Wolverines Win Round One, Clinch Spot in Regionals

The West Potomac Wolverines assured themselves another game both tonight and next week by defeating Woodson rather cavalierly Tuesday night in the opening round of the Conference Seven Tournament by a score of 15-5 in five innings.

Being in Conference Seven means the Wolverines just missed being in Conference Eight by just one conference.  Being in Conference Eight would have afforded bloggers the opportunity to overdo jokes about being in "the Ocho".  Linking to clips about "the Siete" is pretty pointless.  Lost blogger opportunity that is.

(Editor's note: Are you still with us?  Reporter: Sigh.  Just thinking about what might have been.  I could have worked an Ocho joke into every blog post, and our readers would have loved it no matter often I went to that well!)

Jayne wheels and deals

The game wasn't as close as the score indicates, and the score doesn't really indicate a close game, so that must indicate something.  (Editor's Note: Any idea what it indicates?  Reporter: No, not really.  Editor: Excellent insightful analysis!)

Harley with the catch for the

second out in the third inning.

Neither team reached base in the first inning, and the Cavaliers (Editor's Note: Oh, now I get the "joke" in the first paragraph.  Very funny.  Not.) failed to reach base in the second as well.  Pitcher Jayne Orleans threw quite the sequence of pitches to the first five batters.  She went 3-0 on the first hitter, battled back to 3-2 before inducing a pop out to Grace Moery at second.  Jayne then struck out the next two hitters on three pitches each.

In the second inning, it took three pitches (all strikes) to earn two line outs to Megan Jackson in center field.  So, after opening the game with three straight balls, Jayne got five outs on twelve straight strikes.  In baseball, that's called a, uh, well, they really don't have a name for it, but it was a unusual statistical string that interested Stat Boy, so that's good enough to earn mention.

Coach Lee: "If it hits the ground

on that side of the line, run!"

Woodson ended up switching pitchers in the bottom of the second, even though the starter had a one-hitter going.  That was a soft single over second by Nikki Minnis.  Of course, the Cavalier pitcher also walked the other five batters she had faced so far that inning.

The Wolverines went on to score eleven runs off five hits and eight walks in the bottom of the second to essentially end the suspense about the winner of the game.  Along with Nikki's hit, Grace had an RBI single, Raven Williams had a single, Jayne had a two run double, and Torie Bolger scorched a single down the line that kicked up chalk for an RBI.

In the inning, walks were patiently earned by Olivia Manous (twice, one RBI), Jayne, Harley Devine (RBI), Torie, Maddie Miller (RBI), Annabelle Miller, and Nikki.  One of the more or less exciting plays of the inning came when a pitch deflected off the catcher's mitt and into the West Potomac dugout.  Olivia automatically advanced to score the 10th run.  (Editor's Note: So by "exciting" you don't mean action-packed.  Reporter: Correct.  In this case exciting means "unusual/something you don't see every game.")

If you are looking for more description about an inning that featured eight walks, you won't find it here.  All I can say is that the Woodson pitcher was not pitch perfect too.

(Editor's Note: Do you receive money for working that movie ad into this post?  Reporter: Aargh!  Three years into the blog and I finally stumble upon a way to monetize this!  Too late!  Noooo!  Editor: Think of the possibilities -- you could write about watching the game with your Entourage, or note that West Potomac is seeking to Avenger their loss to the Ultrons of Conference Seven -- South County and Lake Braddock.  Reporter: All. . .That. . .Money.  Too late!  Btw. . .Avenger?  That's a reach even for me!)

The third inning also went 1-2-3 for Jayne, although she was aided by one of the best catches of the season by Megan (sorry, I missed Micaela Neulight's great catch against South County, so I can't compare the two.)  On a ball toward the gap in left center, Megan came streaking in, dove, and caught it backhanded just inches above the ground to keep Jayne's perfect game alive.

It's possible our photographer would have

taken a picture sooner of Megan's catch

if the photographer were related to Megan,

or something.

