Stallions Take Down West Potomac In Regional Semi-Finals 7-1

by Cindy Jackson

The West Potomac Wolverines made it to the Regional Semi-Finals for the second time in three years.  This team increasingly earned respect as the season progressed. They started off the season beating their cross town rival Mount Vernon 8-0, and continued to build on that momentum throughout the season. Coach Craig was quoted in the Mount Vernon Gazette as calling this team the “dark horse.” Did this “unknown” team emerge to prominence … or at least gain some respect?

The answer to that is a resounding YES. This Wolverine softball team brought pride to West Potomac this year. This team made the entire school take notice of these girls – who have consistently had a winning record over the years – but this year they took it one step further. This year these girls showed up to play, with a defense even the toughest teams in the region feared.  This year these girls gave 110% effort one hundred percent of the time. 

Every one of these girls had every right to walk off that field last night with their heads held high. The coaches and parents of these girls could not be prouder of their accomplishments this season. This team has everything to look forward to. With only one graduating senior, 16 of these 17 girls will return next year. 

Congratulations to all these girls and to the coaches. What a fabulous season. We could not be prouder.

Wolverines Wield Power, Glove To Earn Their Way To Regional Semis

West Potomac Wolverines flashed the leather and pounded the Rebel pitching en route to a solid 7-1 victory over Fairfax in round two of the regionals.

It's hard to pick the biggest highlight of the game, although it was probably the back-to-back home runs by Annabelle Miller and Raven Williams.  Or was it the sliding catch by leftfielder Megan Jackson to steal a single -- a play that she turned into a double play with a strike to first base to catch the Fairfax runner unable to get back to first base in time.

It could have been the crucial caught stealing in the top of the first, when Torie Bolger threw the lead-off runner out trying to steal third.  Maybe it was the two web gems turned in by Nikki Minnis, where she snared grounders heading for the outfield and threw to first for the outs.  You could argue it was Kate Gregory's two spectacular plays at second, including a backhead snare to get the speedy Rebel by a step and the shoestring catch of a dying liner seeking to skip into the outfield.

Or maybe it was Raven's triple to right to drive in the first two runs in the top of the first.  Or Jayne Orleans ending the game with a strikeout on a change-up that the Rebel batter could not resist.  Or maybe Jayne's two sacrifice RBIs on flyballs to center with a runner on third each time (okay, sac flies aren't the most exciting play, but they scored the third and fourth runs of the game, so they were very well-timed).  How about when Torie alertly pounced on a ball threatening to spin foul and tossing out the dazed runner.  Or when Maddie Miller earned the team's second outfield assist of the night by throwing out the Rebel hitter at first on a would-be single.

The right answer is "all of the above."  It might not have been the Wolverines' crispest game of the season, but it was close.  It certainly had the most highlight reel plays of any game this season.  Two dingers, a triple, countless spectacular defensive plays (actually, let's count them -- at least eight, and arguably more).

West Potomac advances to play in the regional semifinals on Wednesday at South County (7pm start).

The top of the first started ignominiously (enriching your vocabulary one blog post at a time!) when the Rebel lead-off hitter bunted her way on, and then used her blazing speed to steal second.  A similar attempt to take third with no outs failed when Torie gunned to Nikki covering for the tag.  The third out came on a long fly to Grace Moery in center -- a successful steal would have meant a 1-0 deficit.

Nikki led off the Wolverine half of the first with a walk, took second on a textbook sacrifice bunt by Grace. Annabelle chopped an infield single that the shortstop dove for and stopped from going through.  With the play in front of her, Nikki had to dart back to second.  Raven made sure they both got home when she tripled to right.  Jayne hit a sac fly, and suddenly it was 3-0 after one.  West Potomac was in the weird position of having an early lead in a big game.

After a lead-off walk to start the second, the next Fairfax hitter whiffed.  Then, Megan turned her double play, first making a diving catch to spoil the likely single, and then rising, pumping once, and firing to first for the DP.  Nikki's two out infield spinner single went for naught, and it was still 3-0 after two.

In the top of the third, a Rebel single to lead-off the inning turned into their only run.  Maddie gunned down the next batter at first, and a second out came on a grounder to short.  However, a two-out double easily brought the run home.

The Wolverines scratched out a run in the bottom of the third without a hit.  Annabelle walk, went to second on a costly passed ball, reached third on a groundout, and scored when Jayne lined a shot right at the centerfielder.  Annabelle beat the throw, which was off-line anyhow.

An error and a single in the top of the fourth was probably the high water mark of the Rebel advance, but two groundouts to the left side of the infield ended the threat as surely as the Union Army repulsed Pickett's charge at Gettysburg (Editor's Note: Took you long enough.  Reporter: for what?  Editor: Connecting the "Rebel" nickname to a historical event.  Reporter: Well, it's either the Civil War or Star Wars, and I rooted for the Rebels in the latter, but not the former.)

Three special plays by Wolverine mittswomen (yes, I checked Google -- the word has never been used before!) made the top of the fifth one of the more thrilling 1-2-3 innings in Wolverine history.  First, Nikki, moving to her left, snaring a would-be single with her outstretched mitt behind her.  Then, Torie made a nice play to turn a weirdly spinning ball into an out.  And then Kate went to her left, did a Willie Randolph-esque backhand, wheeled, and threw the speedy lead-off runner out by a step.

(Editor: isn't "one of the more thrilling. . .in history" a bit of hyperbole?  Reporter: You got a better one in the last four years?  Editor: ((nothing to say)).

The fireworks show came in the bottom of the fifth.  Grace singled to right, beating the throw.  Annabelle promptly smashed her second homer of the season, depositing it well over the left center fence.  The Rebel pitcher then threw the next pitch in the same location to Raven, who hit it over the same fence, maybe five feet closer to dead center along the left center fence.  It looked like the same play.  Back-to-back jacks!

Suddenly, it was 7-1, and the game was, for all intents and purposes, over.

Oh, there were still six outs to go, but all that was left was another Nikki fielding highlight, one hit in the fifth and sixth for Fairfax, another Kate fielding highlight, and a change-up strikeout to end the game as decisively as a treaty signing in a small Virginia town named Appomattox snuffed out the last remaining Rebel hopes in 1865.

(Legal disclaimer required by the website lawyers: In no way does using the Civil War example imply the Fairfax High School  is no better than the Confederates and what they stood for.  Nor is mentioning Appomattox an endorsement of slavery.  Our reporter does not even know Donald Sterling or Cliven Bundy, nor does he agree with their views.  To be fair to our reporter, it's just a desperate attempt to make modest light of a high school's nickname.  Please do not sue the website, as not only is there no profit, there is no way the editor could pay our legal bills, and as lawyers, that is our main focus -- getting paid.)

(Editor's Note: No actual lawyers were actually not paid during the writing of this blog post. You can sleep easy tonight.)

Wolverine Whispers: Three of the four remaining teams in the Northern 6A tournament (another catchy name -- Northern 6A!) are from Conference 7 -- Lake Braddock, South County, and West Potomac.  The other team is from. . .oh, who really cares!  Heck, I don't even know!

Congrats to Cindy Jackson to have the courage to don the Wolverine suit to pump up the fans.  While the Phillie Phantic need not fear for his (her?) job, Cindy added a bit of levity to the start of the game.

This is the second time in three seasons that the Wolverines have advanced to the regional semifinals.  

Happy Wolverines Win Regional Opener

Photo courtesy of Cindy Jackson

Wolveries Sting Yellow Jackets, Win Regional Opener

West Potomac won a tense psychological thriller Friday night, beating the Osborn Park Yellow Jackets on the road 3-1.  The pressure-packed game featured a come-from-behind three run sixth inning that vaulted the Wolverines to victory.

Early, yet unconfirmed reports are that number four seed Fairfax knocked off number one seed Centreville High School last night, which, if true sets up a Monday night round two game at West Potomac. The Rebel victory Friday night means we will still not have the answer to one of the burning questions of our time -- is Centreville pronounced "Cen-TRUH-ville," "Cen-TRAY-ville," or the more pedestrian, even boring "Cen-tur-vill"?

(Editor's Note: Reading between the lines, what you are telling me is that Fairfax's win spoiled your plans to use that line, so you had to stick it in anyhow.  Reporter's Note: Uh, pretty much.)

