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The RIIL softball playoffs started late last week with preliminary round games, but the double-elimination portion of the bracket is where the fun really starts. One swing is sometimes the difference between winning and losing and one hot pitcher can sometimes be enough to win a championship.
Who will be playing for titles this spring? Who will win? There’s no tournament that’s tougher to predict, but that wasn’t going to stop us from trying to see if we could break down Division I, II and III and take a shot at picking who’s ending the year with a trophy.
No. 1 La Salle and No. 2 Chariho have been the teams to beat this season and the only team that beat the Rams were the Chargers, who went through 2026 undefeated but still earned the No. 2 seed.
There’s really no secret to how these teams win championships. For La Salle, it has the ace in Hailey Vigneau and an offense that can hit 1-9. Chariho’s order is equally potent, but the difference-maker has been pitcher Adriana Jeannenot, who’s now playing with the type of confidence titles are built on.
These are the teams to beat. They've proven as much with their play in the regular season - but that doesn't mean other teams don't have a chance to pull off some May magic.
No. 5 St. Raphael makes this list solely on the arm of Izzy Sousa, who struggled a bit against Bay View, where extra innings were needed to avoid an upset. If Sousa is on her game, there isn’t a team in D-I the Saints can’t beat and every team knows it (even if they won’t admit it).
Based on experience, No. 3 Cranston West has zero business being mentioned here but this team’s inexperience might make it forget just how big some of these games are. You can’t win titles without a pitcher and the Falcons have a budding star in Izzy Marcano, plus a lineup that can swing.
No. 6 Westerly might seem like a longshot, but the team is built to win. Frankie Arnold has been one of the state’s best arms this spring and helps anchor a lineup that can produce runs. The Bulldogs’ energy is infectious and while the road there won’t be easy, they’re hardly a longshot.
No. 4 North Kingstown is stumbling heading into the playoffs after winning its first 16 games but losing its final three, including a 2-1 loss to D-II leader Lincoln. The Skippers have the talent to make some noise, but need a spark and have a tough matchup in round one against No. 5 St. Raphael.
While it doesn’t look like No. 10 Pilgrim has a chance to do much this postseason, that’s exactly what the Patriots want you to think. Grit matters in the playoffs and no team does it better than Pilgrim.
That leaves No. 9 Prout, which has the tough task of opening up against La Salle. The Crusaders win games by doing all the little things right so if they can find a way to do that off the bat, it could lead to momentum necessary to spring upsets.
Upsets are always a fun part of the postseason, but it’s hard to not see the state title being won by either La Salle or Chariho. The biggest game of the season will be the winner’s bracket final because while both teams are capable of beating each other, it’s really tough to see one beating the other on back-to-back nights.
THE PICK: Chariho
No. 1 Lincoln has been a fun story this spring. The Lions have elite pitching and a terrific lineup that more than help make up for a lack of inexperience and a defense that has struggled at times. Lincoln earned the No. 1 seed and its reward is a relatively weak top half of the bracket.
Right now you’d hate to be a team facing No. 2 Johnston and Haley Boudreau, because the senior pitcher looks as determined as she’s been her entire career to win a title. If Boudreau’s pitching at an elite level, no one will beat the Panthers. Johnston needs to play sound defense and find a way to score runs and Boudreau will handle the rest.
There might not be a more complete team in Division II than Portsmouth, which has an elite arm in Mia Ruggieri and arguably the best lineup in the division. The Patriots have lacked consistency, but when they’re at their best they’ve been incredibly tough to beat.
No team has been more frustrating to follow than No. 6 Barrington, which has looked like world beaters in some games and an average D-II team in others. If we’re calling Portsmouth the best lineup in the division, the Eagles are the clear-cut No. 2 and have a case to be the top hitting team in the division. Barrington’s success rests on pitching and defense and it’s not hard to visualize this team playing for a title.
You might think No. 7 Ponaganset is a longshot, but you’d be mistaken. The Chieftains are a matchup nightmare because they’ve got an arm in Mattea Mello, the offense can produce enough and, of the top teams, they might be the best defensively. Ponaganset faces Johnston in the first round, but goes into the game with confidence after beating the Panthers on May 8.
[IMG alt="Erin Sheeran, East Greenwich Softball
Kayleigh Chaiyabhat, East Greenwich softball"]https://media.zenfs.com/en/the-providence-journal/232f54d7e33ec9b3bdf6daf5b4ee3c72[/IMG]
Kent County hasn’t been healthy and hasn’t played with much consistency. There’s a lot of things the team does well, but if it puts it together there’s no reason why it can’t go on a surprising deep run in D-II.
No. 5 East Greenwich is another team that has had some incredible highs but some devastating lows. The Avengers have experience in the right places and some exciting young stars in the making, so a first-round win might be all it takes to get them rolling.
No. 9 South Kingstown might be an afterthought, but here’s something to keep an eye on – the Rebels had Lincoln on the ropes in their matchup on May 3. SK is young, but it might be ready to spring an upset early.
While there are five or six viable contenders, those same five or six teams could also be two games and out.
