St. Raphael Academy is a perfect 4-0 against Ponaganset since May of 2017 and they'll have a chance to extend that dominance on Wednesday. The Saints will host the Chieftains at 4:00 p.m. Both come into the matchup bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
St. Raphael Academy is coming in fresh off a high-stakes matchup with another one of Rhode Island's top teams: Smithfield, who was ranked 18th at the time (St. Raphael Academy was ranked eighth). The Saints won by a run and slipped past the Sentinels 4-3. The victory continues a trend for the Saints in their matchups with the Sentinels: they've now won six in a row.
Isabella Sousa was a major factor while hitting and pitching. On the mound, she didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only two hits while striking out 16 over seven innings pitched. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't tossed less than nine strikeouts in four consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, going a perfect 3-for-3 with one triple and one run. That's the most hits she has posted since back in April of 2025.
Emma Martin
| 04/27/26 vs Smithfield | 4 |
| 04/24/26 vs Prout | 3 |
| 04/13/26 @ St. Mary Academy-Bay View | 3 |
| 05/21/25 vs St. Mary Academy-Bay View | 3 |
| 04/09/26 vs La Salle Academy | 2 |
In other batting news, Emma Martin was incredible, going a perfect 4-for-4 with one triple and two RBI. Those four hits gave her a new career-high. Sophie Roman was another key player, going 2-for-4 with two runs, one triple, and one RBI.
St. Raphael Academy was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .414. The team's really been improving in that area: they've now improved their batting average total in three consecutive contests.
Meanwhile, after low-scoring totals in their previous four game, Ponaganset brought some dynamite into their most recent matchup. They put the hurt on South Kingstown with a sharp 14-1 win on Tuesday. The contest marked the Chieftains' most dominant victory of the season.
Mattea Mello spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered a run (which was unearned) on seven hits and racked up 16 Ks.
On the hitting side, Natalia Scorpio was a standout: she got on base in three of her five plate appearances with one home run, four RBI, and two runs. That home run marked the first that she has launched this season. The team also got some help courtesy of Ella McKenney, who went 3-for-5 with one home run and four RBI.
Ponaganset's win bumped their record up to 4-8. As for St. Raphael Academy, their victory bumped their record up to 6-2.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Wednesday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. St. Raphael Academy has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 9.9 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Ponaganset struggles in that department as they've been averaging 7.9 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
St. Raphael Academy came out on top in a nail-biter against Ponaganset in their previous matchup back in April of 2025, sneaking past 3-2. Will the Saints repeat their success, or do the Chieftains have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