After being thankful they don't have to do that drive every night, Wolverine fans who braved the Friday late afternoon traffic were at the edge of their seats for most of the game, which given the time it took to get there, appears to have been played near the West Virginia border.  The Yellow Jackets had twelve batters reach base -- at least one in every inning, and left seven stranded in scoring position.  In four of the innings, the lead-off Osborn Park hitter reached first.

(Contrary to rumors I'm trying to start, there is no secret Oscorp Industries Lab in the school building.  That also probably means, regardless of local legend, that the school is NOT named after Norman Osborn.  It doesn't matter -- West Potomac didn't need Peter Parker to save the day.  Still, you have to admit a Spiderman movie with a regional softball tournament plot line would be pretty cool.  At least a ninety million dollar opening, and think of the fast food toy tie-ins!  I gotta finish this blog post -- I've got a screenplay to write!)

However, while starting pitcher Jayne Orleans was not cruising along, she would bear down and get outs every time she needed it, with a little help from her fielders.  She only struck out two Yellow Jackets, but both came with runners on base.  She did not allow any extra base hits, and was very effective at limiting the damage.

In the meantime, the Wolverines threatened early, but couldn't push any runs across until the sixth inning. Nikki Minnis led off the game in an 0-2 hole, but battled back to draw a walk.  With two out, she scampered to third on Raven Williams' lined single to right.  Then, in the second inning, Torie Bolger smashed a one-out double off the base of the left field wall.  Two innings, two Wolverines left in scoring position.

The Yellow Jackets did the same thing -- although they actually left three runners in scoring position in the first two innings.  But then the Wolverines stopped hitting, while the Yellow Jackets continued to reach base. In the middle part of the game, the Osborn Park pitcher retired eleven in a row, including 1-2-3 innings in the third, fourth, and fifth.

The only time the Yellow Jackets sent the minimum number of hitters to the plate was fourth inning.  With one out, their seventh hitter singled.  But the next batter grounded hard to Kate Gregory at second, who made the tag on the runner and then threw to first for the double play.  For the game, Kate had four putouts and four assists.  After the twin killing, the first base coach for Osborn Park could be seen as counseling his runner on how to keep it from being so simple for the second sacker in similar situations.  It is unlikely he used as much alliteration as I just did.  His loss is your gain.

The Yellow Jackets finally pushed a run across in the bottom of the fifth to go up 1-0.  It was a classic manufactured run -- a single to left, a sacrifice bunt to move her along to second base, and a single to drive in the run.  But, that was the only Osborn Park run of the game (Editor: since they know the score was 3-1, isn't that pretty self-evident?  Reporter: there you go again, overestimating the intelligence of your reporter and our readers.)

Here are the questions that were on the minds of the West Potomac faithful at this point in the game:

• Would the long drive have been in vain?  
• Would West Potomac be shutout in back-to-back tournament games?  
• Would this article have to be short and devoid of any humor because of a loss?  

No, no, and well, at least it isn't short.

As the sixth inning started, the Wolverines were down to their last six outs.  They had played twelve straight innings without scoring.  And then the trajectory of the game, and the arc of this story, changed.

Nikki led off with a single.  With one out, a sequence of bizarre plays unfolded.  Annabelle Miller smacked a single to center.  As Nikki steamed toward third, the centerfielder was going to throw the ball hard somewhere, but apparently thought better of it.  In trying to stop her throw, the Yellow Jacket outfielder watched in horror as the ball squirted out of her hand into no-woman's land of center-right field behind where the second baseman usually stands (but was covering 2nd).

Nikki alertly (be a lert, you know the rest!) sped home with the game tying run, and the monkey was off the Wolverine back.  Annabelle took second whilst the ball bounced around the outfield.  Then Raven hit a seeing-eye bloop single to center.  Annabelle hung close to second, riskily taking off for third as the ball bounced into the aforementioned centerfielder's mitt.  She would have been out at third, but the previous shaky play had left its mark.  The centerfielder overthrew third, and Annabelle scampered home to make it 2-1.  Raven turned her single into two extra bases on the wild throw.

Jayne's single gave her the team's only RBI, and an important two run cushion at 3-1.

The bottom of the sixth started benignly, but soon had Wolverine fans watching through their hands covering their faces.  Jayne induced two quick groundouts.  A single to left looked harmless when the fourth hitter of the inning hit a routine grounder.  The ball was uncharacteristically booted by the Wolverines best fielder this season, and suddenly it was first and second.  A tricky single to shortstop loaded the bases.

With two outs, the Yellow Jackets had loaded the bases with three straight batters.  The next hitter hit the ball on the nose, but Nikki took two steps to her left and caught the liner to both end the threat AND, almost as importantly, restart her dad's heart.  In related medical news, the aneurysm that was starting in Coach Craig's brain receded, saving the lives of two Wolverine coaches with one grab.

(Editorial comment/rant: The Osborn Park scoreboard operator went all bush league, posting two errors for the Wolverines and none by Yellow Jackets.  The scoreboard shows runs, hits, and errors, and when they left the errors numbers dark after the two errors by their centerfielder, this grizzled old scribe figured they did the classy thing and didn't post errors on the board.  But nope.  I suppose I gave them too much credit -- as they immediately posted two errors when the Wolverines made them -- although I would also argue that one of them was an infield hit.  Anyhow, boo to the Osborn Park scoreboard operator.  It was probably Mendel Stromm.)

A quick 1-2-3 Wolverine seventh set the stage for the final scene.  A lead-off walk led to back-to-back force outs from Nikki to Kate.  With two outs, the Yellow Jacket hitter hit a twisting pop foul that Raven made a nice play on to send West Potomac on to more softball on Monday night.

Wolverine Whispers: It was a great night for Wolverine sports, as boys baseball and soccer also won. More details on the Monday night game will be sent out by our lovely and talented team rep once she gets them.

Maddie Miller was named to the 2nd team all-Region, while Jayne Orleans and Raven Williams received honorable mention honors.

Wolverines Played South County In Conference Semis

Wolverines Whispers:  West Potomac will play next Friday, May 30th, at a school to be determined.

Win Over Woodson Sets Up Rematch With South County

The West Potomac Wolverines defeated the Woodson Cavaliers 12-3 in the first ever Conference 7 quarterfinal game.  First ever sounds impressive, but this is the first year of conferences instead of districts.

The victory sets up a rematch with South County in the semifinals on Wednesday night.  The win also assures West Potomac plays in regionals again this season.

This sets up a few key questions: Given that a Wolverine win was essentially a sure thing, did they really have to play Monday night?  Is everyone excited to play South County again?  Does West Potomac even have a chance?  Will Kate Gregory's grandmother wear a helmet to the game?

Yes of course, yes of course, yes does a bear sit in the woods?, and yes I sure hope so after the last game when she took a foul ball off her head (lost in the sun).  Any further questions?  (Editor's Note: any queries that are actually "key" questions?)

The Wolverines started with a bang, scoring six times in the top of the first.  Annabelle Miller started the scoring with a booming double to left, scoring Grace Moery after her walk.  Raven Williams reached on an error.  Torie Bolger knocked a single to right for an RBI.  Maddie Miller drove in Raven and Eliza Treadwell (running for Torie) with a double.  Kate Gregory stuck a single into the outfield for an RBI, and Olivia Manous finished the run scoring in the inning with another RBI single.

Raven and Jayne Orleans both had singles in the bottom of the second, but neither were knocked home.
Jayne pitched two scoreless innings, inducing four groundouts and whiffing two batters, before being replaced by Christina Dillard to start the third.  Christina K'd all three Cavalier batters in that inning.

West Potomac tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the third.  Olivia walked and promptly stole second. Nikki Minnis walked.  Olivia scored on Grace's double, while Annabelle followed with an RBI single.

A couple of hits and a sac fly earned Woodson its first run.  Meanwhile, a Caroline Bowman single in the fourth and an Annabelle triple in the fifth both went for naught.  Woodson got hope in the sixth scoring two runs, but that faint hope was extinguished by the Wolverine sixth.

Harley Divine took a free pass to first, and then Caroline deftly singled through the hole left vacant by the covering shortstop on the steal attempt.  Eliza, in her last home at-bat, then singled past short to load the bases.  Izzy Crawn smacked a double that skipped off the centerfielder's legs to drive in two.  Grace then followed with her second double of the game to drive in two more runs and make the score 12-3.

