Posts
 |
| Woodgrove High School softball: 2012 VHSL AA State Champions! (photos by Jeff Vennitti) |
Viva Loudoun Editor
Radford (June 12, 2012) - The Woodgrove High School softball team had the perfect mix in 2012 of big bats, slap hitters, fast runners, dominant pitching, experienced defense, team chemistry and a coach with a state title resume.
Actually the Wolverines (27-2) had the same recipe in 2011 but fell just short when the first-year program lost to Dulles District rival Briar Woods in the AA state title game. This time around, with a little more seasoning, Woodgrove was left celebrating a state title as senior Allie Reid threw a two-hitter Saturday and hit a second inning home run to spark the Wolverines to a 9-0 win over Broadway in the championship at Radford University.
Woodgrove lost just two games on the year, a 1-0 opening week loss to Briar Woods and senior pitcher Macy Jones and the second game of a non-district doubleheader in May to Broadway.
The Wolverines avenged the loss to Briar Woods more than once on the year, knocking off the Falcons three times, including in the Dulles District and Region II finals, and Saturday's win got back at the Gobblers.
It should be noted that Reid, who helped the Wolverines to 17 shutouts on the season, did not throw in the earlier loss to Broadway after Woodgrove had blanked the Gobblers 11-0 on Reid's 3-hitter in the opener. Woodgrove coach Joe Spicer, who previously won two state titles at Loudoun Valley before moving to open the Woodgrove program two years ago, didn't know in early May that Broadway and Woodgrove would be playing again for the state title, but it worked out alright to let the Gobblers see more of Reid.
On Saturday, Reid got all the offense she would need off her own bat in the second inning as she took a 3-2 pitch over the left field fence to lead off the second inning.
 |
| It's a wrap! Allie Reid catches the final out to clinch the state title for Woodgrove. |
Woodgrove made it 5-0 in the fifth inning with an RBI hits by Christy Haney and by Daughtry.
Any hope of a Broadway comeback was erased in the next inning as Woodgrove put four more across the plate. Alayna Furr again drove in a run, Haney walked with the bases loaded to force across a run, Reid drove in two more.
All that was left for Reid was one more inning and on her 2,336 pitch of the season the final out popped into Reid's mitt fittingly, and it was all over as Woodgrove celebrated the title with grace and confidence of a team that felt assured of its spot on top.
It was a dominating season and postseason for Woodgrove as the Wolverines out-scored opponents in the state tournament, 15-1; in the Region II tournament, 13-3; and in the Dulles District tournament 23-0 for a 9-game playoff total of 51-4.
The Wolverines had only five seniors but they provided veteran leadership in key spots with Reid and catcher Christy Haney a rock-solid battery; Amanda Rathjen at third and Courtney Bogan in the outfield were anchors and Katie Sholl provided support on the basepaths.
Lead-off hitter Furr and No. 2 Bogan were supported in the batting order by Ashley Cole who had a first inning home run Friday that gave Woodgrove a 1-0 lead in the state semifinal game against Abingdon that the Wolverines nursed until the top of the seventh inning.
 |
| Woodgrove kept their eye on the ball this season, winning 27 contests |
The Wolverine pitcher, however, did not panic and she registered her 13th and 14th strikeouts of the game before Haney finished the win by throwing out a runner attempting to steal second base.
Reid finished her brilliant career on a role with 29 strikeouts and just three walks, eight hits and two runs allowed in 21 state tournament innings.
No comments:
Post a Comment