Blue Devil Softball Lands Seventh Seed in County Tourney

In order for the Westfield softball team to advance in county tournament competition, the Blue Devils will have to beat Elizabeth a third time.

Westfield received the seventh seed at Sunday night’s meeting for the 36^th annual Union County Tournament and will host 10^th-seeded Elizabeth Saturday at 4 p.m. in one of eight first round games.

The first round games have a starting time of 4 p.m. because Saturday is an SAT day.

Westfield swept Elizabeth in Union County Conference-Watchung Division competition, beating the Minutemen 9-3 at home on April 21 and 9-2 on the road on April 25.

Westfield was judged on a 6-10 overall record. The Blue Devils had a four-game winning streak snapped by North Hunterdon 5-0 at home on Wednesday and on Saturday lost at Woodbridge 10-0.

Before that, Westfield defeated Scotch Plains, Elizabeth twice and Linden.

The Blue Devils rebounded from a 1-6 start to win five of their next seven games.

Westfield begins the week with a 6-2 record in the Watchung Division, with four league games to go. Big division wins include a 4-2 victory at Cranford against the Cougars’ No. 2 pitcher Megan Sawyer and a 5-2, 10-inning triumph at Linden.

         Johnson earned the second seed and is seeking to win its third title and first since 1981. Defending champion Cranford is the third seed and has won the crown four of the past five years and five times total.

          Westfield last won the championship in 1998.

36^TH ANNUAL SOFTBALL UCT

SEEDS: 1-Gov. Livingston. 2-Johnson. 3-Cranford. 4-New Providence.

5-Brearley. 6-Roselle Park. 7-Westfield. 8-Linden.

9-Union Catholic. 10-Elizabeth. 11-Union. 12-Kent Place.

13-Roselle Catholic. 14-Rahway. 15-Dayton. 16-Summit.

17-Oak Knoll. 18-Scotch Plains. 19-Roselle. 20-Hillside.

21-Plainfield.

St. Mary’s, Elizabeth and Benedictine Academy

are not included.

PRELIMINARY ROUND

Must be completed by May 5

21-Plainfield at 12-Kent Place

20-Hillside at 13-Roselle Catholic

19-Roselle at 14-Rahway

18-Scotch Plains at 15-Dayton

17-Oak Knoll at 16-Summit

FIRST ROUND

Saturday, May 7

Games at the higher seeds will start

at 4 p.m. because it’s an SAT day.

TOP SIDE OF THE BRACKET:

9-Union Catholic at 8-Linden

Oak Knoll/Summit at 1-Gov. Livingston

Plainfield/Kent Place at 5-Brearley

Hillside/Roselle Catholic at 4-New Providence

BOTTOM SIDE OF THE BRACKET:

10-Elizabeth at 7-Westfield

Scotch Plains/Dayton at 2-Johnson

11-Union at 6-Roselle Park

Roselle/Rahway at 3-Cranford

QUARTERFINALS

Friday, May 13

Doubleheaders at Linden’s Flanagan Fields

6 and 8 p.m.

SEMIFINALS

Saturday, May 14

At Linden’s Flanagan Fields

6 and 8 p.m.

FINALS

Saturday, May 21

At Kean University, Union

JV: noon

Varsity: 2 p.m.