw out Carnase at first. As soon as Alexio took her eyes off Robillard, though, the speedy lead-off hitter broke for the plate, eluding the throw from Taunton first baseman Kaitlyn Morrissey.

Rico would aid her own cause with an RBI bunt single in the bottom of the fourth to account for the final score. With two outs, Cayleigh McCarthy walked, Kelsey Gray ripped a double to right center, moving McCarthy to third. McCarthy would eventually score on Rico's bunt toward the shortstop.

Despite the ability to get the bunt down, the KP pitcher was a bit apprehensive at the plate.

"I went up there not knowing if I'm swinging righty or lefty. I was supposed to be righty tonight, but coach changed it and I was trying to change back in my mind," Rico said. "Hitting is not my forte, but I think that I'm a better batter from the left side, which is where I'll probably be the rest of the way."

At the plate, the Warriors were led by Robillard, who had two hits, two stolen bases, a walk and a run scored. Tori Constantin, Rico and Gray had the team's other three hits.

The Warriors will host Dighton-Rehoboth (a 7-4 winner over Whitman-Hanson) in Plainville at 5pm on Monday, June 6th in the quarter finals.