Warwick saw plenty of its girls teams have big years in 2021, but perhaps no team achieved more than the Pilgrim softball team which reached the state championship series against Coventry. For its big postseason run, it has been named the Warwick Beacon’s Girls Team of the Year.

The Lady Pats entered 2021 with plenty of question marks after missing all of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The team would be relying on a handful of new faces and was led by a new coach in Carlos Rodas.

By midseason, it was clear that this team was a legitimate force in the state’s toughest division, and it went on to finish with an impressive 11-2 record to clinch the second seed in the playoffs.

The Pats rolled past North Providence and Cumberland in the opening rounds of the playoffs and would upset top seed St. Ray’s in an extra-inning thriller in the semifinals to punch their ticket to the big dance. Pilgrim would get an opening win against Coventry, but would come up short in the final game.

Pilgrim finished the year as arguably the best team in the state despite finishing as the runner up. Pilgrim not only had wins over champion Coventry and the top-seeded Saints, but collected victories over Cranston West and La Salle Academy as well. The Pats’ only losses came at the hands of Coventry and St. Ray’s. It was a true dog fight at the top.

Pilgrim also saw many of its individual players receive league honors as well.

Sophomore phenom Alyssa Twomey was named First Team All-State, while Madison Wrench was named to the second team. Madison D’Amato and Amelia Murphy were named to the Division I Second Team, while Lily Brown made the third team.

The Pats should be right back in the championship mix in 2022, much thanks to the return of Twomey, who will be the team’s leader both in the circle and at the plate.

Members of the 2021 Pilgrim softball team were: Madi D’Amato, Catherine Weeden, Skyla Contarino, Destinee Santiago, Olivia Bordeleau, Madison Wrench, Megan Medeiros, Amelia Murphy, Amelia Potter, Kelsey Burr, Jenna Lucia, Lily Brown, Sydney Suffoletto, Alyssa Twomey, Litzy Blanco, Jenna Altieri, Audra McDonnell, Gillian Brown and Sophia Chevian.