West Potomac Beats the Storms and the Atoms. Then Splits

The West Potomac Wolverines needed just five innings to improve their season record to 5-0 with a 17-2 win over the Annandale Atoms.  This improves the West Potomac conference seven record to 2-0.

The end of the game came just in time.  Within moments of Raven Williams snaring a smacked line drive for the last out of the game, the rain started coming down in buckets (not literally, because that would, you know, hurt).

The most stunning aspect of the evening was that it was not freezing, a sentence I won't be able to write about Saturday's doubleheader.  Dads showed off their pasty legs by wearing shorts for the first time since the fall (I'm talking about the season, not Adam and Eve, although the winter has been so long it seems about the same length of time since either event).  Daughters in the dugout weren't shivering for the first time this season, and moms remained unflappable regardless of the weather.

The game was pretty one-sided -- the Wolverines had ten hits and fourteen walks.  The Atoms only had eight baserunners, with five hits, two walks, and one hit batter.  It's kind of hard to come up with a humorous theme for a game that featured Wolverines getting four more free passes than hits.  The score could have been even worse had Coach Craig "The Big Manig" Maniglia not called off the dogs Wolverines.

A group of wolverines is called "a pack."  A group of

wolverines inside a pitcher's circle is called "a pack

inside a pitcher's circle."  We learn so much from this blog.

(By the way, it's not a complaint about the number of walks -- our hitters need to keep their batting eye, not get frustrated and swing at pitches outside the strike zone.  They were successful at staying patient.  It's just not the most compelling action to write about, as you will see below.)

Science humor alert:
Q: Why can you never trust atoms? A: They make up everything!  (So, I'm pretty desperate right now, as you can tell.)

Harley is still getting used to the

switch from catcher to second.

(Psst: The glove goes on your HAND!)

The Wolverines have scored at least one run in their first at bat in all five regular season games.  Last night's first inning run was probably the most unusual of the bunch.  With one out, Grace walked.  She went to 2nd on a passed ball, and scooted to 3rd on a wild pitch.  After Raven Williams walked, with Grace on third, Raven ran to steal second.   

As Raven was taking second, Annandale tried a deception, that, in the annals of trick plays, won't go down in history.  The catcher threw to the charging shortstop in an effort to lure Grace to her doom off third.  Except the throw ended up in left field, allowing Grace to charge home and Raven to move to third.  So, the Wolverines scored to lead 1-0 by earning two walks, taking advantage of a passed ball, a wild pitch, and an error.  

Grace scores the first run of the game.  

She only scored three more times in the 

game, as the Annandale strategy of

keeping her from scoring five times

was highly successful.

Jayne celebrated her 18th birthday with a 1-2-3 inning, including two strikeouts and a nice grab of a grounder by Raven.

Annabelle makes an acrobatic play. . . Of a foul ball.

Science humor alert:
Two atoms are walking down the street.
Says one atom to the other, "Hey! I think I lost an electron!"
The other says, "Are you sure??"
"Yes, I'm positive!
(Reporter: That one wasn't bad!  Editor: Maybe by your standards.)

Then things got interesting.  Well, no.  Not right away.  First there was the always exciting walk to Torie Bolger, followed by tension-heightening walks to Harley Devine and Jayne.  With one out, Nikki hit a sac fly to make it 2-0 without the actual logging of a hit.  So with two outs, the game was in danger of going into a bit of a torpor. 

Elizabeth scores the second run.

Harley scores the third run.

Natalie scores the fourth run.  (Are you nervous I 

have pictures of all 17 runs and I might include them all?)

But then Grace smacked a three-bagger to drive in two runs, Raven lined a run-scoring double that went to the fence, and Annabelle Miller eventually singled her in.  Finally some action that involved bat striking the ball and then hitting grass.

Grace fully sliding into third with a triple.  

(Quick, say the sentence really fast.  Get it?

Man, I crack myself up sometimes.)

Science humor alert:
A neutron walks into a restaurant and orders a couple of cokes. As she is about to leave, she asks the waiter how much she owes.  The waiter replies, "For you, No Charge!!!"
(See, a neutron. . .oh never mind.)

Annandale got a run back in the top of the second, but any threat of a rally was ended by a 6-5-3 double play.  With runners on first and second and just one out, Nikki fielded a grounder, went to Annabelle, who threw across to Raven to complete the twin killing.

"Go ahead, make my day!"

(For those worried it is an unsportsmanlike

caption on my part, it's a Clint Eastwood

homage.  Everyone over age 50 knows that!)

