The Cranston West softball team has quickly emerged as a Division I contender once again despite losing some key pieces to last year’s playoff roster.

West is 4-0 in league play, rolling past the opposition by a combined score of 49-3 to go along with three shutout wins.

The Falcons’ most recent win came in a 16-0 thumping of St. Ray’s on Monday, where the team boasted another all-around win.

Mia Crudale has been a central part to the team’s early run as she has helped the Falcons make a seamless pitching transition after graduating Paige Cote. Crudale tossed five scoreless – and hitless – innings against St. Ray’s to lead the way.

“We’ve have a couple surprises this year and she was the biggest one having not pitched on this stage. She’s been working her tail off and her pitching coach has helped her get five or six miles per hour faster, she’s moving the ball around. She’s been a pleasant surprise,” said West coach PJ Bessette. “We didn’t know what we were going to get from her, but she’s been a workhorse, she’s an animal out there.”

Siena Nardelli has been productive at the lead off spot while Sam Healy has also picked up where she left off last season in the middle of the lineup.

West has had some new faces step up and make an impact at the plate, including Gianna DiSpirito, Jenna Malloy and Mia Santomassimo.

“Everybody but La Salle has lost quite a bit from their roster (in Division I). It’s how these girls adjust. There’s a bunch of new faces. Gianna has jumped right in there, other surprises have been Jenna Malloy, Mia (Santomassimo), they stepped right in and didn’t miss a beat,” said Bessette. “Up and down the lineup, I can count on anyone at anytime to swing the bat.”

Although West has been perhaps the best team in the state through the first two weeks, its roster is still young and rebuilding. Bessette has been relying on senior catcher Sofia Marella, who has been a tone setter both on and off the field, as the Falcons get prepared for what should be another dogfight for Division I playoff seeding.

“Sofia is that kid. She’s very intelligent but also understanding of having the younger ones around. She leads by example, she’s very athletic and she gives 150 percent all the time. She’s stepped up in a big way,” Bessette said.

Marella, Santomassimo and Aliyah Conner all drove in three runs each against St. Ray’s while Nicole Silvestri and DiSpirito knocked in two each.

The Falcons will next take on Coventry at home on Thursday morning.