I like to think I’m at the forefront of most things, but I have a confession to make.
I was wrong about GameChanger.
At first I hated it. It was annoying. It was technology, I still cling to the old-school ways of reporting and the idea of looking at an app to get results and information instead of getting a coach on the line didn’t seem ideal.
What an idiot.
Toward the end of last spring and heading into this season, I’ve embraced the app. It’s an incredible tool and while it’s not completely trustworthy – thanks to the parents who don’t know what an error actually is or coach trying to boost their player’s stats for All-State purposes (note – we don’t care) – there’s a lot more good than bad when it comes to gathering information on the sport.
Last year we saw a trend of coaches starting to send us results directly from GameChanger. While I’d still like this practice to continue, I’m finding myself more and more searching out the results myself and writing briefs directly off the app, sometimes minutes after the game ends. On Saturday night, I had the Cumberland-Cranston West brief written before the final out was recorded (and then did a prayer to the journalism gods that I didn’t jinx myself).
In the never-ending quest to continue to provide readers with information on every game, we ask that coaches continue to email scores and results to [email protected]. If you’ve been sending information to us via GameChanger, keep doing it.
For the coaches who don’t use GameChanger – and we’re looking at most of Division III here – we need you send results in after every game, win or lose. We need the final score, score by innings, top three hitters for the winners, top hitter for the losers, pertinent pitching stats and whatever other information you can come up with so we can write a detailed recap.
And if that sounds like a lot, there’s a simple solution.
Start using GameChanger like the rest of the world does.
Let’s get on to the rankings.
RIIL Division I Softball Power Rankings
1. La Salle (8-0)
The runs keep coming for the Rams, which leads to the question – if they lose a game, how is it going to happen? There are only two pitchers in the state with a semblance of a chance to quiet the bats, so is the best methodology to just try and outslug them? Good luck with that. La Salle returns to the field Wednesday at East Providence and has some out-of-town games on the weekend.
2. Pilgrim (8-0)
Last week the Patriots played their toughest games of the season, hosting and playing at Chariho, and won both. Finding ways to win is going to add confidence to this group and a Pilgrim team with confidence is a scary proposition. The Patriots have two tough games this week, hosting Cranston West on Tuesday and traveling to play rival Coventry on Thursday.
3. Coventry (4-1)
Turns out the demise of the Oakers was greatly exaggerated. Any problems Sage Soares had in that 6-0 loss to Chariho two weeks ago are long since forgotten. Last week she shut out Cranston West and rested as Mary McGovern pitched Coventry to two wins. The bats may have gotten a kick-start from the wins and they’ll need it playing at Cumberland Monday, at Ponaganset Tuesday, hosting Pilgrim Thursday and playing at Chariho Saturday.
4. Cranston West (5-2)
The Falcons went 2-2 but still might have been the biggest winners of last week. Getting shut out by Coventry stung, but bringing the bats against La Salle and making a game of it with its No. 2 said a lot about what Cranston West is capable of. Shutting out Chariho was big for confidence and it carried over Saturday against Cumberland. The Falcons can’t afford to slow down this week, playing at Pilgrim Tuesday, traveling to play Fitch Wednesday, hosting West Warwick Friday and North Kingstown Saturday.
5. Chariho (4-4)
Big drop for the Chargers this week, but that will happen when you go 0-for-the week. Two losses to Pilgrim – one in extras – and an L to Cranston West aren’t bad, but Chariho needs to prove it can beat those types of teams consistently. Tuesday it will get a chance at Prout before hosting Ponaganset on Thursday and Coventry on Saturday.
ON THE BUBBLE: Westerly (7-1)
RIIL Division II Softball Power Rankings
1. Johnston (4-0)
It’s not like the Panthers have faced the toughest opponents early in the season, but they’re winning the way you’re supposed to against the lower-ranked teams in the division. That will change this week as Johnston gets its first test of the season when it hosts St. Raphael on Monday. A win makes the Panthers the team to beat in D-II, but they’ll have to stay on point Wednesday when they play at BNS.
2. St. Raphael (2-0)
The Saints had games on their schedule but didn’t play them during vacation and one wonders how that much of a layoff will affect this team. After that much time off its like St. Raphael is officially starting its season this week – and it’s going to be busy. The Saints travel to play Johnston on Monday, host Toll Gate Wednesday and Bay View Friday before traveling to play Prout on Saturday afternoon.
3. West Warwick (3-2)
While the record might not look good, its important to note the two losses were to D-I Westerly and Pilgrim, which is one of the best teams in RI. The Wizards are challenging themselves to prepare for the meat of D-II and continue to do so Monday when it hosts D-I North Kingstown. Wednesday West Warwick travels to play South Kingstown before playing another D-I opponent Friday when it travels to take on another state power in Cranston West. The D-II fun starts after that.