(By the way, two things jump out when you watch this clip.  First, the overt racial division in the scene -- it was the 70s, and that would never be used in a movie today.  Second, Clint only paid a dollar for a cup of coffee.  Starbucks would never allow THAT to be used in a movie today either.)

The third inning passed without either team making news.

The Wolverines padded their lead in the fourth.  The team's table-setters both got on to lead off the inning; Nikkie with a single to left center and Grace with a walk.  Olivia walked to load the bases.  Annabelle drove in a run with a fielder's choice for the second out.  Torie followed the Wee Wee Keeler advice of "hit 'em where they ain't" and dropped a single over first base to drive in two more runs.  Suddenly it was 9-1, as the clouds were continuing to gather.

Science humor alert:
What did one charged atom say to the other? I've got my ion you.
(With prom season coming, I HAD to run that one!)

Christina Dillard came in to pitch the fourth.  After two quick outs, two Annandalians (Annandalites?  Annandalistas? Annandalers? Annandaleish?.  . .I'm not going to sleep tonight unless I  figure this out!) reached first and second, but Nikki made a nice running catch of a liner headed toward center field to end the modest threat.

The Atoms imploded in the top of the fifth.  The first eleven Wolverines reached base, and the inning only ended when Coach Craig went to bunts and gave up intentional baserunning outs.  

Micaela Neulight reached on an error by the third baseman.  Nikki singled to left.  Grace earned another free pass (her third of the night, to go with a triple) to load the bases.  Raven doubled deep to drive in two more.  Olivia walked, Annabelle singled to right to score a run.  Natalie Lerner walked, Elizabeth Drotos walked, Christina walked, Micaela had an infield single to score a run, and Nikki bunted in a runner to make it 17-1.

Nikki scores the 11th

run of the game.

Annabelle scores the 15th run of the game.

(Sorry, I only have pix of six of the 17 runs 

being scored.)

Science humor alert:
Actually, none of the other atom jokes I could find are funny!
(Editor's Note: Like the ones you included are funny?  Man, this was a weak effort.  Reporter's Reply: Look, in my defense. . .well, actually I haven't got a defense.  These are terrible.).

Annandale scored a run, but the only thing that mattered at this point was to hope the rainstorm held off until the last out.  And it did -- and no longer than just after the last out.

Annabelle is excited about Saturday's 

triple header.  The concession stand

will be open all day!  Her teammate is

trying to be sweet.  (Sweet Caroline --

now that's catchy!  I can make money off that!)

Wolverine Whispers: West Potomac plays TC Williams at 10am tomorrow (Saturday) and Lee at 2pm.   In-between, Lee plays TC at noon.  With temps projected to hit a "high" of 44 degrees, the Spring Break Tournament is being unofficially renamed the Arctic Blast Tournament.  With all three games at West Potomac, parents are encouraged to stay for the entire tripleheader, as it will give the training staff invaluable practice at dealing with cases of frostbite and hypothermia. 

As an added bonus, the bounce from 70 degrees plus yesterday to mid-40s tomorrow and 60s/rain on Monday significantly lengthens the cold and flu season.  As a result, I've bought stock in drug stores, so don't feel bad if you get sick, you are helping me pay for our daughters' colleges.  (Thanks!)

The glove highlights last night were turned in by Nikki, Annabelle, and Raven.  Nikki made a running catch of a liner to split a modest rally by the Atoms, and she started a double play to stop another one as well.  Annabelle was in the middle of the DP, while Raven caught a tricky liner to end the game.

RBIs were recorded by eight different Wolverines: Nikki (two), Grace (two), Raven (three), Annabelle (two), Torie (two), Natalie, Elizabeth, and Christina (actually, my notetaking during the 5th inning was not up to snuff, so one or two of these may be wrong, but they are correctable.)

Multiple hits were recorded by Nikki (three), Raven, and Annabelle (two each).  

Jayne pitched three innings with three Ks, three hits, and a hit batter.  Christina went two innings with three strikeouts, two hits and two walks.


   

West Potomac Slams Woodson

By Special Correspondent Cindy Jackson

On what was another cold March night, the West Potomac Wolverines showed their depth of a team, effectively shutting down the Woodson Cavaliers.  West Po worked the advantages presented to them, racking up 13 hits for the night and utilizing their 18 free passes to win 17-5.  The first conference game of the young season allowed the Wolverines to go to 4-0 on the season.

