Just Smashing! With Explosive Offense, Weston Tops Burke in Tourney’s Preliminary Round

The Weston softball team sneaked into the Division 3 North Sectionals as the last seed, but made good in its first stop in the tourney with a resounding 23-1 victory in five innings over host Burke High in a preliminary round matchup yesterday.

Weston, ranked No. 19, will visit No. 3 Shawsheen Valley Tech in a first round matchup on Saturday.

The Wildcats’ hit brigade was out in full force as Weston pounded out 24 hits, bolting to 3-0 lead in the first inning, and then exploding for 13 runs in the second stanza to put the game out of reach.

Sophomore superstar Ariana Vasquez drove in five runs, while going 2 for 3 with two triples and a pair of walks and was also hit by a pitch. She also shined in the circle, allowing only one hit, while striking out 10 in a dominant pitching outing.

“Ariana struck out the last six batters of the game,” Weston head coach Kelly Harrington said, noting Burke had only four base runners.

Weston, meanwhile, had base runners everywhere, as Vasquez had much support throughout the lineup.

Sophomore Sarah Goldman had four RBIs, while going 3 for 5, while junior Tanner Skenderian (2 for 3, triple) and freshman Gene Miller (3 for 4, triple) both drove in three runs.

Senior Sarah Ober scored four runs, while going 3 for 4 with a walk. Junior Sami Gosman was a perfect 5 for 5. Junior Kristen Welby (2 for 3, two walks) drove in two runs. Sophomore Dani Silverstein went 2 for 2 with two walks, while freshman Talia Cramer had one hit in three tries.

Senior co-captain Jessilee Gross returned to the lineup after missing 12 games due to a concussion.

Weston scored five more runs in the third inning and one each in the fourth and fifth frames. The Bulldogs got their only run in the second stanza.