We’ll start with Lincoln, which should be able to get through the first two rounds relatively unscathed. Who it faces in the winners’ bracket final will be important to its chances, but either way it seems like the Lions have the talent and pitching to get to the final game.
Johnston and Boudreau are the fun story – and there isn’t a player more deserving of a title – but its hard to not pick Portsmouth. The Patriots have depth, have pitching and they’ve won some big games this season in fairly convincing fashion.
So who wins? Pitching or offense? Both are capable, but this comes down to which one you think can do it twice in a row.
THE PICK: Lincoln
Tiverton is going to win the title. This was decided during the off-season, when the Tigers refused to move up to Division II (it had a willing partner in Woonsocket) despite having just about their entire team back from last spring’s title-winning team. The Tigers haven’t played a competitive game against a D-III team this season and that won’t change.
No. 2 Rogers seems like the destined opponent in the final. The Vikings lost two games this season, both to Tiverton, and picked up an impressive 3-0 win over D-II East Greenwich. Rogers is a couple of steps ahead of the rest of the pack in D-III and would have been an interesting team in the D-II playoffs.
If there’s another team that has a chance to get to RIC, it’s Cranston East. The Thunderbolts had to rebuild after their title season in 2023, then do the same after losing in last year’s final, but with some experienced players remaining there’s no reason why they can’t make a third straight trip.
No. 3 Exeter-West Greenwich didn’t have the toughest schedule, but still had to play the games. The Scarlet Knights had an impressive season, but being the third seed means playing a team it lost to in No. 6 Pawtucket.
No. 5 Central continues to be the best public school team in Providence, but the Knights aren’t quite at the level of first-round opponent Cranston East. The Knights could get hot in the losers’ bracket, but it’s hard to see them getting past the Bolts or Rogers.
If there’s a team capable of springing an upset, it’s No. 6 Pawtucket. Taylor Kane has been solid in the circle and the bats have shown up, so don’t be shocked if Pawtucket pulls off a first-round surprise.
No. 7 Middletown and No. 8 Classical have found success in similar fashion – by hitting the ball so hard it turns square. The Islanders and Purple will need to do just that in their matchups against the top two seeds.
It’s going to be Tiverton against Rogers and the RIIL would be wise to switch the game site from RIC to something that makes sense geographically for both schools. Play it at Roger Williams, play it at Salve Regina, just don’t make two teams cross a bridge if they don’t have to (and also let’s not schedule it the same day as D-I and D-II).
THE PICK: Tiverton
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: 2026 Rhode Island high school softball tournament predictions
Continue reading...
Who will be playing for titles this spring? Who will win? There’s no tournament that’s tougher to predict, but that wasn’t going to stop us from trying to see if we could break down Division I, II and III and take a shot at picking who’s ending the year with a trophy.
Division I Playoff Breakdown
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D-I Favorites
No. 1 La Salle and No. 2 Chariho have been the teams to beat this season and the only team that beat the Rams were the Chargers, who went through 2026 undefeated but still earned the No. 2 seed.
There’s really no secret to how these teams win championships. For La Salle, it has the ace in Hailey Vigneau and an offense that can hit 1-9. Chariho’s order is equally potent, but the difference-maker has been pitcher Adriana Jeannenot, who’s now playing with the type of confidence titles are built on.
These are the teams to beat. They've proven as much with their play in the regular season - but that doesn't mean other teams don't have a chance to pull off some May magic.
Could get to RIC
No. 5 St. Raphael makes this list solely on the arm of Izzy Sousa, who struggled a bit against Bay View, where extra innings were needed to avoid an upset. If Sousa is on her game, there isn’t a team in D-I the Saints can’t beat and every team knows it (even if they won’t admit it).
Based on experience, No. 3 Cranston West has zero business being mentioned here but this team’s inexperience might make it forget just how big some of these games are. You can’t win titles without a pitcher and the Falcons have a budding star in Izzy Marcano, plus a lineup that can swing.
No. 6 Westerly might seem like a longshot, but the team is built to win. Frankie Arnold has been one of the state’s best arms this spring and helps anchor a lineup that can produce runs. The Bulldogs’ energy is infectious and while the road there won’t be easy, they’re hardly a longshot.
The rest
No. 4 North Kingstown is stumbling heading into the playoffs after winning its first 16 games but losing its final three, including a 2-1 loss to D-II leader Lincoln. The Skippers have the talent to make some noise, but need a spark and have a tough matchup in round one against No. 5 St. Raphael.
While it doesn’t look like No. 10 Pilgrim has a chance to do much this postseason, that’s exactly what the Patriots want you to think. Grit matters in the playoffs and no team does it better than Pilgrim.
That leaves No. 9 Prout, which has the tough task of opening up against La Salle. The Crusaders win games by doing all the little things right so if they can find a way to do that off the bat, it could lead to momentum necessary to spring upsets.
Who will play for the state championship?
Upsets are always a fun part of the postseason, but it’s hard to not see the state title being won by either La Salle or Chariho. The biggest game of the season will be the winner’s bracket final because while both teams are capable of beating each other, it’s really tough to see one beating the other on back-to-back nights.