Sunshine on Harley's shoulders (It's a real  old

song, kids.  No, it's not rap, so you haven't

heard it.)

Olivia Manous (pronounced ma-NOOSE’ - yes, the announcer put the stress on the wrong syLLA’ble) was the offensive star of the game, going 2 for 3 with five RBIs – including a grand slam homerun far over the left field fence.  (Reporter’s note: none of these stats have been verified against Game Changer; this reporter was busy multi-tasking, splitting her attention between jotting down stats, taking photos, fielding a long-distance phone call from her mother in Kansas ((Editor's Note: Hi Cindy's Mom!)), and tackling a foot-long sub.)

The first three of Olivia's seven

total bases for the game.

West Po put their first run on the board in the top of the first. With 2 outs and a full count, Oliva (ma-NOOSE) drove the ball to deep right field, getting herself a stand-up triple and driving in Nikki Minnis who had walked earlier in the inning.

The Cavaliers got their first hit of the game in the bottom of the second with a single to deep right field. Any excitement this caused, however, was quickly extinguished on the next pitch when West Po catcher Torie Bolger gunned down the would be base stealer. Wham, Bam, No Thank You Ma’am. After two complete innings, West Po was up 1-0.

Christina deals

It was the top of the 3^rd when West Po decided to unleash on the Cavaliers, scoring 8 runs. Nikki started things off with a line drive single to left. Annabelle Miller got on a base with a walk, with Raven Williams coming to the plate. Raven drove it hard to left center, knocking in both base runners and getting 2 of her 4 RBIs of the inning. After hitting several mean foul balls down the third base line (this becomes important later), Olivia reached first on a walk, as did Torie and Harley.

Is Coach Lee scratching his ear or giving a sign?

He will never tell.

Megan Jackson then came to the plate with bases loaded, and ripped a line drive down the left field line, scoring two and easily making it to second base. After a few more walks, and then some fielder’s choice outs by the Cavaliers, Raven found her way back to the plate. She got her second hit of the evening, earning herself two more RBIs.

Some defensive changes were made in the bottom of the third. Caroline “C-Bow” Bowman took over first base, Christina Dillard took the mound, Micaela Neulight relieved Annabelle at third, and freshman Natalie Lerner made her Wolverine debut, coming in to replace Torie Bolger at catcher. Despite Christina’s two K’s that inning, the Cavaliers managed to put one run on the board. After 3 complete innings, West Po was up 9-1.

Elizabeth awaits the pitch.

Grace Moery ripped one up the middle in the top of the fourth, with Nikki following suit with a single to left. West Po added another run to their total, taking them up to 10 runs. Christina struck out two more in the bottom of fourth, leaving the score at 10-1.

If Dr. Seuss wrote this, he'd say that it is

Natalie at-batalie. But, you are stuck with me.

In the top of the 5^th, Olivia hit a hard grounder to the short stop. Easy out, right? Nope. Olivia beat out the throw, earning herself an infield hit. Natalie then got the first hit of her varsity high school career, by drilling a hard grounder down the first base line (did I mention she’s a lefty?). Both runners were left stranded, however.

Elizabeth Drotos entered the defense part of the game in the bottom of the 5^th, relieving Harley Divine at second base. Christina had another strike out, but the Cavaliers managed to put their second run on the board, making it 10-2 after five.

  

The girls learned earlier this season than last

not to fall for Coach Craig's "pull my finger" sign.

Not much happened in the 6^th. Then came the7th where the girls took it up a notch. Natalie led off the inning with a walk. Elizabeth Drotos then got a nice infield hit, and Megan walked. With the bases loaded, Christina drove it out to right field, earning herself 2 RBIs. Grace then hit a sacrifice fly to RF, with Natalie scoring after tagging up. (This gave Grace 3 RBIs for the evening.)

Nikki and Micaela both walked, once again loading the bases. Olivia then came to the plate. She once again starting drilling hard foul balls down the third base line. Despite his usual cat-like reflexes, Coach Craig “The Big Manig” Maniglia was unable to dodge all these bullets and took one hard on the leg. Clearly feeling bad about this, Olivia made it up to him by driving the next pitch deep to left center, easily clearing the outfield fence. It was a GRAND SLAM homer for Oliva, giving her five RBIs for the night and her first over-the-fence home run.

Her teammates greet Olivia AFTER

she touches home plate.  No 

South County repeat here!

The Cavaliers put up 3 more runs in the bottom of the 7^th, but it was nowhere near enough, but cutting the Wolverine lead to twelve was not cause for concern.