Christina made short work of the Cavalier seventh -- striking out two and inducing a popout flare on which Caroline made a nice running over the shoulder catch.   Two other defensive plays of note were a liner caught by Kate, who made a diving attempt to double off the runner on second.  She came up just short, but the effort was appreciated by all Wolverine fans but her mother, who probably needed two-three washings to get the dirt out.  (Reporter: When you do as much laundry as I do, you feel sympathetic about those things. Editor: Averaging once a year in 27 years of marriage isn't doing "as much laundry" as anyone!).
In addition, Megan Jackson made an impressive catch in left center, running full speed to make the grab.

Wolverine Whispers: It's on again.  West Potomac at South County -- Wednesday night, with a 6:30 start. Need I say more?  I do?  Okay: South County -- the number two team in the DMV and the number two team in Conference Seven -- has beaten the Wolverines just 2-0 and 3-0 in 11 innings (or 1-0 in 8 innings if the ump doesn't make the most ridiculous judgment call in the history of judgment calls -- if it is unclear what I think, just ask and I will calmly CLARIFY IT FOR YOU!).  Anyhow, should be a good match-up, even if I can't figure out why Lake Braddock finished first in the conference but is ranked third (behind South County) in the Post.  (Editor: If you don't get it, you don't get it.  Reporter: Speechless.)

The only notable injury came when Coach Craig took a foul ball off his shin.  No word yet as to whether he will be placed on the 15 day DL.  He was seen icing the shin during the game, recklessly flouting the macho code of softball.  Although to be fair to the big guy, he did stay in the game and continue coaching, even while suffering through the pain (that's more like it!).

Six Wolverines Receive All-Conference Honors

Six Wolverines made the all-conference team:

1st team:

Raven Williams

Maddie Miller

Jayne Orleans

2nd team:

Nikki Minnis

Honorable Mention:

Annabelle Miller

Kate Gregory

Congratulations! 

Wolverines Alertly Prove Adept In Continuation Games, Beat West Springfield 8-0

West Potomac is now 2-0 in continuation games this season, taking a 5-0 lead on Tuesday against the Spartans, and taking less than 35 minutes to tack on three more runs and secure the seven outs needed to win the game Saturday afternoon.

(Continuation games are like reindeer games, except they are not celebrated in song.)

Tuesday night, the Wolverines were one out away from winning in a required five innings when thunder and lightning struck -- literally, not figuratively (see the previous story for the difference).  Despite a refusal of the heavens to rain, the thunder and lightning show continued for long enough to require a return trip to the bucolic Rolling Road home of West Springfield.

"We actually practice continuation games.  We will start a drill in practice, and in the middle, I will stop it. We then pick up the drill several days later right where we left off.  We did this about ten times this season," said Coach Craig Maniglia.  "Doing this gets the girls ready mentally and physically for just this situation where we stop play on a Tuesday and continue on a Saturday," Maniglia added in a couple of quotes I just totally made up.  (Editor's Note: Uh, that completely contravenes all standards of journalism.  Reporter's Note: This is a blog, who said anything about journalism?)

Jayne Orleans and Christina Dillard combined for a one hit shutout.  If it weren't for a sole Spartan single in the seventh, it would have been a no-hitter (Editor: I think people understand that "one hit" is one more than none.  Reporter: I just don't want to overestimate the intelligence of our readership.)

The victory is the Wolverines ninth shutout win of the season, and drives their record to an impressive 15-5 as they head into district conference tourney play.  (Editor: Tourney? Reporter: It's insider speak for "tournament."  Aren't you impressed with the lingo that I know?  Editor: Whatevs.)

Before the game started, the PA system played the "Spartans, prepare for glory" line from the movie "300." Apparently, both "prepare" and "glory" have different definitions in West Springfield than they do in Alexandria section of Fairfax County.

Not much happened offensively in the game for the Wolverines until the third inning.  After reaching on a fielder choice in the first, Grace Moery stole second but got no further.  Meanwhile, Jayne mixed in a strikeout on a change-up in the first.

In the second inning, Torie Bolger and Nikki Minnis combined on an alert ("be alert, the world need more lerts!") play.  With a runner on first, there was a mini popup that neither Jayne nor Torie could catch.  The ball hit the ground and went right into Torie's bare hand.  The runner had to stick close to first in case of a catch, so Torie easily gunned the ball to Nikki covering second for the force.  

In the top of the third, the Wolverines followed the old adage, "when someone gives you a gift, open it."(Editor's note: Unless it's a Trojan horse.  Reporter: That was before my time.)  After an out, Kate Gregory reached on an error.  Nikki thought that was cool, so she also reached on an error.  Grace got the first Wolverine hit of the game to load the bases.  Annabelle Miller followed the Wee Willie Keeler advice and "hit it where they ain't" -- just over the third baseman's head.  Annabelle's hit doubled in two runs to put the team up 2-0.

In the bottom of the third, Torie alertly picked-off a runner who reached on a walk, and the PA system did not play the "Spartans, prepare for glory" line.  ("Be alert!  The world needs more lerts!")  In the top of the fourth, Kate singled and stole second, but that was it for the inning.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Spartans had their first hit of the game taken right away from them by another alert Wolverine defensive play.  The runner on first who walked with one out held close to first on a flare to center.  The ball dropped in, but Grace alertly pegged the ball to Nikki for the force at second (be alert!  The world needs more lerts!)

The Wolverines broke the game open in the visiting half of the fifth.  Grace led off by strategically getting hit by a pitch.  After a wild pitch, she moved to second, scoring on Annabelle's single to left center for her third RBI of the game.  Raven Williams reached on a fielder's choice, and then scored the old-fashioned way -- moving up on a wild pitch, then alertly scoring from second on a dropped third strike (that's four alert plays so far, for those keeping track at home).  (Be alert!  The world needs more lerts!)

Jayne reached on an infield single, and then Torie moved her pinch-runner (Harley Divine) to second with a smashed single through short.  Harley went to third on a passed ball and scored on a wild pitch to make it 5-0.  

In the bottom of the fifth, the lightning started (again, literally, not figuratively).  Wolverine parents rooted for three outs, but it was not to be.  After a walk to the lead-off hitter, the Spartan took second on a sacrifice bunt down 5-0 (Editor: so, you disapprove of small ball in a 5-0 deficit?  Reporter: yes.)  Jayne struck out the next batter for the second out, but never got to pitch to the fourth hitter of inning, as the umps heard thunder.  (So, the umps couldn't see the lightning but did hear the thunder -- insert your own blind ump joke here.  Actually, just kidding -- to be fair to the umps, the lightning was off to the north, not in a direction either were looking.)

(Please wait four days to read the rest of this article.)

(I said, wait four days!)

Saturday dawned clear and bright.  The game picked up where it left off -- Spartan on second, two outs, bottom of the fourth.  Christina took over on the mound, striking out the last batter.  A clever (and handsome) West Potomac parent, jokingly shouted "good inning girls!" as they jogged off the field.  To the credit of all, parents from both teams laughed at my the handsome stranger's witty line.

Nikki stole a base after a walk in the sixth, but nothing else happened.  Then, in the seventh, the Wolverines tacked on three more runs.  Raven singled.  Elizabeth Drotos pinch-ran, and beat the throw to second on a failed fielder's choice.  She and Izzy Crawn both scored on Caroline Bowman's towering double to right center field, as the JV call-up smartly earned two RBI in an audition for next season.  After a wild pitch, Kate earned an RBI on a groundout to close out the scoring.

West Springfield led off the bottom of the last inning with their one aforementioned hit, but it was for naught. After Annabelle erased the successful hitter at second on an assist to Kate, the third sacker finished things off by catching a line drive and alertly (be alert!  the world needs more lerts!) throwing to first for the twin killing.  (Note to squeamish readers: it's NOT literally a twin killing; it's a euphemism for a double play, only much more dramatic to the mind of a sportswriter who needs something better to do with their life.) 

(Editor: You used that trite "be alert, the world needs more. . ." phrase five times!  Reporter: It never gets old, does it? Editor: Actually, yes it did, part-way through the first use!)

Wolverine Whispers: Monday night, which is either tomorrow or tonight, depending on when you read this (or three days ago if you actually followed my explicit directions above to wait four days before reading the article), West Potomac hosts Woodson in the opening of what hopefully will be three conference playoff games.

