The Westfield Little League Softball Senior All Stars huddle up prior to their game against Waterford (Conn.) Tuesday at Rockwood Field in Worcester. Westfield won 6-4 to remain mathematically alive for a semifinal berth. (Photo by Chris Putz)
WORCESTER – The Whip City is alive and well even when it’s down and nearly out.
With their backs to the wall – down 0-2 in the Little League Softball Senior eastern regionals – Westfield staved off elimination with an impressive 6-4 win over Waterford (Conn.) Tuesday at Rockwood Field.
Westfield’s Jen Moller and Taylor St. Jacques put together a winning combination on the mound. Together, the two pitchers allowed just four hits and four runs.
Carolyn Dufraine (2-for-4) led the offense, driving in the team’s first run and knocking in an insurance run in the seventh.
“It’s really important that we’re still alive,” said Dufraine, whose team is still mathematically alive for the semifinals. “I was very focused on the pitch. I watched the ball on (the pitcher’s) hip. I tried to poke it out and get as many runs as we could.”
After a scoreless first three innings, Westfield broke through in the fourth. Kaitlyn Puza, Vic Camp, and Dufraine hit consecutive singles, the later scoring the first run of the game. A fielder’s choice on Alyssa Clement’s grounder made it 2-0. Dufraine moved to third base on a double play, and after a walk, scored on a double steal. An outfield error led to the fourth run of the inning.
Waterford cut the lead in the bottom half of the inning when Kayla Boyd and Megan Elphick walked with no outs, and scored on an outfield error. Moller avoided further damage when she fielded a grounder cleanly, tossed the ball to the first baseman for one out, who in turn fired to the third baseman, gunning down the baserunner at second for a double play. A ground out soon ended the threat.
Moller was also effective in getting out of a jam in the second, leaving Waterford baserunners stranded at second and third to end the inning.
Waterford loaded the bases against St. Jacques in the fifth, scoring one run on a single before the Westfield reliever struck out two batters and forced a groundout for the third out.
Westfield tacked on two runs in the seventh, courtesy of an outfield error and Dufraine’s run-scoring hit for some added insurance.
Waterford responded with a harmless run in the last half.
Westfield will now wrap up pool play with a game against Rhode Island Wednesday at Rockwood Field in Worcester at 1 p.m. The Whip City’s lone remaining softball all-stars will need a win and some help to extend their postseason run.
“Hopefully, we can just get to 2-2 and let the run differential determine (our fate),” Westfield manager Mark Reardon said. “It’s been great softball to watch. This truly was a hard fought game.”
