Westfield Softball Advances to County Semi-Finals

Not only was the Westfield softball team able to beat a much higher seed and advance to the county semifinals, but among the key players that lifted the Blue Devils to victory were freshmen. Not only does the future look bright, but the present was just as shining. Sparked by the outstanding pitching of freshman right hander Elena Scarano and the game-winning hit produced by fellow freshman Julia Criscuolo, seventh-seeded Westfield defeated second-seeded Johnson 3-1 Friday night in the 36th annual Union County Tournament quarterfinals at Linden’s Flanagan Fields.

Westfield will return to Linden Saturday for a 3 p.m. semifinal against third-seeded Cranford. Westfield and Cranford split Union County Conference-Watchung Division games, with the Blue Devils losing to Cranford sophomore lefty Julie Siragusa, who will be on the mound for the Cougars again on Saturday.  

THE RECORDS: Westfield won its third straight to improve to 9-13, while Johnson lost its second straight after winning 10 in a row to slip to 14-5. Back on April 14 in a conference-crossover game, Westfield was defeated at Johnson 4-1.

THE DIFFERENCE: Scarano tossed a five-hitter, retiring the final seven batters she faced after Johnson started to hit the ball a little harder against her. She struck out five and very importantly did not walk a batter in tossing one of her best games. Westfield jumped on the scoreboard first when junior Olivia Pecora had an outstanding at-bat in the top of the second. With courtesy runner Sarah Morasso on third base and one out – Morasso was running for Scarano, who led off the inning with a single past the Johnson second baseman to right field – Pecora kept on fouling fastballs back and battling with the count at 2-2. Then on the eighth pitch of the at-bat she lined a single through the legs of Johnson pitcher Allison Meagher and on to center field to drive in Morasso, giving Westfield a 1-0 lead. Johnson came back to tie the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI-double to the left-center gap by sophomore Gianna Cuccolo. The Crusaders then had runners on second and third with just one out before Scarano retired consecutive batters on a foul out to third and a strikeout swinging. Westfield waisted no time answering back by scoring what would be the game’s final runs in the top of the fifth. Junior third baseman Taylor Barber led off the inning with a hard single to center, just past Johnson junior shortstop Cyndi Wilson. Westfield later loaded the bases before Criscuolo ripped a shot just past the glove of Johnson center fielder Victoria Martin. Coming in to score on Criscuolo’s game-winning hit were freshmen Chrissy Ferraro and Cali Chambliss. After that, the only baserunner Scarano allowed in the final three innings was a two-out single up the middle hit by Johnson senior Cat Reichers. 

THE HERO: Scarano was outstanding on the mound and also had a hit that led to Westfield’s first run. “It was Emma (Crossland) and I working together and trying to hit spots,” Scarano said. “My screwball was working and hitting the outside corner.”

THE QUOTES: “Elena pitched great and our fielders kept everything in front of them,” Westfield head coach Caitlin MacDonald said. “Julia has come up with big hits for us a bunch of times.”

UP NEXT FOR WESTFIELD: The Blue Devils will seek to oust defending champion Cranford Saturday in a re-scheduled 3 p.m. semifinal at Linden.

UNION COUNTY TOURNAMENT QUARTERFINAL

AT LINDEN’S FLANAGAN FIELDS

7-WESTFIELD (9-13)              0   1   0     0   2   0     0 – 3  7  2

2-JOHNSON (14-5)                  0   0   0     1   0   0     x – 1  5  1

WINNING PITCHER:

Freshman right hander Elena Scarano

7 innings complete: 1 earned run, 5 hits, 5 strikeouts, 0 walks.

LOSING PITCHER:

Junior right hander Allison Meagher

7 innings complete: 3 earned runs, 7 hits, 5 strikeouts, 1 walk, 1 hit by pitch.

DOUBLES: Westfield – Emma Crossland, Julia Criscuolo. Johnson – Gianna Cuccolo.

TRIPLES: Westfield – None. Johnson – None.

HOME RUNS: Westfield – None. Johnson – None.