A win Monday sends the Wolverines to South County for the semi-finals (assuming South County sneaks past Annandale in their first round game) and also clinches a spot in the regionals.  The first game of regionals would be on Friday, May 30th, which means the Team Rep's husband won't have to spend a ton of money on an anniversary dinner.  Because the team rep's husband doesn't have to wear a suit on a Friday night, he should slip the person who scheduled the game for that day a fiver in thanks.  But he's too cheap.

 

 

Conference 7, aka the Patriot District, Standings As of Today, and Only Today

Lake Braddock	11	1	91.7%
South County	9	1	90.0%
WEST POTOMAC	7	4	63.6%
West Springfield	4	6	40.0%
T.C. Williams	4	7	36.4%
Woodson	2	9	18.2%
Annandale	1	11	9.1%

The records were put together by Coach Lee Harrington.

West Potomac officially clinched third in the conference, which means our Wolverines will host sixth-seeded Woodson on Monday night at 6:30.

(Discerning fans with no life will recognize that the local team has been shown in ALL CAPS as a homage to sports pages in the 1970s-80s that would capitalize the local team in the standings.  If you didn't know that before you read this, well, now you know.)

Taut, Thrilling Game Ends In the Eleventh Inning as Wolverines Fall to South County

Eventually somebody was going to score.  In a game that took on the atmosphere of a playoff battle, South County pushed three runs across in the top of the eleventh, and West Potomac was unable to answer.  Both teams had several good chances to end the 3-0 game earlier, but the best chance ended with a controversial call.

The game was moved up to a five pm start because of the impending storm that cancelled high school sports throughout the region, West Potomac's home stadium managed to be the one dry spot in the entire region. Though the innings flew by, it still lasted more than two hours as neither team was legally able to push a run across the plate in the first ten innings.

The major controversy came in the top of the eighth inning.  The lead-off Stallion hitter bombed a home run, receiving a high five from a teammate before touching the plate.  The base umpire showed no hesitation in calling her out for interference.  Not surprisingly, a firestorm erupted.  The South County coach went ballistic, holding up play for a time while he vehemently protested the call.  The umpire showed the proper restraint and did not eject him, which would have been a disaster.  It WAS telling, however, that the home plate umpire did not stand by his colleague in blue during the SC coach's sharing of his opinion.

One of the coaches may know the rule better, but this is the best I could find in the ASA rulebook is rule 7E: "The runner is out when anyone other than another runner physically assists a runner while the ball is in play." I would hope there is a more specific rule than that, because if a high five is "physically assist(ing)" than I don't know what that means.  If you watch this Zimmerman film (not to be confused with the Zapruder film), it's impossible to tell whether he is touched by his teammates as he's touching home plate, or just before. That Zimmy home run stood.

So, the question is -- was it a wrong call on a ticky-tacky interpretation that extended the game three more innings, or is a call on which the umpire is given zero discretion?   If there is zero discretion, it was the right call.  If there is discretion, the home run should have stood.  This is a call that will be debated by a few very bitter South County fans for decades to come, while the rest of us will forget it by next week.

But, the craziness of the top of the eighth was not over.  After a routine grounder for the second out, the third hitter of the inning singled to left.  The next hitter smashed a double to deep center.  Grace Moery retrieved it, and threw to a waiting Kate Gregory.  Kate wheeled and threw a strike from shallow center to the plate. Torie Bolger.  The ball and the runner from first arrived at the same time.  Torie blocked the plate, made the tag, and fell over the runner.  Torie showed the ump the ball was still in her mitt (phew!), and the out call was made -- this time with no controversy!

The Wolverines had some chances to score earlier, as did the Stallions, but the South County pitcher had the West Potomac batswomen off balance most of the game.  She recorded 21 strikeouts, including whiffing the side twice, and getting three Ks in an inning multiple times.  In fact, until the bottom of the fifth, West Potomac had only put two balls in fair territory.  Because of some wildness, three West Potomac hitters had reached in the first four, but that was the extent of the threat.

Maddie Miller led off the bottom of the fifth with the first Wolverine hit of the game and reached second on an error.  She did not advance any further.  There was not to be another West Potomac hit until Jayne Orleans and Torie strung together back-to-back singles in the bottom of the ninth, with Harley Divine (pinchrunning for Jayne) reaching third on Torie's hit.  The threat ended with a strikeout.

Nikki Minnis came within two feet of ending the game in the 10th when she doubled off the top of the fence in bottom of the 10th.  A little higher, and her home run trot would have been the most scrutinized four base trot in the history of softball.  Coach Craig probably would have not allowed her teammates to come out of the dugout till after she touched home plate.

The Stallions finally broke through on the scoreboard in the 11th by turning four singles and two walks into their three runs.  Christina Dillard was brought in after the first two runs, and, after a single produced the final run, induced South County to line into a double play and fly out to end the inning.

Jayne and the West Potomac defense were nearly flawless until the 11th (well, maybe with the exception of that little non-homer home run in the 8th).  Jayne got the first out of the first inning via strikeout, and only recorded two more strikeouts after that (one on a change up).  Which means the defense was busy.

The Stallions had runners reach second with no one out in both the 1st and 2nd innings, but they were stranded there.  Jayne retired them 1-2-3 in the 3rd and 4th.  Two walks and a hit by pitch loaded the bases with two outs in the fifth, but a harmless pop up floated into Nikki's mitt at short, and it was on to the next.

Stallion baserunners in the sixth and seventh did not advance, and then came that wild eighth.  A double in the ninth resulted in a South County runner stranded at third, and Jayne got three outs on three pitches in the 10th.

After the game, the West Potomac coaches thanked the umpires for working the game.  Surprisingly, the South County coaches did not offer the same courtesy.  Huh.  Wonder why.

Wolverine Whispers: After the game we learned the answer to the age-old question: how many Wolverine coaches, players, and fans does it take to cover the field with the new tarp?  Pretty much of all them!  Well, to be fair to all of us involved, a lot of things don't go as planned the first time you try something.  But, it was a challenge.

The electrical atmosphere at Tuesday night's West Springfield game wasn't just the 5-0 Wolverine lead, it was also the lightning that forced a delay of game.  That game will be continued tomorrow (Saturday), 1pm at West Springfield with two outs in the bottom of the fifth.  Presuming, of course, the water feature that all green grass has today after last night's deluge has dried.

Wolverines Defuse Atoms for the Third Time This Season, 9-3

When Ken Burns produces his next hagiographic documentary of America's pasttime, when George Will pens his next paean rhapsodizing about this sport we love, when Tom Boswell bangs out his next column using sabremetrics to analyze why the Nationals are a 21-19 team despite an awesome pitching staff while the 14-4 Wolverines only need two pitchers, none of them will be writing about last night's 9-3 win over Annandale.

(Editor's note: parents, do not fret -- I looked those big words up, and hagiographic, paean, and arguably sabremetrics actually do belong in a family publication.  Reporter: thanks for the trust.)

A win is a win, and there were certainly bright spots, but the West Potomac squad did not play their sharpest game of the year, committing a season high five errors and also gifting four runners with first base on walks/a hit by pitch. Two of the three Atom (Atomic?) runs were unearned, and the visitors did not take full advantage of the opportunities they were gifted.

Meanwhile, at bat, the Wolverines were inconsistent facing pitching so slow and loopy that they had a hard time consistently hitting the ball hard.  Coming off games against the fine pitchers from West Springfield and South County, dealing with pitching the likes of which they hadn't faced since days of yore at Carl Sandburg or Walt Whitman's pristine fields proved difficult.

Starting pitcher Jayne Orleans created trouble for herself by walking the lead-off batter, and the fourth hitter, but also included two strikeouts and then induced a weak groundout for the third out of the first.

The Wolverines scored three runs in the home half of the first without even getting a hit.  Three of the first four batters walked or reached on an error, moved up a base on a bad throw, then scored on wild pitches and errors.  Annandale then pulled their pitcher for the second inning, who, despite walking two to lead-off the game, should have been out of the first inning with no damage, except for the two costly errors that weren't her fault.

Annabelle Miller provided the highlight for the top of the second with a diving catch in foul territory.  The rest of the inning shall go unremarked upon.

After Olivia Manous walked leading off the second, she promptly stole second.  Olivia has got to be leading the team in stolen bases.  Kate Gregory lined the first Wolverine hit to center, but hit it so hard that the speedy Olivia had to stop at third.  Nikki Minnis drove Olivia in with a sacrifice fly to left (one of six putouts by the leftfielder in the game!).  Annabelle hit into a 6-3 putout to drive in Kate, and Grace Moery scored on Raven Williams' RBI single down the third base line.