It was so cold Suzy Chapstick

made a promotional appearance.

(caption by David Orleans)

Wolverine Whispers:  The next game is Thursday night, which is either tomorrow night or tonight, depending on when you read this.  Of course, if you don’t read this till Friday, than it was last night, unless, of course, it gets rained out, in which case I have no idea when it is.  

Now that I’ve confused you, the game is 6:30 at Annandale, which you can remember all night and day by trying not to change the words of Billy Joel’s “Allentown” to “Well we’re living in Annandale, and they’re closing all the c-stores down, jerky and Coke, and stale hot dogs, and we’re waiting here in Annandale.”

(As you are trying to get my insipid lyrics out of your head, feel free to thank me.)

Saturday will be the second day of the Spring Break Tournament, except no spring will actually be involved, as highs are expected to be a brisk 44 degrees.

Along with Olivia’s five RBI, five other West Po’ers knocked in runs, including Raven with four, Grace with three, Megan with two, Christina with two, and Harley with one. 

For the pitching line, Jayne pitched two inning with a strikeout, and two hits.  No walks or runs.  Christina pitched the remaining five innings, earning eight strikeouts on only two walks. 

Wolverines Prove To Be Ram Tough, Defeats Robinson In Cliffhanger

This team is resilient.  This team is gritty.  This team finds a way to win.  This team is blending experienced leadership with fresh face optimism.  This team can take a punch, and then hit back harder.  This team is the 2015 Wolverine softball squad, and after three tense, taut games, it is undefeated.

Last night, West Potomac beat the Robinson Rams by a 5-2 count, in a game that, by all statistical measures, the Rams should have won.  But they didn't.  West Potomac lived on the edge, playing Muhammad Ali style rope-a-dope to Robinson's role as George Foreman.  It's the third straight game the opponents have cut the Wolverine lead to one run, and the third straight time West Potomac added some insurance runs to survive the threat.

Four of the team's senior leaders

Oh, it's not the prettiest 3-0 record, but it is the grittiest.  And given the weather, that's more than good enough.  And, all three of those wins have come against teams that are likely to post winning records in their own conferences.  This is not some easy non-conference schedule to pad their record. Beating the trio of Mt. Vernon, Yorktown, and Robinson (I was tempted to make some joke about history at Robinson's expense compared to Mt. Vernon and Yorktown, until I read this link.  You should read it too.)

This team is not playing its best ball right now, but it's early in season that, because of rainouts, makes it seem as though they are playing a wearying game per day.  The team is being tested right now, and is passing each test, revealing its true character.  They are opportunistic, making other teams pay for their mistakes, and maximizing their chances to win.

Usually it take more than two numbers to tell who won the game, but this time it only takes two. (Editor's Note: Actually, it only DOES take two numbers to tell who won the game.  It's called the score!  You know, the runs scored by the visiting team, and the runs scored by the home team?  Usually that's a pretty good indicator of the outcome.  It's why it's always in the first paragraph of a game story.  You know, except this article!  Reporter's Reply: Work with me here.  It's really the first appearance for Stat Boy this season.  Editor's Reply: Sigh.)

Those two numbers are 18 and 2.  The 18 is the number of (alliteration alert!) Robinson Ram runners who reached base.  Two is the number who scored.  Fourteen were LOB (left on base), and two were cut down by three perfect throws (one was a relay).  West Potomac was not as proficient at reaching base, but far more efficient at scoring when they did.  Their comparable numbers are 13 and five.  The former is the number of Wolverines to reach base, while the latter is the number who scored (hence the final score, for those of you having difficulty following along.)

The game turned on one batter.  Starting pitcher Jayne Orleans, after being sidelined all weekend with an illness, gutted out four innings without giving up a run, but ran into trouble with two outs in the 5th.  Christina Dillard came in to play Mariano Rivera.  With the bases loaded and two outs, the Wolverines clinging to a 3-2 lead, Christina blew a fastball by the Ram hitter for strike three on a full count.  The team was one pitch away from disaster, and the tall, lanky reliever saved the day with one pitch (well, three pitches!).

But, we're getting ahead of ourselves.  For the third time this young season, the Wolverines posted a crooked number in the first inning, slowly putting pressure on the pitcher and the catcher.  The two run lead came courtesy of three walks, a single, an error, a passed ball, and some daring running by two Wolverines.

Raven loops a first inning single to short right.

