Projo Sports Blog

By CAROLYN THORNTON
Journal Sports Writer

The Pilgrim softball team is gearing up for a special night tomorrow night, when the Patriots host Toll Gate in a Division I matchup (7 p.m.) at the Warwick West Side field on Post Road.

Being Pilgrim's final home game of the regular season, the team plans to honor its three seniors - Kate Fowler, Sarah Patricio and Brittany DeRouin. The Patriots will also be looking for a victory in hopes of securing a spot in the playoffs.

But the game will be special for yet another reason, as the players will be wearing ribbons to honor the memory of 15-year-old Pilgrim student Kimberly Pisaturo, who was struck and killed by a school bus earlier this month.

Kelly Harrington, a foreign language teacher at Pilgrim, and some of her students have been making the ribbons over the past week, said Patriots coach Bill Aquilante, and Fowler suggested that the team wear the memorial ribbons for the remainder of the season. Students and faculty from the school also will be selling them at tomorrow's game, with proceeds going to the Pisaturo family.

Fowler, a co-captain with Patricio, says that she came up with the idea because she wanted to feel like she had helped in some way during "this horrible tragedy."

"I wanted to wear the ribbons to keep Kim's spirit alive and show support throughout the Pilgrim community and her family," said Fowler. "It was hard dealing with the loss of a classmate, but we all got through it together. Wearing the ribbons made my teammates and me think of how fragile life is and to never give up throughout it. Kim will be missed, but `Once a Patriot, always a patriot,' she will be remembered."

On the field, Pilgrim has continued to make progress. Heading into today's game against Lincoln, the 4-8 Patriots have already doubled their win total from last season and are a half game out of a playoff spot.

Fowler has been leading her team at the plate and is hitting .353 with an on-base percentage of .450. The starting catcher, she has provided a steady target for junior pitcher Leah Furney, while also preventing six stolen base attempts.

Furney has also had a solid season both offensively and defensively. She is hitting .385 (.455 OBP), while recording 73 strikeouts in 88 innings pitched.

While the team is still working to gain consistency, Pilgrim has still made significant strides from last season when it managed just two wins.

"We have beaten Cranston West and played La Salle tough in a 3-0 loss," said Aquilante, now in his second year at the helm. "We also had a tough 2-1 loss to Warwick Vets. When we play good defense we are OK. Hitting has been a challenge, but we have done some small ball to squeeze out some offense in our wins."

 Tags  high school softball Kimberly Pisaturo Pilgrim High School

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