The battery of Christina Dillard and Harley Divine came for the third inning.  The Atoms took advantage of a hit and two errors to scratch out an unearned run to cut the lead to 6-1.  Christina ended the threat of more runs with a backwards K.

After a walk to Harley, Maddie Miller smacked a single to put two Wolverines on with none out, but the two runners literally died on base (Editor's note: Okay, just because Google Dictionary has decided "literally" means the same as "figuratively" which literally means literally has no meaning at all -- figuratively speaking of course -- doesn't mean you should use literally in a figurative sense designed to scare the Millers and Divines that their daughters may have not survived last night's game.  No more using literally as a synonym for figuratively!  Reporter: Do you literally mean that?  Figures.)

The Atoms scored another unearned run in the fourth, as an outfield error allowed the batter to take second on a single.  After Christina whiffed the next two batter, a single to left brought in the runner from third.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Wolverines added three insurance runs to close out their scoring.  Grace and Annabelle led off taking two for the team (one each), executing the last seen in the 10-12 Ft. Hunt league back-to-back hit-by-pitch.  Grace later scored on a passed ball followed by an errant throw to third.

Christina legged out an infield single, beating the throw by one estimation -- a throw that in any event was not held by the first baseman.  After discussions that went on longer than the Paris Peace Talks of 1973, the umpire called Christina out (Remember how exciting it was to follow the daily progress of the peace talks?  I was in elementary school back then, and it was all us kids could talk about!) .  Megan Jackson had already gone to first to pinch run for her, so Megan's first action since being hurt last Thursday literally ended with her not even being allowed to occupy first base for one whole pitch, (which is kind of metaphysically mind-blowing, if you think about it).

With two outs, Harley walked, Maddie singled in her sister (remember, Annabelle reached base two paragraphs and two parenthetical meanderings ago), Izzy Crawn patiently drew a walk, and Kate Gregory collected her second single of the night to drive in Eliza Treadway, running for Harley.  Maddie was cut down at the plate trying to score from second to end the inning, with a 9-2 lead.  The Atoms went down meekly in the top of the fifth, with Christina racking up another strikeout.

In the bottom half of the fifth, Katie Hinkell was hit by a pitch, and went to first.  The ump talked to the catcher, and then changed his mind. While the pitch clearly did not hit Katie, having the ump changed his mind after conferring with the catcher (for those of you not paying attention to the sport, in a situation involving the batter, the catcher plays for the OTHER team, and thus is generally not considered an unbiased font of advice for the ump.)  Katie liked her brief time on first so much that she promptly nailed a single and got back there.  Grace Moery followed with a beautiful bunt for a basehit, and again the Wolverines had two runners on with no outs.  Three straight fly balls to the leftfielder ended the threat.   Overall, West Potomac stranded 10 runners on base for the game.

The Atoms scored their third and final run on some singles, a hit batter and an error.  The threat ended when Annabelle caught a laser line drive for the second out, and then lasered the ball over to Raven for the inning-ending double play as the Annandale runner took off on contact.

Maddie had a hit in the bottom of the sixth, and some other stuff happened, but no runs.  Annandale led off their last licks with a double, but then Christina struck out two of the next three outs and we all went home to watch The Middle and Modern Family on our DVRs.

Wolverine Whispers: As our lovely and talented team rep emailed last night, tonight's South County game at West Potomac has been  moved to a 5pm start, interfering with David Orleans' happy hour.  He'll deal with it.  The continuation of the West Springfield game from Wednesday night's lightning storm is still being negotiated.  A bi-partisan team of Condoleeza Rice and John Kerry are involved to help resolve the likely Saturday start time.  The prospect of heavy rains tonight/tomorrow does not make for an easy solution.

Christina finished the game with six strikeouts and no walks in her five innings of work.  She did hit a batter. Jayne added in three Ks in her two innings, which matches her walks.  Kate and Maddie combined had half of the team's eight hits.  (See, you were wrong in seventh grade -- you actually do get to apply algebra in real life!  If X is the number of hits the two got, and X is equal to 50% of 8, how much is X?  Y is the number of hits Kate and Maddie each got, and Y is equal to 1/2 of X.  How much is Y?  Now, we will take a break from this blog while you all write letters of apology to your 7th grade algebra teachers.)

Conference 7 Standings at of May 12th, 6pm

South Cty	8	0	1000%
Lake Brad	8	1	889%
West Po	6	3	667%
TC	4	6	375%
West Spr	3	5	400%
Annandale	1	8	111%
Woodson	1	9	100%

Please note, these are unofficial.  They have been compiled by Coach Lee Harrington.  West Potomac is 13-4 overall.

A couple of notes -- if I am reading this correctly, the Wolverines have outscored their foes 69-22 in conference games and 128-36 in all games.  

On Thursday the Washington Post wrote about Lake Braddock and South County being in Conference 6 -- or conference seis, as it's known.  Good thing Virginia went away from named districts to numbered conferences! 

Wolverines Win Longest Game In Short Order

by Cindy Jackson, with an assist from Jim Miller

As the West Po fans gathered for the Annandale game on a cloudy Monday night, they confidently checked the sky and assured themselves if they could make it through the rainy, cold Woodson game the week before, this game would go off without a hitch. Well, perhaps they forgot to take into account that when a lot of charged Atoms are around, the probability of lightning was likely.  (That will most likely be my only “atom” joke … I have a very limited science background.)

The game started on a positive note. Nikki Minnis had an infield single, and Grace Moery got a free pass putting runners on first and second.  Both players advanced on a loose ball, and were sitting pretty on second and third with Annabelle Miller up to bat. Nikki managed to steal home on a passed ball, just before Annabelle laid up a nice fly ball to short left field, scoring Grace.  Raven Williams then smacked a hard grounder up the middle. Annabelle tried to score on Raven’s hit … perhaps the Annadale catcher made a great play – or perhaps her abilities were underestimated – but as Annabelle tried to score, she was thrown out. The next two West Po batters struck out, leaving one stranded but putting two runs up on the score board.

The West Po defense was focused in the bottom of the first … the umpire’s vision … not so much.  He awarded the #2 Annandale batter first base … saying the pitch hit her in the head.  The batter, however, was unaware of this but decided to go with it. When questioned by the Big Manig (who argued the ball actually hit the bat) the umpire claimed he was ducking and didn’t see it. (So how did he see it hit her in the head then?)  Doesn’t really matter … the umpire is always right. (Right?) The West Po defense easily took care of the next two batters, getting them out of the inning with no runs scored.

Annabelle got things going in the third, with a hard line drive single to left field. Raven then found the gap between SS and 3rd and sent one sizzling to left field.  On the next loose ball, Annabelle stole third. The catcher tried to throw her out, but the ball bounced off of the third baseman’s glove. Annabelle took off for home … then thought better of it (maybe she remembered the collision with the catcher in the first inning) and returned back to third (good choice). Meanwhile, Raven was hot on the trail to third base when she saw Annabelle retreating back, and had to make an abrupt turn back to second. You know what they say about throwing behind the lead runner … don’t do it.  Annandale decided to do it anyway, and threw to 2^nd, in hopes of nailing Raven. Mission fail – Raven was safe and this gave Annabelle the opportunity to score … which she did. With Jayne up to bat, Raven was alert on second and ready to run. Apparently Raven had a little too much energy as the umpire called Raven out on the next pitch, claiming she left early (another case of the ‘umpire is always right’). Three outs for West Po, but they added another run to the book, 3-0.

Annandale got their first (and only) run in the bottom of the third. After three complete innings the score was 3-1, West Po. The rain was still coming down, but Susan Gregory Galway was doing a great job with her umbrella, keeping this reporter’s note pad dry.

The Wolverines started creating some static in the top of the fourth. Jayne walked, then Maddie Miller hit a hard grounder to the left side, making the short stop really work for it, but she couldn’t get a throw off in time.  Runners were on first and second. Grace then hit a beautiful line drive to center field, scoring both girls on base. Annabelle followed with yet another hit, and scored Grace. That gave West Po 6 runs.

The sky was getting darker and darker in the bottom of the fourth, and the rain was still coming down. Jayne made it easy on herself by catching a hard line drive shot right back at her from the lead-off batter. Annabelle then cleanly fielded the next bunt getting the runner out at first. The next batter got on because of a slight defensive bobble.  The sky was a brewin’ with a storm … the next pitch was a ball and there was a flash of lightning across the sky. The ump made everyone leave the field … and as the rain got harder and the lightning continued .. the game was postponed until Saturday.

