Westfield pitcher Sarah McNerney winds up on the mound. (Photo by Chris Putz)
LONGMEADOW – The Westfield High School softball team played its toughest opponent to-date, but managed to remain unbeaten after the season’s first full week.
Westfield pitcher Sarah McNerney tossed a two-hitter, and Maddie Atkocaitis scored the eventual game-winning run in the third inning as the Bombers won a nail-biter at Longmeadow 1-0 Thursday. McNerney recorded 10 strikeouts in a pitcher’s duel against Longmeadow ace Jill Stockley.
Stockley allowed nine hits, but also struck out 10 batters.
McNerney kept Longmeadow off balance by painting the corners with a sharp fastball, and delivering a wicked changeup that left batters frozen, and ultimately, blown away. Still, she had to sweat out the final inning – Lancers’ Sarah Whitney and Camryn Boutin reached on consecutive two-out singles – before forcing a ground out for the final out of the game.
“I just wanted to end the game and get the win,” McNerney said.
Westfield managed a baserunner in every inning, and maintained an aggressive nature on the basepaths.
Westfield’s Maddie Atkocaitis crosses home plate for the first run of the game in the third inning – the game’s only run – at Lonngmeadow on Thursday. (Photo by Chris Putz)
In the third, Jules Sharon led off with a bunt single but was later caught stealing. Emily Chrzanowski reached on a shallow hit to right field, but was thrown out trying to take third on Maddie Atkocaitis’s base hit. Atkocaitis advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on Katelyn Puza’s infield single.
It was the game’s only run.
For the Westfield Bombers (3-0), it was their third straight win to begin the 2013 softball season. They opened with a 9-1 rout of East Longmeadow and 12-0 shutout of Holyoke, the second of which was credited to pitcher Kate Menard.
“I thought we played a very good game against East Longmeadow, and the Holyoke game was 12-0 in five (innings),” Westfield coach Joe Stella said. “Today, we did what we had to do. We were resilient.”
Westfield’s pitcher agreed.
“We’ve come out strong,” McNerney said. “We have good chemistry and we work together well. I think we’ll go far.”
BOYS’ TRACK & FIELD
Westfield 70, Central 66
Westfield produced victories in the 110 and 400 hurdles (Russ Isler), 800 meters (Tim Dostie), 400 meters (Nick Jacques), 2-mile (Ben Doiran), triple jump (Alex Martin), and 4×100 and 4×400 relays. Doiran’s 2-mile time was 10:10, and Newman set a personal best in the 100 meters (11.0).
GIRLS’ TENNIS
Palmer 5, St. Mary 0
Jeanette Peretti lost a tough 6-2, 6-3 match at first singles for St. Mary, teammate Jessica Demers suffered a three-set defeat at second singles, and the Saints’ top singles pair, Jessica Forest and Alison Stanlewicz fell 6-2, 7-6, (7-4).
BOYS’ VOLLEYBALL
Westfield def. Central 25-11, 25-15, 25-14
Westfield won its second straight match to begin the season. The Bombers received solid contributions from Ian Wolski (6 kills, 3 assists), Eric Shilyuk (8 assists, 4 digs), and Andy Jacques (5 assists, 3 digs).
JV SOFTBALL
Southwick 12, Smith Academy 0
Kara Dowd hit a home run for Southwick.
