Assistant Sports Editor

Domination has been the name of the game for the Western Hills Middle School softball team this season.

The Cobras amassed a 12-0 regular-season record and are currently in position for the No. 1 seed with the postseason quickly approaching. They are the best team in the state, and it isn’t close.

Western Hills has scored 205 runs this season, averaging just more than 17 runs per outing, while allowing just six total. Potent offense and dominant pitching, which has led to eight shutouts thus far, have carried Western Hills all year.

Since Cranston has been without middle school sports since 2007, the Cobras’ re-emergence is even more impressive.

“These girls practice every day, [they] do a lot of hitting,” Western Hills manager Tom Lewandowski said. “I’ve got 18 girls on the team and they’ve all played softball since they were 8 years old and they’re all on travel teams. So they bring a lot to the table. But they work hard, too. Every day they work hard. So, a lot of hitting, a lot of offense, offensive drills, defensive drills. They’re well prepared.”

As of May 24, the only other 12-0 team in the state is North Cumberland Middle School, but its run differential pales in comparison to Western Hills. The Cobras’ own a run differential of ?, while North Cumberland’s sits at .

Feinstein Middle School (10-2) is on the heels of the Cobras in the Western division, but it has yet to defeat them. Feinstein has fallen 2-1 and 9-0 to the Cobras in two meetings for its only losses this year.

“It’s not a reflection that we’re trying to run up the score,” Lewandowski said of the run differential. “What’s happened is, the offense has been incredible, defense has been excellent, pitching’s been outstanding. That allows opportunities for our second-stringers to come in there. In fairness to them, I want them out there to produce just like the first squad did. So given that opportunity, they’re also scoring runs.”

A starting lineup full of eighth graders has spearheaded an offense that has scored 15 or more runs in nine of its games. The hitters spread the wealth, too, as seven have at least one dinger on the season.

Morgan Ruggieri, Olivia Conti and Kaitlin Lewandowski form a formidable top third of the lineup, while the power in the middle comes from Megan Anderson, Sarah Danella and Emily Reali. Rounding out the order is Madison Marcello, Caitlin Lopez and Lauren Foley.

Western Hills has added experience for its bench players heading into the postseason as well, as all 18 have played in almost every game. Alexa Lombardi, Lauren Macera and Corinne Rose are the eighth-grade contingent on the bench, with seventh-graders Ava Brandow, Sydney Casale, Sophia DiPippo, Delaney Doidge, Marissa Drezek and Sophia Ferry giving extra depth.

“What sets them apart from the rest is that this team is focused,” Lewandowski said. “They set goals from the beginning. Their No. 1 goal is getting into the playoffs. How they got there, they didn’t really care. I made a point from day one: It’s not gonna be the starting nine that’s gonna get us there, it’s gonna be the whole 18. And all 18 contributed to getting us there.”

As if the offensive onslaught wasn’t enough for opponents, Western Hills has a strong 1-2 punch in Lopez and Lewandowski in the circle. Behind those two starters, there are five others ready to go should the game get out of hand.

“We’ve got our ace, Caitlin Lopez,” Lewandowski said. “She throws a lot of gas. She’s remarkable. Then I have Caitlin Lewandowski, she’s my No. 2. But I have seven pitchers on the team as well. Everybody contributes.”

Now, the Cobras’ sights are set on performing as well in the playoffs. The goal is to reach the championship game at Bryant University on June 13, and Coach Lewandowski knows his team can’t be over-confident after the flawless regular season.

Western Hills has played only Western division teams, so the competition will open up once the postseason begins in a week. North Cumberland and currently undefeated Chariho could be in the offing for the Cobras if they want to complete a remarkable run in their first season back as a program.

“They don’t feel invincible,” Lewandowski said. “They have a lot of confidence. Obviously with winning 12 games and only giving up six, confidence comes with that. [But] there’s teams we haven’t faced yet. So there’s something new there. They realize it. Certainly they’re confident, but nothing’s gonna change, they’re going to continue working hard. They’re going to be facing teams they haven’t seen before.”