Jayne thanks Megan for making the catch.

Annabelle led off the bottom of the third with a single up the middle.  She took second on a passed ball and eventually scored from third on Olivia's single.  Olivia alertly took second when Woodson fiddled around with the ball.  After Jayne walked, Nikki singled to the outfield on a ball that was nearly caught, so the runners could only advance one base.  With two outs, Torie drew a walk (the tenth of the game, second of the inning) to push home a run to make it 13-0.

Annabelle rounds first on her single.

Conference Seven Coach of the Year Craig (The Big Manig) Maniglia made wholesale changes in the fourth inning.  Christina Dillard came into pitch, Natalie Lerner went behind the plate, Micaela went to left, Caroline Bowman took over at first base, and Raven switched to shortstop.

Olivia begins her slide.

Woodson ended the perfect game with two bloop singles, and a rocket that scored a run. Further damage in the inning was controlled when Maddie just missed getting the hitter of the third single out at first.  Caroline alertly wheeled and gunned the ball to Natalie at the plate, who tagged the second would-be run out at home.  After a walk, Woodson had  second and third, but a flyout to center left the score 13-1.

Maddie to Caroline to Natalie makes toast.

(To be fair to our photographer whom I maligned

above, this was perfectly timed.)

West Potomac would push two key runs across the plate in the bottom of the fourth.  They were key, because without them, the game would have lasted longer than five innings.

Bored by walks, the Wolverines settled on a new strategy of getting hit by pitches.  Grace led off the inning getting hit, Raven singled her to third (and Raven took second on the throw).  Megan then got hit as well.  The Woodson pitcher was not pitch perfect either.  She walked Christina and Caroline to drive in two more runs before the umpire expanded the zone and forced Wolverines to swing at pitches out of the strike zone because he was calling almost anything a strike.  He was worried Five Guys further down on Quander closes at nine pm.  (It's actually open till 10pm, and I only know this because I checked on-line.  Honestly!).

Up 15-1, the Wolverines gave up four more runs (two unearned) before Christina struck out the last batter to end the game and ensure no more Wolverines had to bat/walk.

Wolverine Whispers: West Potomac.  South County.  The rubber match.  The winner plays in the championship game Friday night against Lake Braddock (the Bruins still have to win tonight to advance, but the Vegas bookmakers have set the line to heavily favor them*) and hosts a home regional game next week.  The game is 6:30 tonight at South County.  It will be the best six dollars you spend tonight.

*Note to Fairfax County School administrators: As far as this blogger knows, Vegas does NOT set lines on high school sports.  And, even if they did, I would not work the stands as a bookie taking action from parents no matter how lucrative.  Pete Rose would, but I would not.

Many Wolverines Earn Conference Honors

West Potomac placed five players on the All Conference First Team, two more on the All Conference Second Team, and Craig "The Big Manig" Maniglia earned Coach of the Year honors.  This is a VERY impressive showing for the team!

Your 2015 West Potomac All Conference Team Honors:

1^St Team

P Jayne Orleans

SS Nikki Minnis

3B Annabelle Miller

1B Raven Williams

DP Olivia Manous

2^nd Team

OF Maddie Miller

2B Grace Moery

Coach of the Year

Craig Maniglia, West Potomac

Besides congratulations, there's really only one other thing to say: Wolverines!

(Sorry there is an ad when you first click on the link, but it's still worth watching the clip!)

Senior Night Photos!

Thanks to Cindy/Sean Jackson and Diane Moery for the photos. . .

They could chalk the walk

so they get to talk the talk.

The senior six

Yup, they are seniors.  And there are six of them!

Their time will come

Chalk it up to underclassperson creativity

A young Wolverine fan and a deranged rat.

Whoops -- my bad.  

Apparently that is a Wolverine costume.

So, now I'm confused.

Wolverine -- angry dude

or furry animal?

Maddie

I need some help on who this is.

Megan

Sometimes it's difficult to tell who is who.

