North Kingstown captured the Division I crown of the Javyee Fast-pitch Tournament last Monday at Winslow Park in Apponaug.

"In the State Championship Game, a superb pitching performance was turned in by North Kingstown's Emily Branch, who pitched a complete game shutout, scattering five hits while striking out six," reports Skippers jayvee coach Adam Laliberte. "North Kingstown received offensive contributions from Laura Gilli (2 triples, 4 RBI), Emily King (3 hits) and Murphy Nield (3 hits) to lead the team which had 17 hits in the final."

North Kingstown first had to get by Cumberland in the semifinal round, defeating the Clippers, 8-5, in eight innings.

Trailing Cumberland, 5-2, North Kingstown tied the score to send the game into extra innings. With the international tie breaker rule in effect, the Skippers then scored three runs in the top of the eighth. North Kingstown pitcher Kelly Stevens took it from there, finishing with 10 strikeouts in the complete-game effort.

Laliberte adds: "North Kingstown also received key offensive contributions from Emily Branch (3 hits), Michelle Marguette and Staci Mooney (2 hits each) and Samantha Croteau, who had the go-ahead RBI in the top of the 8th inning.''