Sports
Blue Devils’ Surprising Season Ends in First Round of states
Westfield's magical ride through the 2011 season came to an end Tuesday with a loss at fifth-seeded Watchung Hills
Senior first baseman Nicki Schmeider and right fielder Chrissy Ferraro each delivered RBIs during the fourth inning Tuesday, but that’s all the Westfield High School softball team could muster, and the 12th-seeded Blue Devils fell 8-2 to fifth-seeded Watchung Hills in the first round of the NJSIAA North 2 Group IV Tournament.
IN SHORT
Fresh off its appearance in the Union County Tournament final, Westfield collected four hits and Emma Crossland and Olivia Pecora scored runs during the fourth inning, but the Blue Devils were held hitless over the final three frames and were eliminated by Watchung Hills.
Freshman right-hander Elena Scararo came out firing, fanning four over the first two inning and allowing just an infield single, before Watchung Hills caught up to her for two runs in the third and five in the fourth.
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Scararo, who was victimized by four errors behind her, finished allowing nine hits, two walks, hitting a batter and striking out five.
BLUE DEVIL OF THE GAME
Emma Crossland – The senior catcher went 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored.
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OTHER KEY PERFORMANCES
Chrissy Ferraro – The right fielder went 2-for-2 and an RBI.
Nicki Schmeider – The first baseman singled twice and drove in a run.
Olivia Pecora – The second baseman singled and scored a run during Westfield’s two-run fourth inning.
THEY SAID IT
"We knew going in at the beginning of the season there was going to be a learning curve. We knew it was going to take a little while to click, especially when you’ve got your shortstop and your center fielder and your pitcher and your third baseman (as freshmen). These are all key spots on a softball field. So all the way up the middle you’re very young, and they have done a tremendous job of figuring it out and figuring it out pretty quick. And I’m really proud of the way we ended up."
-- Westfield coach Caitlin MacDonald on her team’s development during the course of the season, a run that landed Westfield in the Union County Tournament final and the North 2 Group IV Tournament.
UP NEXT – A well-earned break, as the Blue Devils’ season came to a close Tuesday.