The game picked up on Saturday, at 9 a.m. The weather was perfect – as we all know, lightning never strikes twice in the same place.  Perhaps the Wolverines didn’t like having to get up early on a Saturday for a game. Or perhaps they didn’t appreciate the bus never showing up to take them to the game. Clearly these girls showed up to get the job done. It was business time!

The game picked up from where it left off Monday night … bottom of the fourth - 2 outs, a runner on first. Jayne got the final out of the fourth inning with a strike out on a 3-2 count. West Potomac got ready to bat. Like I said, these girls weren’t messing around today. They must have had things to do on this Saturday. They were charged up and ready to shut it down.

Olivia Manous started off the top of the 5th inning with a hard hit up the middle, then stole second base, and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Jayne then came up to bat, and took one for the team, right-square in the middle of her back.  Izzy Crawn came in to pinch run, and easily took second base on the catcher’s indifference.  Maddie then hit a nice shot to left center, scoring both runners, and advancing herself to second. The score was now 8-1, no outs.

Torie reached on walk, and Harley Divine stepped in to pinch run for her. Wild pitches allowed both runners to advance, with Maddie scoring (9-1). Eliza Treadway stepped in to hit for Kate Gregory, and smashed a line drive straight over the third baseman’s head to left field, getting Harley to third.  Eliza got to second on the next pitch. Nikki then grounded out , but put another RBI under her belt scoring Harley. Eliza cleanly made it to third without having to demonstrate her unique slide. The score was now 10-1 with one out.

Grace got a free pass to first, and advanced to second on the catcher’s indifference. Runners were at second and third … one out, when Annabelle came to the plate. It was Miller time!  Annabelle hit the nucleus out of the ball, cranking it way over the left center field fence (approximately 215 feet) for a 3 run homer!

That’s all the runs West Po would see that inning, but clearly that would be enough.

Jayne made quick work of the Annandale batters in the bottom of the 5^th, striking out the first two batters, and easily fielding a ground ball on the third batter. Final score:  13-1 West Po, compliments of the Mercy Rule.  

Number Two Team in the DMV Beats Wolverines 2-0

The South County Stallions, ranked second by the Washington Post in the entire DMV*, had to scrap for a 2-0 win over the spunky West Potomac Wolverines.

(*In this case, DMV stands for District, Maryland, and Virginia, although for these purposes it means the greater D.C. area.  Being second in the entire Division of Motor Vehicles is only noteworthy if you need a new license or registration; it means little for softball.)

The Wolverines may well petition the Language People to rename the "Butterfly Effect" as the "Umpire Effect," because much as the beating of a butterfly's wings may cause the weather pattern to result in a hurricane, the umpire calling an obvious "strike three" as "ball one" may have irretrievably changed the course of the game tonight.  Of course, given that the Wolverines were shut out, perhaps not.  (Note to readers: You have to admit the first sentence of the definition of "Butterfly Effect" in the link above is very cool.  My promise: this is the penultimate geek out of the article.)

Until the lead-off Stallion batter in the bottom of the fifth, pitcher Jayne Orleans and the rest of the West Potomac defense faced the minimum twelve batters in the four prior innings.  Jayne got two quick strikes on the lead-off hitter, and then threw a thigh high strike that smacked crisply into catcher Torie Bolger's mitt for strike three.  Except the umpire called it ball one.  The Wolverine fans were incredulous.  Your intrepid reporter confirmed with team sources close to the plate at the time that the pitch in question was right over the middle of the plate.  (Editor's note: you are not exactly hiding your source very well.  Reporter: Don't give our readership so much credit.  After all, they ARE reading this rag.)

Of course, the very next pitch was smacked into left for only the second South County hit of the game.  That was followed by two more hits driving in the two runs plated by the Stallions for the game.  It makes one wonder what would have happened had the called ball one not become momentum for South County.  Normally I like butterflies, but now I just want to punch one (there's a reason Muhammad Ali never said "float like a bee, sting like a butterfly).  

All that said, it was a great game, crisply played.

The South County pitcher was on fire, striking out seven of the first eight Wolverine hitters.  Only Raven Williams' soft single to right center in the second inning stopped the Stallions from three perfect innings.  Raven was the next Wolverine to reach base when she rocketed a double to the left corner in the fifth.  Alas, Nikki Minnis' speed to leg out an infield single in the sixth proved to be the third and last Wolverine hit/baserunner of the night.  

Meanwhile, the Wolverines were playing shutdown defense.  In the home half of the first, the second Stallion batter blasted a double to deep right center.  The next hitter blooped a soft liner toward right field that was easily caught by 2nd sacker Kate Gregory.  The 3rd base coach exhorted his runner to "go, go, go" which means it must have been opposite day, as thanks to that bad advice the runner on second was easily doubled off by Kate on a throw to Nikki.  I'm still trying to figure out who was more surprised by the double play -- the 3rd base coach, the runner, or Kate when she turned and saw the runner nearly to third on a relatively routine out.  (Editor's note: If this were a real website, we'd have an interactive poll so fans could vote on which of the four was more surprised; those three or Johnny Manziel for falling until the 22nd draft pick.  Reporter: Well, we're the Pinocchio of sports journalism.)

The Wolverine infield kept gobbling up grounders, with the occasional flyout or popout mixed in just so Raven did not get every putout (she did get ten putouts).  For instance, in the bottom of the third, Kate made a nice running catch of a little flare headed for trouble behind first base.  

Raven earned the "best job of backing up your teammate" award so far this year when a spinning fair popup squirted out of Torie's mitt, right into the arms of the alert first baseman.  Raven's catch kept the score at 2-0 in the fifth.  

For those who believe in numerology or need a Lotto number, my scorecard for the bottom of the sixth provides a weird symmetry.  South County grounded out in succession to Nikki, Annabelle Miller, and then Kate (all getting the assists on throws to Raven).   Thus, my defensive scoring notes are:

• 6-3
• 5-3
• 4-3

(Okay, so maybe I'm the only one to geek out on this.)

Jayne had one strikeout (should've been two, I'm telling you!), but more importantly, she did not walk a single Stallion.  They only had four hits on the game, just one more than West Potomac, but South County did knock three of their four in a row.  Just as importantly as no walks allowed by Jayne is that the defense played another error-free game.  

Wolverine Whispers: Authoritative sources have confirmed for me that the completion of the storm delayed game from Monday night against Annandale (Wolverines lead 6-1 with two outs in the Atoms 4th inning) will be Saturday morning at 10am.  Or 9am.  (My sources are authoritative, but not in agreement.  In theory, the Big Manig will email us confused parents with the correct restart time.)

Don't believe everything you read. . .apparently the c-stores in Annandale are NOT being closed down, so coffee will be readily available on the morning you had hoped to sleep in because on Sunday morning you either have to get up and help fix breakfast in bed (dads) or eat breakfast in bed (moms).   Just remember readers, there is one Mother's Day and one Father's Day each year, but no Children's Day, because EVERY day is Children's Day.

Number Three Team in DMV Beats Wolverines

by Cindy Jackson

The Lake Braddock Bruins, ranked third by the Washington Post in the entire DMV, had to fight hard for a come from behind 7-1 in at West Potomac. 

The game truly was much closer than that score conveys. Aside from one crazy fourth inning, West Potomac hung tight with the Bruins and showed that they can hang with even the toughest competitor.

West Potomac was the first to get up on the scoreboard, in the bottom of the second. Raven Williams got on base with a hard hit to 3^rd base. After a few bobbles, the 3^rd baseman couldn’t throw Raven out in time.  Torie Bolger then came to the plate and smacked a beautiful hard line drive to left field, securing a double for herself. Runners were on second and third with just one out.  Raven then scored on a passed ball (we didn’t see too many of those tonight).  After two complete innings West Po was up, 1-0.

The Bruins didn’t get on the scoreboard until the top of the 4^th (West Po’s defense only allowed one runner to even get on base up until this point).  Lake Braddock put up 5 runs on the scoreboard this inning. 

The West Po defense did pretty well defending. Maddie Miller caught a fly ball in right field for the first out, which turned into a double play. The runner who was on second tagged up and went to third. Kate Gregory made a magnificent cut, and threw out the runner going to third, with the tag by 3^rd baseman Annabelle Miller. Grace Moery made the 3^rd out of the inning, catching a fly ball to center field.

