STAMFORD, Conn. Westhill Highs softball team played with purpose in Fridays 9-1 win over Mercy in the quarterfinals of the Class LL tournament at Allyson Rioux Field. Actually, two purposes.
The second-seeded Vikings reached the state semifinals for the third straight year and then hustled off to join classmates for the senior prom. The wanted to make sure they won the game, coach Tom Pia said. Who wants to be going to the prom if you lose? Thats not fun for any one.
Westhill will meet No. 6 Amity in the semis Monday or Tuesday. Amity upset No. 3 Darien, 4-2, on Friday.
The Vikings could enjoy their night of fun after a vintage performance against the seventh-seeded Tigers. Pitcher Allison Macari allowed six hits, fanned three and walked two. Kate Brainard had a single, double and triple to go with three RBIs to lead a nine-hit attack. Westhill's defense was flawless.
The defensive highlight came in the second inning when second baseman Morgan Kurtz took a relay from center fielder Allie Souza and gunned down Tyler Keegan, who was trying to stretch a double into a triple. She tried to put on the brakes but stumbled, returned to second and was tagged out by Tammy Wise.
That was a big play Pia said. It couldve been a 2-1 game. It changes the whole flow of the game. We caught a break.
Mercy also couldnt control Westhills bats. Wise and Brainard had RBIs in the first inning to give the Vikings a 2-0 lead. Brainard crushed a triple in the left-center gap in the third for another RBI, and Emily Spoto followed with a run-scoring double. Meg DAlessandros sacrifice fly made it 5-0.
Mercy scored a run in the fourth, and Westhill closed it out with a four-run sixth highlighted by a two-run double by Elizabeth Joseph. Brainard and Macari also had RBIs in the inning.
Macari, who induced 14 groundball outs, was rarely in trouble. Shortstop Cassandra Kish and third baseman Wise made sparkling defensive plays.
It feels good to get back there, Brainard said of making the semifinals. We cant wait to find out who we play.
Westhill won the title in 2010 but lost in the championship game last year. The Vikings are one win away from playing in their third straight title game. So were invited to the dance, Pia said, a comment that seemed appropriate as his team raced off the field for the night ahead. Now we have to do something.
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