Bulldogs Defeat Cavaliers in Region Quarterfinals

By Chris Barron

Senior Concorde District player of the year Jess McNamara led to victory last night, collecting two hits and reaching base three times as the team defeated 4-2. The team now advances in the Northern Region Softball Tournament. 

McNamara, who went 2-for-3 in the game with one RBI and one run scored, helped tie the game in the third inning. She hit a double to left field scoring senior Alex Bohrer. Bohrer had a run scoring single earlier in the inning.

W.T. Woodson had scored one run in both the first and third innings, scoring on a passed ball for the first run, and then a RBI single by senior Kerchina Johnson scoring junior Eliana Budoff. Budoff doubled and led off the inning.

Sophomore pitcher Keona Gaines also did her part for the Bulldogs by throwing a 96 pitch complete game, striking out 11 Cavalier batters and walking only one.

The Cavaliers got the leadoff batter on in each of the first three innings but could only manufacture two runs on eight hits and leaving five runners on base. It looked like they would have a big second inning—but a bunt by junior Alexa Senio turned into a double play. This happened as Westfield’s Carrie Otroba tagged out Senio, then threw to McNamara at second to get junior Kelsey Schwartzbach who reached on a leadoff single. It looked as if McNamara pushed the runner off the base, then tagged her and the momentum then shifted to the Bulldog dugout. 

Both teams went down silently in the fourth inning. Woodson came to bat in the fifth looking to take the lead but could not do any damage against Gaines—who allowed only one hit after the third inning.

The Bulldogs took the lead for good in the bottom of the fifth with two outs; Bohrer and McNamara singled, bringing up Otroba who hit a single to center field. The ball was misplayed, allowing her to advance to second while Bohrer and McNamara both scored on the play. Senior Alex Tenney singled and stole second base putting runners on second and third. A popout ended the inning.

In the sixth for the Cavaliers, they went down in order as they hit three infield popouts, two to Bohrer and one to McNamara. Westfield went down quickly in their half of the inning, so it was up to Woodson to score two runs to keep the game going. The game ended with a strikeout, popout and groundout.

Westfield (18-4) now advances to the regional semi-finals where they will face the at  at 5  p.m. The winner will earn a state tournament berth.