Lake Braddock put up another run in the top of the 5^th, and then one more in the top of the 6^th. West Potomac got two more hits of the bottom of the 7^th.  Annabelle started off the inning with a nice single to LF, and Eliza Treadway hit a fly ball to left-center, getting a double under her belt. It just wasn’t enough to pull out the win.

Final score was 7-1, Lake Braddock.

Wolverine Whispers:  Summer arrives the same day as the first game against South County; the weather is forecasted for the upper 80s, so dress accordingly. 

Wolverines Better Remember The Titans. West Potomac Wins 6-3.

It was a T.C. Williams team the likes of which we had never seen before.  Yes, the Titans had played the previous game this season better than in previous years, but it took every bit of fight for the West Potomac softball varsity to win 6-3 last night.

With the win, West Potomac improved its record on the season to 12-2, including 6-1 in the melodically named "Conference Seven."  (If only we were in Conference 8 -- the Ocho!)

It is the Titans second season in their beautiful (and large!) ballpark hard by the train tracks, and they now have a team to match the quality of their field.  It took two runs in each of the Wolverine sixth and seventh innings to assure the victory, as the Titan pitching and defense was quite sharp.

During warm-ups, it was clear T.C. had come to play, but when the first two West Potomac batters scored in the top of the first thanks to a walk, two errors on one play, and a run-scoring groundout, it looked as though the Wolverines were ready to cruise to another win.  What started ugly, however, turned into a crisp, taut evening with perfect weather for softball.  (Editor's Note: one of the few times this season you've been able to write about perfect weather.  Reporter, lashing out: easy for you to say, you've been in the warm office instead of freezing your butt off or getting soaked by rain!  Editor: hashtag bitter.)

Nikki Minnis led off with a walk.  Grace Moery reached first on an error, as Nikki alertly hustled to third. Then, T.C. compounded their first mistake with another one, committing another error on the play.  Thus, the Titans allowed Nikki to score and Grace to reach third on a play that started with a harmless-looking bunt. Annabelle Miller grounded out to second, knocking Grace home.  Raven Williams followed with a single to center, reaching second on an outfield error.  The rout was on.

Except it wasn't.

The Wolverines did not get their second hit of the game until the top of the fourth inning. Meanwhile, the West Potomac pitching and defense cruised through the first two innings.  Jayne Orleans whiffed two, including one on a change-up, Kate Gregory took away a single with a beautiful diving backhand stop, pop up, and throw to first, and Maddie Miller easily gunned out a would-be single at first from right field.  The Titan hit the ball so hard that she was barely halfway to first when Maddie's throw got there.

But in the bottom of the third, the wheels came off.  Well, as much as wheels can come off when a team only gives up two runs in an inning.  But, since it was T.C., it felt like a "wheels come off" inning.  A walk, a sacrifice bunt, and a ground ball double down the left field line led to the first T.C. run.  The second run came on a pair of West Potomac errors on what should have been a routine out.  Suddenly the game was tied 2-2.

In the top of the fourth, Torie Bolger's single to center with a runner on second was hit too hard to allow the Wolverine to score. With just one and Wolverine pinchrunners on second and third, West Potomac was unable to capitalize and break the tie.  Showing the Titan difference this season, their shortstop ended the threat by making a difficult basket catch in shallow left with her back to the infield.  (Editor: Should we really be making value judgments about whether left field is shallow.  That's a harsh personal attack on an inanimate object.  Reporter: How did you even GET this job?  You have no clue what you are talking about.)

The second and third outs of the home half of the fourth came on sparkling Wolverine defensive plays.  A hard shot back through the middle was deflected by Jayne.  Nikki, changing direction, fell while grabbing the ball, but got up and nailed the hitter at first.  Then, Raven made a nice diving catch on a knuckler that could have fallen for an infield single.

The fifth inning went three up and three down for both squads.  The West Potomac fans were getting nervous.  (Editor's note: How do you know?  Did you poll them?  Reporter: It's a common journalistic trick -- take your own opinion of an event at any given time and project it to the entire crowd.  Editor: And you think I'm clueless?)

The top of the sixth broke the stalemate.  Olivia Manous smacked a hard single to left center, promptly stealing second.  Maddie stung a triple to deep center to break the tie.  Torie followed with a seeing eye bloop single that was as softly hit as her previous single was hit hard.  (Editor: "Seeing eye?"  Is that some sort of Donald Sterling-esque slur on the blind?  Reporter:  Sigh.  It's a common baseball term.  We really don't like each other today, huh?).  Kate followed with a single to left center to put runners at first and second, but the Wolverines couldn't blow the game open.

Down 4-2 in the home half of the sixth inning, the Titans were not done.  They capitalized on a lead-off single to right by stealing second and scoring on a two out single.  Thus closed the book on the T.C. scoring.

The Wolverines picked up two insurance runs in the seventh.  Annabelle led off with a double to the left center gap.  Olivia knocked her in with a single to the exact same spot she had singled in the previous inning. Olivia then promptly stole second again.  Jayne helped her own cause with an RBI single.  Suddenly it was 6-3, and there was a bit of breathing room.  Maddie had a single to left, but the team stranded two runners with just one out for the third time in the game.  West Potomac was just a couple of timely hits away from double digit runs.

Some day, perhaps even in the near future, T.C. Williams may beat West Potomac.  However, Jayne Orleans channeled her best Kurt Russell channeling Herb Brooks (goosebumps!), and said "Not this game, not tonight."  She struck on the first hitter on three pitches.  The second batter looked at strike three, but the umpire mistakenly said ball four (Editor: that's bold, yet oddly gentle, criticism of the ump.  Reporter: My source says I am correct!).  Jayne shook that indignity off by whiffing the next batter on a change-up, and then emphatically ending the game with one last K -- her third of the inning, and seventh of the game.

Wolverine Whispers: Two hits each were notched in the game by Olivia Manous, Maddie Miller, and Torie Bolger.  Combined, they had six of the ten Wolverine hits.  Clutchtastically (not an SAT word!  It's not even real!) eight of the hits came in the sixth and seventh innings.  With an uncharacteristic seven Wolverines striking out, Coach Craig will surely be working on a more aggressive approach at the plate going into Tuesday and Thursday's big match-ups.  On the defense side, Jayne only walked two hitters, and one of those was, ahem, questionable at best.

Busy week ahead, with three Conference Siete games on the schedule.  Varsity is at Annandale on Monday (Well we're living here in Annandale and they're closing all the c-stores down. . .but I am not sure that second line works. . .feel free to email suggested lyrics) followed by hosting Lake Braddock on Tuesday.  Thursday the team is at South County.  Playing the number three and two team in the Post's rankings back-to-back will be true test of the Wolverine team spirit.  (For folks not paying close attention, Annandale is NOT one of those ranked teams -- Lake Braddock is ranked third, and South County is ranked second).  Cindy Jackson has kindly agreed to pinch-hit on writing up Monday and Tuesday's games for the blog.

Conference 7 Standings as of 4/30/14

                                                   W       L        %
South County                              6          0      1000%
Lake Braddock                           6          1        857%
West Potomac                            5           1        833%
West Springfield                          4          3        571%
TC Williams                                2           5       286%
Annandale                                   1           6       143%
Woodson                                     1          7       125%

A couple of notes:

This represents conference play only -- NOT overall play (tournaments and non-conference games such as Lee or Mt. Vernon).

Coach Lee Harrington painstakingly put these together based on checking records with several sources.  Thanks Coach!

I think it is safe to say that there will not be a game tonight, unless South County is hosting one in their new indoor stadium (just kidding -- it only seems like they would have an indoor stadium with their world class facilities).

Thank goodness the VSHL changed the name from the Patriot District to something catchy like Conference Seven!

Swinging In The Rain: Wolverines No Hit W.T. Woodson 19-4

It was a dark and stormy night; the rain fell in torrents — except at occasional intervals, when it was checked by a violent gust of wind which swept up the streets (for it is in Fairfax that our scene lies), rattling along the school rooftop, and fiercely agitating the scanty beams of the field lights that struggled against the darkness.” — with "apologies" to Edward George Bulwer-Lytton.

Allowing no hits, and having plenty of their own, West Potomac pounded the Cavaliers 19-4 on a night more suited to bad writing than to softball.  The steady rain dictated game tactics, as Coach Craig Maniglia juggled his line-up and his offensive tactics to ensure the game did not have to be called for rain.

