Deltrice Holmes lays down an attempted bunt in the team’s double-digit loss.
The Westwood softball team isn’t having the best of seasons, as illustrated in Tuesday night’s 15-0, five-inning loss to Region 3-4A rival Ridge View.
Head coach Lila Grooms acknowledges the Redhawks’ struggles, but she says the team can overcome them.
“I commend the girls for keeping their heads up in spite of the loss,” Grooms said. “We’ve got a lot of flaws that we have to fix. Part of it is confidence, and understanding how to overcome adversity. Even though you are down in runs, anything can happen. You’ve got to keep your confidence up and you’ve got to keep fighting.”
The Blazers scored two runs in the first when starting pitcher Marlena Perez threw a pitch in the dirt to Anaya Payne with two outs. From that point, Westwood (0-4 region, 3-11 overall) played from behind.
Ridge View sent nine batters to the plate in a four-run second inning, and 10 batters in the seven-run third. A run in the fourth and a run in the fifth rounded out the scoring.
Payne, the Ridge View starting pitcher, faced only 10 Westwood batters before the Redhawks finally showed some life in the bottom of the fourth.
Deltrice Holmes singled up the middle and moved to second on a throwing error. Karena Scott and Brooke Bayne reached base on back-to-back infield singles, but Scott was forced out at second on Bayne’s hit.
With runners on the corners and one out, Cayla Petty popped out and Raejean Patterson struck out to retire the side.
In the final inning, Perez led off with a single and eventually moved to second, but Jamisha Taylor popped out, Demetria Boyd struck out, and Ihayanna Cruz lined out to Payne to end the game.
Ridge View had more base runners and played better defense than the Redhawks, but Grooms said Tuesday night’s game showed that Westwood needed a little more confidence when taking the field.
“Once we learn that, mentally, then I think the physical game will catch up. They have it, it’s just a matter of showing it and believing in themselves.”
Westwood played Clinton Wednesday.
Ridge View 2-4-7-1-1-15 11 2
Westwood 0-0-0-0-0-0
4 2
WP: Anaya Payne LP: Marlena Perez
