Westwood Cardinal U10 Softball Team on a Roll

The U10 Westwood Cardinals won their weekend recently despite stifling heat. On Saturday, July 9 the team gave coach Aldo just what he asked for before the game: no strikeouts looking! And that wasn't all, as the team pounded out a season-high 19 hits on their way to a 21-7 win at home versus River Edge.

The 90-plus degree heat and a bright sun wasn't enough to hold back a determined Westwood team. The game was close early on, with the Cardinals clinging to a 3-2 lead as they came to bat in the fourth. However, the Westwood bats exploded for eight runs in the fourth, four in the fifth and six more in the sixth. Everyone in the lineup contributed: Tina F (three singles, four RBI), Sam L (three singles, one RBI), Shannon M (four RBI and a single), Ally D (double, single and three RBI), Lauren B (two singles, two RBI), Hailey V and Crystal G (two singles and one RBI each), Katie A (five runs scored, a single and RBI), Jillian P (three runs scored and a single), Annaliese G (single and RBI) and Kaitlyn K (single).

Tina F led the way on the mound with three innings of one-run ball. Sam L pitched a solid two innings before tiring in the sixth, and Katie A came in to end a River Edge rally by inducing a ground ball to third for a fielder's choice.

The defense was also outstanding, led by Kaitlyn K (caught two line shots to short center, turning one into a double play), Sam L (four ground ball outs from third base), Shannon M (three ground ball outs from second base), Tina F (three ground ball outs from the pitcher's mound) and Lauren B (fielder's choice from short center).

One day after banging out 19 hits for 21 runs, the U10 Westwood Cardinals found another way to win on Sunday afternoon, July 10 -- making the most out of three hits along with capitalizing on exceptional pitching and defense to shut out Allendale, 3-0.

Facing an Allendale starting pitcher who not only threw hard but was accurate, the Cardinals broke a scoreless tie in the fourth by being patient and playing small ball. Kaitlyn K led off with a walk (Crystal G pinch-ran for her, catcher speed-up rule). Molly M followed with a one-out walk to make it first and second. Hailey V was next, and after fouling off multiple pitches, she grounded out to first, moving both runners up to second and third. That brought up Jillian P, who delivered a clutch two-out, two-run single to left that gave Westwood a 2-0 lead.

It wasn't any easier against Allendale's second pitcher, but in the sixth Lauren B led off with a single and moved to second on a throwing error. Annaliese G then grounded out to second, advancing Lauren B to third. On the same play, Lauren B took a wide turn around third to draw a throw -- and when the throw was wild, Lauren hustled home to make it 3-0 and complete the scoring.

Both Tina F and Sam L were outstanding on the hill, combining to give up only four hits and two walks. The entire defense played flawlessly, as ground ball outs were recorded by Ally D, Sam L, Tina F, Delaney F, Shannon M and Jillian P and Lauren B made another nice catch of a fly ball to short center.

With its second straight victory, Westwood improved to 5-3-1 on the season.

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