Anyone?

Torie

I just need help.

Jayne does her "mime in a box" impression.

If college doesn't work out, she's got a 

future as a street performer in Spain.

Someday, all this

will be yours!

Thought bubbles above parents:

Travel ball: cost $

College: cost $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Senior night: Priceless!

Wolverines Shut Down Spartans On Senior Night

Jayne Orleans pitched a one-hitter as the Wolverines dominated West Springfield 5-0.  It was a night for celebration as West Potomac honored the six graduating seniors.

The game started with injured seniors Torie Bolger and Nikki Minnis in the field for their usual starting positions.  After a ceremonial first pitch that did not count (to avoid risk of further injury), both came out of the game.

Thankfully, Grace didn't actually lose

her head on this second inning groundout.

It only looks that way.

The injuries forced Coach Craig "The Big Manig" to juggle his line-up.  He moved first baseman Raven Williams to shortstop (Coach Matt Williams will probably move Ryan Zimmerman to short next time Ian Desmond is hurt), leftfielder Harley Devine played catcher (Jayson Werth will NOT be playing catcher -- he can barely play left), and designated hitter Olivia Manous went to leftfield.   With Olivia in left, Megan Jackson in center, and Maddie Miller in right, it was an all Class of 2015 outfield (and an all underclassperson infield, with the exception of the pitcher!).

Olivia tracks down a flyball

The win was a nice bounce back from Friday's 7-1 loss to South County, and came prior to yesterday's 10-0 loss to Lake Braddock.  The regular season is now done, and team finished 13-7 overall, and 8-3 in the conference.

Megan ready to rap a single.  It's really the

only kind of rap needed at a softball game

Jayne had a perfect game through four innings, but a lead-off soft single in the fifth proved to be the first of just two Spartan base runners.  West Springfield could have sent 300 Spartans to the plate (instead of 23) and they would have had a difficult time reaching base.  Jayne walked a batter in the seventh, and struck out six.

The juggled defense was pretty seamless, committing no errors.  Grace Moery had four putouts and three assists at second base, and Maddie had three putouts in right, as Jayne got three innings worth of outs by inducing the Spartans to hit to the right side.  Along with her two innings worth of strikeouts, that meant the entire rest of the fielders were used in six other outs.  Every healthy senior fielded at least one ball.

Annabelle fires for the final out in the 5th inning

Jayne continued her hot hitting as well, driving in the first two Wolverine runs in the first inning.  Annabelle Miller reached on an error by the rightfielder.  Raven singled and alertly (be a lert! the world needs more lerts!) took second on the throw to third.  With two outs, Jayne singled them in.

The score remained 2-0 until the bottom of the sixth.  In fact, while there were the occasional walk, Annabelle's hit in the bottom of the fifth was the first West Potomac hit since Jayne's in the first.

Jayne led off the home sixth with a single to right.  Her personal pinchrunner, Elizabeth Drotos, took second on a wild pitch.  Elizabeth went to third on Maddie's single.  Megan brought Elizabeth in with a rocketed single to left.  Harley doubled down the leftfield line for the final two runs.

Wolverine Whispers: I'm predicting that the first round of the conference tournament will be Monday night at West Potomac.  If the Wolverines win, they'll more likely than not be playing at South County on Wednesday.  HOWEVER, the preceding sentence is, like many things written by bloggers, purely speculative and I have ZERO information on whether it is true or not.

You should instead rely upon the email from Mrs. Team Rep that will be forthcoming as soon as she gets that information.  Of course, given the nature of high school athletics, there is a 50% chance that will change before next week anyhow.  So, assume it is true until it is updated.  Do not assume this blog is true.

The fielding gem of the night was made by Raven Williams, starting her fourth different position in her varsity career (catcher, third, first, and now shortstop).  She grabbed a slow chopper and fired to first to catch the fleet-footed Spartan by a step to end the sixth inning.  Caroline Bowman also made a nice play, catching a VERY low throw from the pitcher for the first out of the seventh inning.

