The Westfield High girls' softball team's dominance within the Concorde District has been pretty overwhelming this season. The Bulldogs, under head coach Dean Ferington, were 9-1 in district games during the regular season. And the team, other than a 3-1 loss at Robinson in its first district game of the season on April 11, has won all of its district games since by at least four runs.
Westfield (14-4 overall), the top seed at this week's district tournament, atoned for its early season loss to Robinson by handling the Rams with relative ease, 8-0, in the second meeting between the two teams on May 3 at Westfield.
Westfield certainly earned the respect of its peers this season, as indicated by the seven Bulldog players who made First Team All-Concorde District honors last week, as selected by the coaches.
Ferington, whose team earned a first round tournament bye and was scheduled to meet the Oakton (No. 4-seed) versus Centreville (No. 5) winner in a semifinals game at Westfield this Friday evening, new his current group of seniors was a particularly special class when, three years ago as freshmen, they were part of a Westfield team that captured the Northern Region title.
Westfield, in district games over the past three seasons, has accumulated an outstanding 32-2 record. Overall, the team is 39-7 over that period.
"That's pretty dominant," said Ferington, whose team closed the regular season schedule last Friday with a 14-1 district win at Oakton. "I don't go on the field and not expect two win. This group of kids, as freshmen, won the region. It's been a great group."
One of this year's seniors, shortstop Jess McNamara, was named the District Player of the Year in runaway voting by the district coaches. In district play this season, McNamara batted .529 with 10 doubles, a home run and 19 RBIs.
The Bulldogs also had the District Pitcher of the Year in senior Jen Goodman who, as one of several pitchers utilized by Ferington this spring, put together a stellar 6-0 record and a 0.53 ERA. Over 39-2/3 innings of work in district play, Goodman struck out 26 and walked 11. Opponents batted just .144 against her.
ANOTHER ONE of Westfield's top players in the district this season was senior catcher/third baseman Frankie Martinez, the team's clean-up hitter who, in district games, hit at a .429 clip with an on-base average of .579. In the field, either behind the plate or at the hot corner position, she did not commit any errors.
Martinez, unfortunately, was lost for the season on May 3 in the Bulldogs' shutout win over Robinson when her left arm was severely broken while sliding into second base on a double. Martinez, with the injury, has been lost for the season. She will, however, in all likeliness, be back to full strength next school year when she plans to play collegiate softball at Radford University. Westfield has gone 5-1 since the injury to Martinez. Nevertheless, her outstanding play across the board has been missed. Ferington said his injured player has remained a big part of the team even though she can't play.
"She's come to every game and cheered the kids on," he said. "It's what you expect from a four-year senior. Unfortunately, [the injury] happened. She is just such an instinctive offensive player."
Westfield's four other First Team All-District players this season are pitcher/outfielder Alex Tenney (.387 batting average), second baseman Alex Bohrer (.281), and center fielder Jackie Martinez (.393), all seniors; as well as junior first baseman Carrie Otroba (.391).
Other Westfield players who have put together good seasons include: junior left fielder Kayleen Bell (.345 batting average), junior Lexie Scoville (.308), who has played well behind the plate in place of Frankie Martinez, and sophomore DH Caitlin Rudy (.281).
Westfield and Chantilly are the two teams who received first round district tournament byes. Both will play semifinals games on Friday. The district title game is scheduled for 6:30 on Monday evening, May 23 at Chantilly High School.