McNamara and Rudy Lead Westfield to Regional Championship Win

Coming into yesterday's Northern Region , Westfield (20-4) and McLean (23-4) had combined for only one win in the history of this game. The Highlanders were playing in the game for the second year in a row but couldn't hold off the hot bats that the Bulldogs have been swinging for the past month.

Newly crowned Northern Region player of the year Jess McNamara started the scoring in the first when she sent a pitch into left field scoring Jackie Martinez and giving the Bulldogs the early lead. McNamara, the tournament MVP went 2 for 3 with a home run and three RBI in the game. She will be a member of the Virginia Tech Hokies softball team next season.

McLean was able to take the lead in the top of the third when junior rightfielder Allison Wilhelm took the pitch from Jenn Goodman and deposited it over the fence to give her team a 2-1 lead. McNamara came back in the bottom of the inning and put the Bulldogs back up 3-2 after her home run off of Jamie Bell. There was no more scoring until the sixth inning.

In the top of the sixth, sophomore Grace Henry had a RBI single which tied the game but McLean could do no further damage. In the bottom half of the inning, centerfielder Mary Spulak played exceptional defense to keep the game tied heading into the seventh.

McLean did nothing in the top half so Westfield came to bat. Sophomore Caitlin Rudy came to the plate with one out and pinch runner Courtney Mecimore on second base. Rudy, who finished 1 for 3 with a RBI walloped the first pitch into left center field for a double allowing Mecimore to come around and score the winning run.

Westfield was then able to celebrate their second regional championship and first since 2008. They will host the Eastern Region runner-up Grassfield in the first round of the state tournament on Tuesday. McLean will travel to face Hickory, the Eastern Region Champions.

McNamara was very happy after the game and this was her second regional softball championship. She and several of her teammates won in 2008 as freshmen so they will be making their second state tournament appearance.

This was the second meeting between these teams this year, Westfield took a 3-2 decision back on April 18. These two also played in the regional quarterfinals last year when McLean won 5-4. Senior pitcher Jamie Bell, coming off a perfect game against South County on Wednesday in the regional semi-finals was not able to keep the magic going for a second straight game. This was the first loss for the Highlanders with Bell as the starting pitcher.

With this win, Westfield is set up to play the entire state tournament on their home field because if they win Tuesday, the semi-finals and championship game are at Westfield on Friday and Saturday. McLean lost the region championship game last year to Madison and had to travel in the state quarterfinals but it did not bother them as they came back to win the VHSL AAA State Championship.

It should be a great week next week and don't forget to look back for more information on the State Tournament next week.