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The defending state champion Westhill High School softball team picked up Wednesday right where it left off last season. The Vikings were in midseason form when they erupted for nine runs in the second inning of its regular season opener. Every Westhill starter had a hit, and starting pitcher Allison Macari struck out seven in five innings. The Vikings clobbered Norwalk, 15-3, in a mercy-rule shortened five-inning victory.
"We played eight games this past weekend [at the Milford Jamboree], and they really started to hit the ball well there. It just carried over today," Westhill head coach Tom Pia said. "When the first girl gets a hit and the next girl gets a hit, then everyone starts saying, 'Well, I can hit the ball, too.'"
Westhill got off to a blazing start when Allie Souza led off the game with a single. From there, the Vikings' bats were unstoppable. Westhill pummeled Norwalk starter Patti Sciglimpaglia, chasing her from the game after three innings. Brit Horn crushed a triple in her second at-bat of the second inning, driving in two. The Vikings sent 13 players to the plate in the second inning, plating nine of them.
Macari was equally impressive on the mound, striking out the side in the bottom of the first. Norwalk eventually got solid contact off of the Vikings' ace as the game wore on, but a superb defense backed up Macari.
"The defense stepped up, and we really worked on our batting. It definitely showed today," Macari said. "It's hard not to feel good with such a good defense behind me."
Souza led the charge on offense, going three-for-three with a walk, three stolen bases and three runs scored. Horn finished one-for-three with three RBIs, while third baseman Cassandra Kish went two-for-four with two runs scored.
The Westhill softball team is back in action Thursday when it travels to Masuk for a 4:15 p.m. game.
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