Don't Believe the Post! Wolverines Win!

One can picture the glee with which the representatives of the Evil Empires (South County and Lake Braddock, of course, not necessarily in that order) were drinking their Starbucks in their lairs high atop their well-funded schools as they pondered the Washington Post sports section Saturday morning.

"The Washington Post sez that TC Williams defeated West Potomac 15-3," they cackled to each other via their school-funded Apple watches as their minions scurried about.  "The Wolverines should be easy pickings this week!"  Then they rubbed their hands with glee, and threatened the destruction of the world unless the United Nations gave up one million dollars.

Little did they realize that the Fact Checker at the Post would award the sports section four Pinocchios, as the paper failed the truthiness test.  Instead, as West Potomac fans well know, the Wolverines were on the right side of the 15-3 score, raising their conference record to 8-1, and their overall record to 12-5 as they move into rivalry week.

(Lawyer's Note:  As far as we know, there is no secret lair at South County or Lake Braddock.  Representatives of neither school do not threaten worldwide destruction for one million dollars.  They do not have minions -- although that would be pretty cool.  Heck we don't know if they even like Starbucks.  With the exception of the Washington Post messing up the score, everything else in the first two paragraphs are the totally fabricated ravings of a blogger who has been doing this far too long!)

The Wolverines jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning, as Nikki Minnis led-off with a walk.  She then beat the force attempt at second, and Grace Moery was safe at first.  After Annabelle Miller walked to load the bases, Olivia Manous brought in the first run with a sacrifice fly.  Raven Williams singled, with Grace scoring on an error by the shortstop.

Jayne Orleans pitched a perfect first two innings, but with the West Potomac offense cranking into high gear in the second and third innings, Jayne gave way to Christina Dillard for the final three innings.

In the top of the second, Maddie Miller led off with a walk, and after an out, Nikki reached on an error.  Grace walked before Annabelle smoked a single to center to drive in two runs.  Annabelle's shot was so hard it almost hit Nikki on her lead off second base.  Olivia drove in another run on a fielder's choice.  Raven doubled in Annabelle with a double to deep center.  Jayne then tripled in Raven to deep right center, making it a 7-0 game.

Meanwhile, in the field, it was the Grace Moery show.  She ended the first inning fielding a grounder for her first assist of the game, and then picked up three more in the second, including scrambling to throw out a runner on a liner that Jayne knocked down.  Grace ended up with six assists and two putouts.  She was responsible for eight of the 15 outs recorded.  That's .533 of the defensive outs for the game, for those of you reaching for your calculators.

While it's hard to break open an already 7-0 game, the Wolverines did score seven in the top of the third to put the game out of reach.  Maddie walked and scored on Harley Devine's double.  Nikki reached first on an infield single.  Grace doubled in Harley with a double down the rightfield line.  Annabelle brought Nikki home with a single.  Olivia knocked in Grace.  It was now 11-0.

The Titans switched pitchers, but that didn't stop the West Potomac hit parade.  Raven knocked in Annabelle with a single to center.  Harley finished the scoring with a two-run single to center, scoring Olivia and Elizabeth Drotos.

TC Williams scored three runs in bottom of the third, off just one single.  There were a couple of walks and two errors.  The disappointing umpire call of the night (it seems there has to be at least one or more each game this season) came when Megan Jackson whipped the ball on the single to second base for the force on the runner.  The throw beat the runner, but the ump signaled safe.  Wolverine fans are so (SAT word alert!) inured to bad calls that they could only groan rather than heckle.  A 14-0 lead at the time probably contributed to the restraint.

The final run of the game game when Caroline Bowman drove home Grace with a double to left center.  Grace had reached second after walking and then a single by Annabelle.

In the final two innings, Christina held the Titans to two walks and a single, as the game ended West Potomac 15, TC Williams 3 (no matter WHAT the Washington Post says).

