Chariho softball closes in on unbeaten season with win over St. Raphael

RICHMOND – Winning on Senior Day was just the latest milestone in a growing list for Chariho’s softball team this season.

The Chargers now sit a lone victory from entering the playoffs with a perfect record thanks to another impressive Friday afternoon at the back of their campus.

Adriana Jeannenot dominated in the circle, the offense scratched out the necessary runs and the defense was flawless in a 4-1 win over dangerous St. Raphael, a pitching matchup between a pair of strong junior right-handers under cloudy skies.

Izzy Sousa allowed just a pair of earned runs for the Saints, but that’s generally been enough production for Chariho to date behind Jeannenot. She struck out 13, surrendered only two hits and issued a lone walk while throwing an economical 79 pitches over seven innings. Sousa’s solo homer in the top of the fourth needed some company that never arrived, and only a trip to Cumberland next week can spoil the mood for the Chargers entering the postseason.

“It’s really awesome,” senior shortstop Anna Tretton said. “From freshman year all the way to here, it feels really good to be able to have such a great season so far.”

Chariho senior Anna Tretton and the Chargers won on Senior Day, Friday, May 15, by beating St. Raphael 4-1.

Kaelyn Comerford’s single extended the bottom of the first long enough for pinch runner Gabriella Ricci to score on a wild pitch. Norah Downing bunted for a single and Ella Alves grounded a double inside the bag at third ahead of a dropped fly ball to right that plated two more runs in the bottom of the second. Jeannenot didn’t seem likely to give away a 3-0 lead from there and held it comfortably, scuffed only by a towering Sousa blast to straightaway center.

“I felt really good,” Jeannenot said. “I felt fast. I felt like everything was really working for me.”

Tretton smoked a one-out triple to right-center in the bottom of the fifth, another opportunity for Chariho to add on. Jeannenot helped herself with a sacrifice fly to right and the Chargers enjoyed their second three-run lead. They struck out just five times through the first five innings and finished with three extra-base hits against Sousa, an example of the lineup depth they’ve built while evolving into title contenders.