She’ll go as long as it takes. On Tuesday it took 14 innings.
Westfield junior pitcher Linda Pirro allowed just six hits over two consecutive games, shutting out Oakton, 2-0, in the semifinals and notching eight strikeouts in the championship as the Bulldogs avenged their only loss of the season to hand O’Connell its first loss of the season, 5-2, in the final of the Lake Braddock Spring Break softball tournament at Lake Braddock.
“It was two very tough games,” said Pirro, who also delivered a tournament-winning triple against the Knights. “I didn’t get tired at all. I actually did a little sun-gazing before the game, soaked up the energy. I’m not even tired now.”
Down 2-0 with the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the third inning, O’Connell senior right fielder Maria Stucke grounded to Pirro, who got the force out at home, but catcher Elizabeth Jones’ ensuing throw to first sailed over first base, allowing the Knights (9-1) to tie the score, 2-2.
With one out in the top of the fourth, Pirro hit a sharp grounder to right field that bounced off the lip of the grass outfield, eluding Stucke and allowing to Jones, who had singled two batters before, to score and put the Bulldogs (8-1) up for good.
Another rally was too much to ask for O’Connell, which came from four runs down in the first inning to defeat Hylton in the semifinals. After giving up runs to Westfield in the first and third innings, Knights junior pitcher Kelly Engman was replaced by sophomore Colleen Carty in the third.
“We gotta show up to play,” said Knights coach Tommy Orndorff. “We can’t continue to fall behind in these games.”
Dawg pound
» Westfield junior second baseman Allie Heon reached base in her first two at bats and scored the Bulldogs’ first two runs.
» Westfield senior third baseman Karen Tucker’s double to deep right field sealed the victory in the top of the seventh inning, scoring junior Carolyn Jones.
» The Bulldogs finished with 12 hits.