The mercy rule had a double meaning in this game.  It did not just mean the game ended after five innings because the Wolverines led by ten runs or more, it also meant mercy for the players, coaches, fans, and yes, umpires.  A lot of credit needs to go to the Woodson field for not getting muddy, requiring cancellation. And, credit goes to the boys in blue, who did not suspend the game despite the steady downpour.  Also, it was heartening to see way more Wolverine fans on the visiting bleachers than Cavalier fans on the home side.

If Lee was the "TGWBALCTEBTOTHIS" game, Woodson turned out to be this year's "This Team Is Not As Good As They Used To Be, So The Game Isn't Even Close" game (or "TTINAGATUTBSTGIEC" for short). 

Starting pitcher Jayne Orleans was dominant, facing the minimum twelve batters in her four innings pitched. Reliever Christina Dillard was not as sharp, having difficulty with the wet ball.  Christina did not give up any hits, but four walks, a bunch of slippery wild pitches, and an error led to Woodson scoring four runs despite having only six fair balls in their sixteen at bats.

The Wolverines stuck quickly, scoring four runs in the top of the first, whilst the rain was not too bad. Annabelle Miller started the run scoring off by singling with the bases loaded (thanks to an error and two walks) to drive in two runs. After Raven Williams scooted home on a wild pitch, Jayne knocked a sacrifice fly to center to close out the first inning scoring.

Jayne started off the game with two strikeouts and a walk.  The Woodson baserunner was erased by Torie Bolger to Nikki for the caught stealing to end the inning.

Kate Gregory started off the second with the first of her three singles on the night.  After three errors put two more Wolverines on base (yes, there were two Woodson errors on one play), the excitement of back-to-back bases loaded walks ensued.  Raven and Annabelle both picked up RBI with their patience.

Then, things got interesting.  Or at least I think they did -- my notes are streaked and stained by the rain.  I'm pretty sure what happened is that Jayne either knocked a green smudge or an RBI single, as did Maddie Miller.  Olivia Manous picked up an RBI on the team's second sac fly of the night.  Kate added a single to left.  While West Potomac was hitting the rain right off the ball, Woodson added five errors on the inning to let Wolverines take plenty of extra bases.  It was 10-0.

Jayne got a flyout and two groundouts to make short, yet increasingly wetter, work of the second inning defensively.  If there any great defensive plays, your faithful writer missed them for a work conference call (sorry, but my day job pays better than sportswriting for a softball blog!).

The top of the third started in a scintillating fashion.  Jayne's RBI stroll with the bases loaded was the fourth straight base on balls.  It was then that we realized the ump was in no mood to postpone the game -- the Woodson pitcher had little control of the wet ball -- and yet, fortunately, we played on.  Olivia's single drove in another run.  Her RBI single was followed by two more -- by Harley Devine and again by Kate, and the score was 15-0.

In the sloppy, rain-soaked bottom of the third, Megan Jackson made the play of the game.  With four runs in already for Woodson, their batter smacked a long shot down the left line.  Running at a full sprint, Megan reached up behind her and snagged the ball backhanded to end the inning.  A SportsCenter Top Ten catch.

West Potomac got the four runs back in the fourth when Olivia smacked a hard double off the left field wall to drive in two.  Olivia's shot might have the hardest hit Wolverine smack of the season so far.  Kate followed up with a two RBI single to make the score 19-4.

In an effort to speed the game up, Coach Craig reinserted Jayne back on the mound.  She whiffed two of the three in the fourth, showing no signs of the wet ball bothering her.  Meanwhile, Wolverine parents Jim Miller and Sean Jackson were gathering wood to build an ark.  After loading the bases in the top of the fifth, all three Wolverines were called out for leaving the base early.  The intentional outs (which were set up by two walks and a single by Jayne -- all hits get mentioned in these articles) sped the game up.

In the bottom of the fifth, Jayne threw two balls, including one that slipped out of her hand and rolled harmlessly toward the home dugout.  After that, she decided it was time to go home.  She threw nine straight strikes, none of which were even fouled off, to end the game.  After the eleventh pitch, and ninth straight strike of the inning ended the game, fans hightailed it to their cars to get warm and get home.

Wolverine Whispers: I'm not saying tonight's game at Annandale is not going to happen, but the weather service warnings of flash flooding for Fairfax County suggest it is, as they say at McDonald's, not McLikely. . .Jayne had seven strikeouts, while Christina added one. . .Kate went three for three with two RBI, Olivia went two for three with a screaming double and three RBIs (Editor's Note: Snoopy and Bugs Bunny in the same article? Reporter: I just need a Calvin and Hobbes reference to hit the trifecta), and Annabelle had three RBI and reached base four times, thanks to a hit and three walks. . .is it just me, or does anyone else automatically insert "Annandale" into the Billy Joel song "Allentown" anytime the Atoms come up?  "Yeah we're living here in Annandale. . ."  So, it is only me?  Hmm.

Eliza Stars on Senior Night As Wolverines Record Eighth Shutout Win

Sometimes, when it's your night, it's not really your night.

But last night, it WAS Eliza Treadway's night on her night.  As the sole graduating Wolverine on senior night, Eliza seized the spotlight by driving in the game's first run and then scoring the insurance run as West Potomac beat a much improved Lee Lancers 2-0 in a wind-blown home game at Wolverine Stadium.

We did.  Because she earned it.

Jayne Orleans pitched the complete game shutout to lift the team's record to 10-2, with eight of the wins coming via donuts for the other team.  (Editor's Note: Thanks, now I'm hungry.  Reporter: You used "shutout" in the headline -- I had to do something different!).

Longtime softball observers knew this would be one of those "This Game Will Be A Lot Closer Than Expected Because The Other Team Has Improved Significantly" games (or "TGWBALCTEBTOTHIS" as it is known for short).  Lee has now has six travel team starters, and the game was a lot more thrilling than those of seasons' past.  The Wolverines only managed six hits against the much improved Lancer team.

There was not much offense early, as Jayne had the only hit -- a single to center -- for either team in the first two innings.  Meanwhile, the Wolverines were cruising defensively -- one walk was all Lee could muster in the same timeframe.  Lee's only hit came in the third inning, but Jayne struck out her second batter of the inning to leave the Lancer runner stranded on third.

The offensive output for the Wolverines all came in the third inning.  Olivia Manous led off with a seeing eye single to right field, grounded between a diving second baseman and the first baseman.  A groundout moved her to second, but the inning really got going with two outs.

Eliza stepped up and slammed a single to center to drive in Olivia.  It proved to be the game winning RBI. Our senior smartly took second on the throw home.  Nikki Minnis followed with a single to left, with Eliza scoring on an error by the rightfielder for the 2-0 lead, which proved to be the final score.

Eliza singles to center to drive

in the game's first run.

The Wolverines had other chances to score but couldn't convert.  Annabelle Miller led off the fourth reaching first on an error by the shortstop, but she died there.  Leading off the fifth, Torie Bolger slammed a double to deep center that had a chance to get out, but the steady wind blowing straight in from center ensured it would stay in the park.  (Her father immediately filed a complaint with the Weather Channel.)  Torie's lead-off double went for naught, even with an infield single by Eliza.  Annabelle led off the sixth with a walk, eventually reaching third, but getting no further.

After a walk to lead off the Lee sixth, Jayne retired the last six batters to put the bow on Eliza's senior night and the team's tenth win.

Wolverine Whispers: The game only took about two hours, despite numerous delays caused by mini-dust storms whipped up by the constant wind. . .it will be nice when April comes back and replaces March. . .Monday's game has not yet been rescheduled. . .that was the first game in this writer's memory postponed despite a sunny day and a dry field. . .during her one hitter, Jayne whiffed six hitters and walked three. . .Eliza had the only two hit game for West Potomac. . .Wolverine defense played a steady, error-free game. . .but there were no amazing defensive to write about either, just good, mistake free defense. . .the tape of the game has been sent at their request to the Nationals so they can see what an error-free game looks like (Editor's Note: Now you are just making stuff up.  Reporter's Note: I'm just making a point about DC's team.  A bitter, frustrated point, but a point nonetheless.  If a team with mostly juniors and sophomores in the field can play without an error, why can't a team of highly paid multimillionaires?  Editor's Note:  Now you are monologuing!). . .see you Friday night at W.T. Woodson for the next game.