Two strong pitching performances, several fine defensive plays and a few key hitting opportunities highlighted the softball game between the Westfield Blue Devils and the visiting Brearley Bears on April 15. The difference was making good on key hitting and running opportunities in the third and fifth innings, and the 43 Blue Devils did just that to earn a 31 victory.

Just the day before, the Blue Devils broke a 5-5 tie with a pair of runs in the top of the seventh inning then held on to shut down the hosting Summit Hilltoppers, 7-5. Freshman leadoff hitter Darby Revock went 2-for-2 with a double, walk, three runs scored and three stolen bases. Senior centerfielder Quinlan Doherty whacked a home run, doubled and had three RBI. Senior third baseman Alex Laguna doubled, singled, scored once, stole a base and had an RBI. Junior Kayla Reyes had an RBI single.

“We have put together solid performances in our last two games.Against both Summit and Brearley, Darby Revock, Alex Laguna, Quinlan Doherty and Kayla Reyes have been huge for our offense. With a combination of small ball and extra base hits, these players have gotten us on the board,” Blue Devil Head Coach Caitlin Cheddar explained.

That production also came in handy

photos at goleader.com Ballyhoo Sports against the Bears. The Blue Devils managed to get just five hits but Reyes came up very big with a pair of timely RBI doubles, while scoring the other run. Revock scored both of those runs, beat out a bunt single, stole a base and walked once. Laguna singled and walked once, and sophomore first baseman Claire Kurtz went 1-for-2.

Blue Devil freshman pitcher Ava Heuck was very effective on the mound, mixed her pitches well and tossed a two-hitter (both bunt singles to Valentina Capra), while walking two and striking out two Bears. Sophomore Gia Pirozzi started on the mound for the Bears and permitted no hits or walks, while striking out one Blue Devil in two innings. Junior Amber Zawacki finished the game and allowed three runs on five hits and two walks, while striking out nobody.

“Against Brearley, we had an outstanding pitching performance from Ava who only let up two hits. Also, Grace Brodo behind the plate has been solid and made a great play at the plate against Brearley early in the game,” Coach Cheddar added.

There was silence on the scoreboard until the Blue Devils attempted to make some noise in the bottom of the second inning. After Doherty popped up to shortstop, Sophia Mattielli’s grounder to second was mishandled. Kurtz laid down a bunt that also resulted in an error. With runners on first and second, Ardente advanced the runners with another bunt but Pirozzi struck out the next batter.

The Bears opened the third inning with Elisa Capra drawing a leadoff walk. Heuck fanned the next batter then Valentina Capra beat out a bunt single. Zawacki hit into a force out at second as Elisa Capra scooted to third. With runners on first and third, Zawacki swiped second then Pirozzi drilled a hard liner to second that was snagged by Natalie Ardente, who would make several smooth plays in the game.

The Westfield third began with Giada Petrarca’s difficult fly ball being chased down by right fielder Antonia Manee. Revock slapped an infield single then stole second base. Reyes dug in at the plate and rapped an RBI single to leftfield as Revock came sliding home. Laguna drew a walk but Zawacki got the next two batters out.

Heuck retired six-straight Bears over the next two innings then the Blue Devils went to work in the bottom of the fifth inning. Revock drew a one-out walk. Reyes stepped to the plate and belted a hit-and-run double to left-center and Revock came sprinting in to score. When Laguna yanked a single to leftfield, Reyes scored to make the score 3-0.

Valentina Capra led off the Brearley sixth inning with her second bunt single then stole second base. She advanced to third on a ground out to second then scored on Pirozzi’s ground out to third.

Kurtz looped a leadoff single in the Westfield sixth but the next three Blue Devils grounded out. In the top of the seventh, Heuck got Jamie Obuchowski to ground out back to the mound and Brooklyn Stout to line out to Ardente then Doherty ended the game when she chased down Jamie Lynn’s hard shot in left-center.

Next on the list would be a home game against the Elizabeth Lady Minutemen on April 17.

“We were looking to build on these two wins today against Elizabeth and to carry it over into next week,” Coach Cheddar promised.

Brearley 000 001 0 1 Westfield 001 020 x 3