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| 4/27/2009 12:51:00 PM | Email this article • Print this article | 'Wood beats Ridge
By CLIFF COATS
Special to the Leader
Three weeks ago things looked dire for the Westwood softball team - 2-6 in district play and knowing they had to change things up if they wanted to make the playoffs. Then coach Tiffany Gates' team won six games in a row to clinch a third-place finish in District 16-5A and claim a playoff with a 4-3 win over the 16-5A's top team, Vista Ridge (12-2), in the process.
The Warriors (19-12, 8-6) went into Friday's game on the road against the district's most dominant team with a clear goal in mind. In order to secure their place in the playoffs the Warriors knew they had to win the game. Having clinched their playoff spot and the district championship with a win over Stony Point weeks ago the Rangers came into the game coasting a bit.
"We went in and knew we had to win. We saw they weren't playing their starting pitcher, we saw this as a dis(respect) and that's why we came out so pumped up", said Haylee Staton about her team's mindset in the early innings.
Staton lead things off by legging out a double of a shot hit the middle of centerfield. Next sophomore Emily Mayfield moved Staton over with a perfect sacrifice bunt.
Things looked good for the Warriors, but Vista Ridge's senior pitcher Haley Parks regained control from the mound as she forced Westwood to pop out to her fielders.
The Warriors played their usual brand of stingy defense with an infield led by senior shortstop Emily Prehoda and Staton from the mound. Both sides held strong into the second inning with Parks and Staton each earning a strikeout while their defense did the rest of the work.
In the bottom of the second after a single by Britanny Siudam, sophomore right fielder Chandler McCurry lashed in an RBI triple to make the score 1-0. Westwood was able to wrap up the inning with a strike out from Staton before McCurry could be brought across for the run.
The third inning saw both teams lock down defensively. In the top of the fourth inning Emily Prehoda, after taking Parks to a 3-2 count, tied the game up with a long home run shot over the left field fence. Vista Ridge closed out the side before any more runs crossed. In the bottom, Staton added two more strikeouts to her game total of four while Mayfield caught the third out in deep left field, leaving the score at 1-1.
After two outs were already earned in the top of the fifth, Westwood's Sabrina Cortez stood tough for the walk against Parks. Then Staton homered, with a shot over the left field fence, to make the score 3-1. Parks closed out the inning before the Warriors could add to the rally.
Vista Ridge used the sixth inning to show why they are the top team in a very competitive district. Alexis Lynn took first on an error and next up Taylor Thom smashed another Ranger RBI triple. Thom was quickly brought home herself on a sacrifice fly ball tying the game back up at 3-3 before the Warriors could close out the inning.
Westwood knuckled down in the top of the sixth as Vista Ridge brought out its staring pitcher, Nikki Hendriks to finish out the game. Junior third baseman Nicole DeLisle singled to get on board, Sam Wallace came on as a pinch runner for DeLisle. Centerfielder Megan Stockberger managed to get on base with a short bunt that sent the infield scrabbling.
Daniele "Squeaky" Durham moved both runners over with a sacrifice bunt which led to Wallace taking home on a wild pitch against the next batter. Hendriks wrapped up the side with a strikeout but the Warriors had taken the lead 4-3.
Westwood's team defense stepped up as Stockberger snagged an out on the run in center field. DeLisle made a great catch on a hard hit shot to third, while freshman phenom Jordan Poole made the grab and throw to first for the final out in the sixth.
The Rangers kept Westwood off the base paths in the top of the seventh. The Warriors stuck with the solid defensive play that had brought them this far. They sealed off three batters on pop ups caught for the out.
"We're excited, that makes four years in a row for the seniors and it makes eight for Coach Gates," said pitching ace Staton.
Gates added, "We were able to get another playoff appearance. With the support we have from our fans, the kid's parents and the motivation these girls have we're right were we need to be."
Westwood, joins Vista Ridge, Stony Point and Round Rock in the playoffs.
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