State playoff softball arrived a little bit early to Westfield, whose team is pushing for a fourth straight GISA AAA finals berth. But for the first time in 13 years, the Hornets are not in the field as a region champion.
Still, even as 2-AAA runner-up, Westfield was too much for Heritage School Thursday. The Hornets’ Sydney Barker pitched two run-rule shortened shutouts as Westfield advanced to the quarterfinal round 8-0 and 14-0. They had to wait, though, for Saturday’s results between Brentwood and Terrell Academy to see whom they would play in that next best-of-3 tentatively scheduled for Oct. 10.
The GISA brackets actually set the first round softball series for Oct. 7, but Heritage had a school scheduling conflict on that day. The Brentwood-Terrell series was moved due to concerns over weather forecasts for Monday.
If Brentwood wins that series, Westfield would then go to another school’s home field, Sandersville in this case, in the playoffs for the first time ever in fast-pitch softball. The Hornets had one game in 2013 with Brentwood already and lost 6-2 during the Bulloch Tournament on Aug. 9.
Westfield was a team of streaks going into the playoffs. There was a four-game skid that included two losses to Tattnall Square and the loss to Stratford that gave the Eagles first place in 2-AAA. All those games were in Macon.
But the wins against Heritage were No. 4 and 5 in a row. Other victims in that streak include Southland in 2-AAA Sept. 26 and Sherwood Christian in Albany Monday.
Barker fanned 10 batters in Game 1 while only allowing one hit in six complete innings. The right-handed thrower went to the plate swinging left-handed and tripled in three runs.
Shortstop Chelsea Whaley also drove in three runs. One RBI each went to Laura Johnson and Jenni McDaniel.
It was Johnson putting Westfield on the board in the first inning with a two-out double to deep left.
Heritage, based in Newnan, had its only hit on a bunt single in the top of the third. Barker issued three walks all game long, and the Hawks stranded four runners on base. None of those made it past first.
Westfield tacked on four runs in the third inning. A bad choice by Heritage on a fielder’s choice grounder helped load the bases. Barker’s triple to the right-field wall, clearing the bases, was the first hit in the frame.
McDaniel, with the corner infielders playing halfway to the plate, ripped a first-pitch RBI single to make it a 5-0 game.
The Hornets again loaded the bags without a hit in the fourth. Hannah Livingston in fact drew a walk after falling behind her count 0-2. Callie Ayer scored from third base on Whaley’s shallow fly to left.
Whaley then singled for two RBI to end the game in the sixth.
Things fell part for the Hawks in Game 2 even as the Hornet offense let a chance to build a big first-inning lead go to waste. Callie Hammerle led off the game with a double and scored on a passed ball. With Livingston in scoring position, Whaley singled her home with a ball that hit off the third base bag.
Barker and Hannah Edwards each had singles to fill the bases, but Heritage slipped out of it only down 2-0.
The Hawks also had more hits off Barker, three, in her four innings. But the senior struck out five, didn’t allow a runner past second and retired the last seven she faced. There were also no walks.
With five hits in the top of the second, the Hornets did build the lead big to 7-0. Johnson drew a walk with the bases loaded and Barker singled off the pitcher’s ankle. The pitcher stayed in the game only to give up a three-run double to Edwards.
Westfield had four runs on four hits in the third, Johnson pushing her RBI total to three on a two-run single. Hammerle had her third hit while Barker added a second RBI.
Whaley had one more RBI and her third hit in a three-run fourth.
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