Wolverine Whispers: Tuesday at Lake Braddock.  Friday home against South County.  Need I say more?  (Hint to readers: it's a rhetorical question, and the answer is no!).

The Wolverines pounded 13 hits, including one triple and three doubles.  Raven and Annabelle each had three hits, and Harley added two.  Multiple RBI were knocked in by Harley (three), Annabelle (three), Olivia (two), and Raven (two).

Jayne faced the minimum six hitters in two innings, striking out one.  Christina allowed just two hits and three walks, striking out four, including the last two TC hitters of the game.

Conference 7 Standings

                                                        Wins             Losses            Pct.
Lake Braddock                                   8                     0                1.000
West Potomac                                    8                      1                  .889
South County                                      5                     3                  .625
West Springfield                                5                      4                  .556
Woodson                                            2                      6                  .250
TC Williams                                       2                      7                  .222
Annandale                                           0                     9                   .000

Standings Courtesy of Lee Harrington

Lucky 13: Wolverines Out-Pitch Nationals

On a night when the Washington Nationals completed the biggest comeback in their 10 year history with a 13-12 win over Atlanta in a slugfest, the West Potomac Wolverines also scored 13 runs, but held the Annandale Atoms to two runs in a Conference Seven game that featured less drama but better pitching.

The team relaxed with a rousing game of

 London Bridge.  Capture the flag is

on the schedule before Friday's game.

Oh, yes, the Wolverines also can claim a comeback victory, but being down 1-0 after the top half of the first isn't quite as dramatic as being down 9-1 after the second inning.  Besides, the Wolverines only needed two pitchers and gave away just one unearned run, while the Nationals used five pitchers and gave away five unearned runs (which seems on the low side for them so far this season, he writes bitterly.)

Not a fall from Grace, but a slide from Grace.

The Wolverines only needed four innings to reach lucky thirteen runs, while it took the Nationals nine innings to score that many (admittedly, Dan Uggla's three run homer in the ninth was a tad more dramatic, if not nearly as efficient as the West Po offense).

Fewer fans watched the game at West Potomac (30ish), but they went home happier than the 14,833 Braves fans did.  (No doubt many of them left early, and no doubt they were quite surprised!).  To be fair on the attendance comparisons between high school softball and major league baseball, the paid attendance for the West Potomac game actually FAR outnumbered Wednesday's Orioles paid attendance.

These guys. . .

aren't doing as well. . .

As those gals

With the win, West Potomac improved their record to 11-5 overall, and 7-1 in the conference.  Meanwhile, with the win, the Nationals improved their record to still-pathetic 8-13 overall.  Why? Well take a listen to the link!

Now, some would argue that the Braves are a better team than the Atoms, but they ought to be -- Atlanta's payroll is about $97,000,000, while Annandale's payroll is approximately $97,000,000 less (or at least it is supposed to be, and I will give them the benefit of the doubt on this).

Jayne Orleans started the game with a strikeout, but the next batter reached on the only Wolverine error of the game, and scored after a walk and a single.  With runners on second and third (the runner on second advanced on the throw), Jayne induced a lineout and earned a strikeout to end the threat.

Grace Moery reached first by taking one for the team.  She stole second, and then was pushed to third after walks to Annabelle Miller and Olivia Manous.  A wild pitch moved them all up, and the game was tied 1-1.  Jayne continued her torrid hitting with a two run single to center to put the Wolverines up for good (which the Nats couldn't do until the ninth!).

I did check the rules. . .the team still only gets one run

even when touching both feet on home plate.

Then, the Wolverines strung together three impressive at-bats.  Raven Williams and Torie Bolger both walked, and then Maddie Miller became the second West Potomac hit-batsperson of the first inning to make it 4-1 and keep the bases loaded.

Raven wanted to hit, not walk,

but didn't get a hittable pitch.

Editor's Note: What's impressive about those three plate appearances?  Reporter's Reply: Well, I'm not sure if I was using irony or just checking to see if anyone is paying attention.  Either way, you noticed, and I must admit I'm touched (sniffle, sniffle).

