Lady Bulldogs Fall to Grizzlies in State Quarter-finals

The Bulldogs lost 4-3 to to Grassfield Grizzlies in the Virginia High School League AAA state quarter-finals Tuesday night. 

Westfield softball placed 10-1 without star player Frankie Martinez, who broke her arm in a game against Robinson with five games left to play in the season; but Northern Region Player of the Year Jessica McNamara fractured her wrist in practice Monday after being hit by a line drive. With two of their star players out of commission, the game was an uphill battle for the Bulldogs. 

"I looked it up and it's something like 50 runs, 61 RBI, and nine home runs," said Coach Dean Ferington, speaking about the impact of Martinez and McNamara on the team. "You can't replace it, especially at this point in the season."

Still, Westfield's pitcher, Keona Gaines, had a solid day on the mound. Gaines froze Grassfield at the plate on multiple occasions with her outside curve ball—but in the top of the third inning the Grizzlies bats found a bit of spark. Lead-off hitter Jazmine Foreman smashed a line drive into left-center field to begin the four-hit, two-run inning.

Shortly afterward, sophomore Danielle Matkins legged out a bunt to place runners at first and third. Robyn Mitchell then blasted a fly ball to the left-center gap that bounced over the fence for a ground rule double to tie the score at one. Three batters later, junior Hannah Burmeister hit a fly-ball to center field that barely missed the glove of Kayleen Bell and drove home the go-ahead score.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, a line drive to left-center field by Caitlin Rudy drove Westfield senior Alex Tenny across home plate. The Bulldogs had tied the score at two.

At the top of the eighth, Gaines replaced pitcher Jenn Goodman. Burmeister led with a ground out to second base. Then Goodman walked Kaitlin Springer to place the go-ahead run on first. Grassfield freshman Brittney Walters then stepped to the plate. On the 1-1 pitch, she hit a hard grounder that bounced off the third base bag and kicked into the far left corner of the fence. Springer crossed home plate.

Just two batters later, Kaitlyn Breneman hit a short pop to Jackie Martinez, the short stop player, which deflected off her glove and allowed Walters to score. Martinez filled in at short stop for McNamara and Bell played center field in place of Martinez.

"I thought that Jackie did fine at short stop and turned a nice double play [earlier in the game]," said Ferington. "For not getting any reps there, she did fine."

The Bulldogs managed to score one run in that final inning from a grounder to left-center field by Gaines. With runners on first and second, a chopper to short stop by Rudy projected directly towards base runner Courtney Huling. Huling interfered with the play and was called for the second out.

Goodman then made a rare appearance at the plate and on the 2-2 pitch grounded back to pitcher Lacey McDougall to record the final out. This gave the Grizzlies their first-ever state tournament victory. 

"When you get to this level, every team is good," said Grassfield coach Leroy Bohn. "Anybody can beat anybody. These girls have worked hard and we're learning how to win the big games. I'm very proud of each and every one of them."