THE PICK: Chariho
Division II Playoff Breakdown
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The favorites
No. 1 Lincoln has been a fun story this spring. The Lions have elite pitching and a terrific lineup that more than help make up for a lack of inexperience and a defense that has struggled at times. Lincoln earned the No. 1 seed and its reward is a relatively weak top half of the bracket.
Right now you’d hate to be a team facing No. 2 Johnston and Haley Boudreau, because the senior pitcher looks as determined as she’s been her entire career to win a title. If Boudreau’s pitching at an elite level, no one will beat the Panthers. Johnston needs to play sound defense and find a way to score runs and Boudreau will handle the rest.
Could get to RIC
There might not be a more complete team in Division II than Portsmouth, which has an elite arm in Mia Ruggieri and arguably the best lineup in the division. The Patriots have lacked consistency, but when they’re at their best they’ve been incredibly tough to beat.
No team has been more frustrating to follow than No. 6 Barrington, which has looked like world beaters in some games and an average D-II team in others. If we’re calling Portsmouth the best lineup in the division, the Eagles are the clear-cut No. 2 and have a case to be the top hitting team in the division. Barrington’s success rests on pitching and defense and it’s not hard to visualize this team playing for a title.
You might think No. 7 Ponaganset is a longshot, but you’d be mistaken. The Chieftains are a matchup nightmare because they’ve got an arm in Mattea Mello, the offense can produce enough and, of the top teams, they might be the best defensively. Ponaganset faces Johnston in the first round, but goes into the game with confidence after beating the Panthers on May 8.
[IMG alt="Erin Sheeran, East Greenwich Softball
Kayleigh Chaiyabhat, East Greenwich softball"]https://media.zenfs.com/en/the-providence-journal/232f54d7e33ec9b3bdf6daf5b4ee3c72[/IMG]
The rest
Kent County hasn’t been healthy and hasn’t played with much consistency. There’s a lot of things the team does well, but if it puts it together there’s no reason why it can’t go on a surprising deep run in D-II.
No. 5 East Greenwich is another team that has had some incredible highs but some devastating lows. The Avengers have experience in the right places and some exciting young stars in the making, so a first-round win might be all it takes to get them rolling.
No. 9 South Kingstown might be an afterthought, but here’s something to keep an eye on – the Rebels had Lincoln on the ropes in their matchup on May 3. SK is young, but it might be ready to spring an upset early.
Who will play for the Division II championship?
While there are five or six viable contenders, those same five or six teams could also be two games and out.
We’ll start with Lincoln, which should be able to get through the first two rounds relatively unscathed. Who it faces in the winners’ bracket final will be important to its chances, but either way it seems like the Lions have the talent and pitching to get to the final game.
Johnston and Boudreau are the fun story – and there isn’t a player more deserving of a title – but its hard to not pick Portsmouth. The Patriots have depth, have pitching and they’ve won some big games this season in fairly convincing fashion.
So who wins? Pitching or offense? Both are capable, but this comes down to which one you think can do it twice in a row.
THE PICK: Lincoln
Division III Playoff Breakdown
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D-III Favorite
Tiverton is going to win the title. This was decided during the off-season, when the Tigers refused to move up to Division II (it had a willing partner in Woonsocket) despite having just about their entire team back from last spring’s title-winning team. The Tigers haven’t played a competitive game against a D-III team this season and that won’t change.
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Could get to RIC
No. 2 Rogers seems like the destined opponent in the final. The Vikings lost two games this season, both to Tiverton, and picked up an impressive 3-0 win over D-II East Greenwich. Rogers is a couple of steps ahead of the rest of the pack in D-III and would have been an interesting team in the D-II playoffs.
If there’s another team that has a chance to get to RIC, it’s Cranston East. The Thunderbolts had to rebuild after their title season in 2023, then do the same after losing in last year’s final, but with some experienced players remaining there’s no reason why they can’t make a third straight trip.
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The rest
No. 3 Exeter-West Greenwich didn’t have the toughest schedule, but still had to play the games. The Scarlet Knights had an impressive season, but being the third seed means playing a team it lost to in No. 6 Pawtucket.
No. 5 Central continues to be the best public school team in Providence, but the Knights aren’t quite at the level of first-round opponent Cranston East. The Knights could get hot in the losers’ bracket, but it’s hard to see them getting past the Bolts or Rogers.
If there’s a team capable of springing an upset, it’s No. 6 Pawtucket. Taylor Kane has been solid in the circle and the bats have shown up, so don’t be shocked if Pawtucket pulls off a first-round surprise.
No. 7 Middletown and No. 8 Classical have found success in similar fashion – by hitting the ball so hard it turns square. The Islanders and Purple will need to do just that in their matchups against the top two seeds.
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Who will play for the Division III championship?
It’s going to be Tiverton against Rogers and the RIIL would be wise to switch the game site from RIC to something that makes sense geographically for both schools. Play it at Roger Williams, play it at Salve Regina, just don’t make two teams cross a bridge if they don’t have to (and also let’s not schedule it the same day as D-I and D-II).
THE PICK: Tiverton
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: 2026 Rhode Island high school softball tournament predictions
Continue reading...