The Wolverines Beach Boy'd the inning ('Round, round bat around, they bat around) as Nikki broke the game open with a hard single to left which ended up scoring all three runners (she gets credit for two RBIs on the play).  Maddie scored from first as Annandale did their best Ian Desmond, which also allowed Nikki to get to third.  You know, on a single.  Grace doubled deep to left to drive in Nikki to complete the scoring for the inning.  And just like that, it was 8-1.

Even the unusual "umpire pick"

didn't stop Grace from her double.

That, of course, is eerily similar to the 9-1 lead the Braves had, except it is a different number and the team that had the one run in the softball game didn't make a dramatic comeback, and so there was nothing eerily similar about it, so never mind.

Coach Lee with his typical outburst

of uncontrolled enthusiasm.

Jayne struck out two in a one-two-three second inning.  Raven completed the trifecta for the night in the bottom of the second, as became the third, and last, Wolverine hit by a pitch on the night.  Torie Bolger slashed a single between third and short.  Maddie walked to load the bases, but the inning ended without a run.

Coach Craig ("The Big Manig") Maniglia made some changes for the third inning, bringing in Christina Dillard to pitch, Natalie Lerner to catch, and Harley Devine to play left.

Christina walked her first hitter, who stole two bases before scoring on a fielder's choice.  After that, however, Christina split through the Atoms batting order like Ernest Rutherford.

Unlike the Braves, the Wolverines didn't feel any pressure from the smaller lead.  Grace started the four run third inning rally with a single to left.  Annabelle looked like her twin, hitting the ball nearly the same speed in nearly the same spot,  With two outs, Christina walked to load the bases.  Grace scored on a wild pitch, Raven walked, Harley walked in a run, Maddie walked in a run, and then Megan walked in a run.  So, with two outs, the team batted around, scoring four runs on two singles, and five walks to lead 12-2.

Nikki settles under a popup.

For the final two innings (game ended after four and a half because of the mercy rule, which mercifully for the Nats doesn't apply in the majors!), Christina only gave up a walk and a single (separate innings), as the Atoms did not threaten at all.  Caroline Bowman came in at first base, and Elizabeth Drotos finished the game at second.

Natalie checks for the sign.

The Wolverines earned a run in the fourth to make it 13-2, a number the Nats could aspire to,  Annabelle singled, went to second when Natalie walked, and scored on an error.

As the Wolverines enjoyed the fruits of their win, the Nats were just getting started on their comeback!

Fun is what drew all these players to 

softball in the first place.

Wolverine Whispers: From the lovely and talented team rep's email this week:

On Friday, May 1, we play TC Williams away starting at 6:30.  The game against TC will be played at Witter Park - NOT at the high school.  The address of the field is 2660 Witter Street, Alexandria.  Coming from the West Potomac area, plan on making a left turn off of Duke Street on to Witter Street.

Reporter: Thank goodness it's not "Witty Street" -- this job is hard enough as it is!
Editor: True, you've proven you can't find your way to Witty Street!
Reporter: You're really funny!
Editor: What do you mean I'm funny?
Reporter: It's just, you know. You're just funny, it's... funny, the way you tell the story and everything.
Editor: You mean, let me understand this cause, ya know maybe it's me, but I'm funny how, I mean funny like I'm a clown, I amuse you? I make you laugh, I'm here to amuse you? What do you mean funny, funny how? How am I funny?
Reporter: Okay, Tommy, calm down!

(Back to our regularly scheduled blog:)

Jayne went two innings, gave up one hit, gave up one unearned run, walked one, and struck out four.  Christina went three innings, gave up one hit, gave up one earned run, walked two, and also struck out four.

West Potomac scored their 13 runs on seven hits, three hit-by-pitches, and eleven walks.  Grace led the team with two hits, including the only double.  Nikki, Jayne, and Maddie each had two RBI.