4. East Greenwich (4-2)
This might be two high of a ranking for the Avengers, but after picking up their fourth straight win on Tuesday, they’re certainly a team that’s difficult to ignore. This week East Greenwich will get to prove if it deserves a spot in the top five, playing at Toll Gate Monday, hosting Portsmouth Wednesday and traveling to play Rogers Friday. We’ll know at the end of the week if the Avengers are a contender.
5. Portsmouth (4-1)
Getting destroyed by Barrington on April 9 raised an eyebrow, but for this week’s rankings we’re treating it as a bad day because since then, the Patriots have mashed. Getting a big win last week was a great way to get back on track, but Wednesday’s game at East Greenwich will help define what exactly this Portsmouth team is. The Patriots finish the week hosting Division I North Kingstown on Friday.
ON THE BUBBLE: Barrington
RIIL Division III Softball Power Rankings
1. Cranston East (5-1)
The defending champs aren’t the same team they were last year, but they still have the most fun offense in the state and it’s incredible to see how much pressure the fun-and-run puts on opposing defenses. East has a big week ahead, hosting Tiverton on Monday, playing at Davies Wednesday and then hosting Davies on Friday. A sweep would leave little doubt about who’s playing at RIC come June.
2. Tiverton (6-0)
With an undefeated record, the Tigers probably think they should be No. 1 – but to be No. 1 you have to beat No. 1. Tiverton is a title contender, but it needs to prove it can handle what Cranston East can do. The Tigers will get that chance Monday in Cranston, before hosting Middletown Thursday, Mt. Hope Friday and Barrington on Saturday.
3. Davies (4-2)
There seems to be a clear-cut top two and right now, the Patriots have built the necessary resume to be the clear-cut No. 3. This week will decide whether or not its time to toss Davies into title contention talk. The Patriots play Cranston East twice this week – hosting Wednesday, traveling Friday – and even one win would change the trajectory of the season.
4. Narragansett (2-3)
Ignore the Mariners’ record right now because there’s a chance they don’t lose again this season. Narragansett lost its opener, lost two to D-II teams, and really only has three tests the rest of the way. One of those takes place this week when the Mariners host Middletown before traveling to play Pawtucket in what could be the first two games of a very long wind streak.
5. Middletown (2-2)
With two losses to the top two teams in D-III, there’s a very good chance these Islanders deserve to be ranked higher. Their schedule is a bit tougher than any of the top four teams and that could make Middletown an interesting darkhorse come playoff time. The Islanders have a battle at Narragansett Monday, host Mount Pleasant Tuesday, then travel to play Tiverton on Thursday.
ON THE BUBBLE: Classical (4-1).
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Rhode Island high school softball power rankings after Week 3
I like to think I’m at the forefront of most things, but I have a confession to make.
I was wrong about GameChanger.
At first I hated it. It was annoying. It was technology, I still cling to the old-school ways of reporting and the idea of looking at an app to get results and information instead of getting a coach on the line didn’t seem ideal.
What an idiot.
Toward the end of last spring and heading into this season, I’ve embraced the app. It’s an incredible tool and while it’s not completely trustworthy – thanks to the parents who don’t know what an error actually is or coach trying to boost their player’s stats for All-State purposes (note – we don’t care) – there’s a lot more good than bad when it comes to gathering information on the sport.
Last year we saw a trend of coaches starting to send us results directly from GameChanger. While I’d still like this practice to continue, I’m finding myself more and more searching out the results myself and writing briefs directly off the app, sometimes minutes after the game ends. On Saturday night, I had the Cumberland-Cranston West brief written before the final out was recorded (and then did a prayer to the journalism gods that I didn’t jinx myself).
In the never-ending quest to continue to provide readers with information on every game, we ask that coaches continue to email scores and results to [email protected]. If you’ve been sending information to us via GameChanger, keep doing it.
For the coaches who don’t use GameChanger – and we’re looking at most of Division III here – we need you send results in after every game, win or lose. We need the final score, score by innings, top three hitters for the winners, top hitter for the losers, pertinent pitching stats and whatever other information you can come up with so we can write a detailed recap.
And if that sounds like a lot, there’s a simple solution.
Start using GameChanger like the rest of the world does.
Let’s get on to the rankings.
RIIL Division I Softball Power Rankings
1. La Salle (8-0)
The runs keep coming for the Rams, which leads to the question – if they lose a game, how is it going to happen? There are only two pitchers in the state with a semblance of a chance to quiet the bats, so is the best methodology to just try and outslug them? Good luck with that. La Salle returns to the field Wednesday at East Providence and has some out-of-town games on the weekend.
2. Pilgrim (8-0)
Last week the Patriots played their toughest games of the season, hosting and playing at Chariho, and won both. Finding ways to win is going to add confidence to this group and a Pilgrim team with confidence is a scary proposition. The Patriots have two tough games this week, hosting Cranston West on Tuesday and traveling to play rival Coventry on Thursday.
3. Coventry (4-1)
Turns out the demise of the Oakers was greatly exaggerated. Any problems Sage Soares had in that 6-0 loss to Chariho two weeks ago are long since forgotten. Last week she shut out Cranston West and rested as Mary McGovern pitched Coventry to two wins. The bats may have gotten a kick-start from the wins and they’ll need it playing at Cumberland Monday, at Ponaganset Tuesday, hosting Pilgrim Thursday and playing at Chariho Saturday.
