The Westfield High School softball team dodged a rainout, and a late rally from host West Springfield yesterday. The Bombers defeated the Terriers 5-2 to improve to 14-1.West Springfield loaded the bases in the seventh inning, pushed across one run, and ran the count to 3-2 with two outs. But Westfield junior pitcher Kate Menard induced a fly out to second baseman Syd Ezold to end the game. Menard finished with four strikeouts on the mound.“We knew it would be a tough game,” Westfield head coach Joe Stella said of the opposition, another tournament caliber team. “They played small ball. We had to step it up. Kate was able to keep them at bay.”West Springfield opened the game with a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Westfield knotted the game in the top of the fourth when Ashley Theriault crossed home plate on a double steal. The Terriers threatened to reclaim the lead in the bottom half of the inning with runners at first and second with one out. Theriault, mining the right field grass, made a spectacular diving catch for the second out. She later robbed another batter of an extra base hit with a leaping grab. Menard forced a ground out to end the inning.In the top of the fifth, Jules Sharon hit a run-scoring infield single. Sharon stole second base and scored on a sac-fly to give Westfield a 3-1 lead. Maddy Atkocaitis tacked on a run for the Bombers in the sixth, plating Ezold. A dropped fly ball in the seventh resulted in the team’s fifth run.“Not that we didn’t have some exciting moments,” said coach Stella, who even dove to avoid a collision in the third base coaching box late in the game. His quick-thinking act drew cheers from his players, and faithful Bombers fans.“Games like this toughen us, thicken our skin.”With a tough four-game week on tap – Minnechaug (today), Cathedral (Wednesday), and Agawam (Friday) – here’s hoping Westfield has a few more moves in store.