4. Cranston West (5-2)
The Falcons went 2-2 but still might have been the biggest winners of last week. Getting shut out by Coventry stung, but bringing the bats against La Salle and making a game of it with its No. 2 said a lot about what Cranston West is capable of. Shutting out Chariho was big for confidence and it carried over Saturday against Cumberland. The Falcons can’t afford to slow down this week, playing at Pilgrim Tuesday, traveling to play Fitch Wednesday, hosting West Warwick Friday and North Kingstown Saturday.
5. Chariho (4-4)
Big drop for the Chargers this week, but that will happen when you go 0-for-the week. Two losses to Pilgrim – one in extras – and an L to Cranston West aren’t bad, but Chariho needs to prove it can beat those types of teams consistently. Tuesday it will get a chance at Prout before hosting Ponaganset on Thursday and Coventry on Saturday.
ON THE BUBBLE: Westerly (7-1)
RIIL Division II Softball Power Rankings
1. Johnston (4-0)
It’s not like the Panthers have faced the toughest opponents early in the season, but they’re winning the way you’re supposed to against the lower-ranked teams in the division. That will change this week as Johnston gets its first test of the season when it hosts St. Raphael on Monday. A win makes the Panthers the team to beat in D-II, but they’ll have to stay on point Wednesday when they play at BNS.
2. St. Raphael (2-0)
The Saints had games on their schedule but didn’t play them during vacation and one wonders how that much of a layoff will affect this team. After that much time off its like St. Raphael is officially starting its season this week – and it’s going to be busy. The Saints travel to play Johnston on Monday, host Toll Gate Wednesday and Bay View Friday before traveling to play Prout on Saturday afternoon.
3. West Warwick (3-2)
While the record might not look good, its important to note the two losses were to D-I Westerly and Pilgrim, which is one of the best teams in RI. The Wizards are challenging themselves to prepare for the meat of D-II and continue to do so Monday when it hosts D-I North Kingstown. Wednesday West Warwick travels to play South Kingstown before playing another D-I opponent Friday when it travels to take on another state power in Cranston West. The D-II fun starts after that.
4. East Greenwich (4-2)
This might be two high of a ranking for the Avengers, but after picking up their fourth straight win on Tuesday, they’re certainly a team that’s difficult to ignore. This week East Greenwich will get to prove if it deserves a spot in the top five, playing at Toll Gate Monday, hosting Portsmouth Wednesday and traveling to play Rogers Friday. We’ll know at the end of the week if the Avengers are a contender.
5. Portsmouth (4-1)
Getting destroyed by Barrington on April 9 raised an eyebrow, but for this week’s rankings we’re treating it as a bad day because since then, the Patriots have mashed. Getting a big win last week was a great way to get back on track, but Wednesday’s game at East Greenwich will help define what exactly this Portsmouth team is. The Patriots finish the week hosting Division I North Kingstown on Friday.
ON THE BUBBLE: Barrington
RIIL Division III Softball Power Rankings
1. Cranston East (5-1)
The defending champs aren’t the same team they were last year, but they still have the most fun offense in the state and it’s incredible to see how much pressure the fun-and-run puts on opposing defenses. East has a big week ahead, hosting Tiverton on Monday, playing at Davies Wednesday and then hosting Davies on Friday. A sweep would leave little doubt about who’s playing at RIC come June.
2. Tiverton (6-0)
With an undefeated record, the Tigers probably think they should be No. 1 – but to be No. 1 you have to beat No. 1. Tiverton is a title contender, but it needs to prove it can handle what Cranston East can do. The Tigers will get that chance Monday in Cranston, before hosting Middletown Thursday, Mt. Hope Friday and Barrington on Saturday.
3. Davies (4-2)
There seems to be a clear-cut top two and right now, the Patriots have built the necessary resume to be the clear-cut No. 3. This week will decide whether or not its time to toss Davies into title contention talk. The Patriots play Cranston East twice this week – hosting Wednesday, traveling Friday – and even one win would change the trajectory of the season.
4. Narragansett (2-3)
Ignore the Mariners’ record right now because there’s a chance they don’t lose again this season. Narragansett lost its opener, lost two to D-II teams, and really only has three tests the rest of the way. One of those takes place this week when the Mariners host Middletown before traveling to play Pawtucket in what could be the first two games of a very long wind streak.
5. Middletown (2-2)
With two losses to the top two teams in D-III, there’s a very good chance these Islanders deserve to be ranked higher. Their schedule is a bit tougher than any of the top four teams and that could make Middletown an interesting darkhorse come playoff time. The Islanders have a battle at Narragansett Monday, host Mount Pleasant Tuesday, then travel to play Tiverton on Thursday.
ON THE BUBBLE: Classical (4-1).
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Rhode Island high school softball power rankings after Week 3