Grace Moery reached first on a walk, which was followed by a free pass to Annabelle Miller.  Raven Williams pool cued her fourth hit of the season just over the first baseman's head.  Grace noticed the 2nd baseman couldn't pick up the spinning ball, and streaked home on the error.  Moments later, Annabelle took a risk, racing home on a passed ball despite the narrow distance between home plate and the backstop.  It was 2-0.  Jayne nearly made it 4-0 with a bloop single to center, but the Robinson outfielder raced in to make an incredible diving ice cream cone catch.  It was the fielding gem of the season, and the lead remained two runs.

Annabelle races home with the second run

I gotta think this is the worst angle the ump could

take, but the call was correct, so no big deal.

In what turned out to be foreshadowing, Robinson stranded two runners in their half of the first.  The Wolverines went quietly in the second, with the highlight being a stolen base by Nikki Minnis after a base on ball.

(Editor's Note: Like hits, all real Wolverine stolen bases will be mentioned in blog posts.  However, it is NOT a stolen base when there are runners on first and third, and the defensive team does not throw to second.  That is an instance of the wonderfully named "defensive indifference."  Ah, but who cares? Reporter's Comment: Most readers are probably, um, indifferent to that.)

Robinson then left the bases loaded on three walks.  One of the walks came in one of the most incredible pitcher-batter duels this grizzled sports blogger has ever seen.  Batting lefty, the Ram took a strike, and then proceeded to foul off a dozen pitches before earning the walk.  For those reaching for your calculator, that's 17 pitches.  Jayne had to throw 13 strikes, and the Ram still worked a walk.

This is what one of twelve foul balls

looks like in just one at-bat.

In the top of the third, the Wolverines took advantage of a Robinson mistake to scratch out another run and go up 3-0.  Raven walked, went to second on a passed ball, and scored on Caroline Bowman's single to center.

The home half of the third went 1-2-3, and it appeared Jayne had found her groove.  The fourth inning saw Torie Bolger's whip a throw to Nikki to catch a Ram runner stealing.

Annabelle singled with one out in the fifth to end a streak of six straight West Potomac outs.  She made it to third on a passed ball followed by a wild pitch, but was left stranded.

The bottom of the fifth started out with the best fielding play of the season so far by the Wolverines.  The Robinson hitter cracked one to the wall in right center.  Grace threw to Harley as the Ram charged around second, steaming toward third.  Harley threw a perfect strike to Annabelle for the tag.  Bang-bang play -- and the umpire, just like every West Potomac parent, signaled out.

This play was not just Devine, it was divine.

Grace to Harley to Annabelle

The ump makes the same call I made.  Smart guy.

(They are always smarter when they agree with me).

After a walk, the next hitter flew out to center, and things seemed under control with two outs. However, Robinson had other plans.  They rapped back to back singles, plating their first run of the game.  Then two more walked, with the latter batter pushing the second run across the plate. Christina came in.  Suddenly it was a 3-2 count, with a 3-2 score.  Inhale.  Hold.  Christina got the strikeout.  Exhale.

Moments later, the ball smacked into Torie's

catcher's mitt.  Strike Three!  Breathe again!

West Potomac survived being on the ropes, and then hit back.  Hard.  Really hard.  Elizabeth Drotos worked a pinch hit walk.  Olivia Manous, also pinch-hitting, used her power and speed to knock a triple to the wall in the gap in right center for an insurance run.  Torie Bolger then bombed a double over the left fielder's head to the wall, making it 5-2.  Harley singled and alertly went to second on the throw, but the inning ended without further damage three batters later.

Olivia steams into third with an RBI triple.

Torie steamed into second with an RBI double.

Natalie Lerner keeps her foot on the bag.

Also, watch the decoy by the second baseman.

There were still six outs to go, and it was not easy.  A two base error with one out put pressure on. The Ram moved to third on a groundout, followed by a walk and defensive indifference (now you know what it is), putting runners at second and third.  The tying run was at the plate, but the Ram grounded to Annabelle, throw to Raven, and West Potomac only needed three more outs.

Megan Jackson earns one of seven

Wolverine free passes on the night.

Christina earned two quick outs -- a major league popout to Nikki, and a Harley to Raven.  With two strikes on the third hitter, Christina threw a pitch that caught the outside corner.  Game over!  No.  Ball.  Give the ump this -- he was consistent all night, not giving either team's pitcher the outside corner.  Given new life, and taking away one of mine, the Ram player singled to short center.  That was followed by a hard base knock to right.  Finally, a comebacker to Christina, she threw to first, and the team survived to win again.

Micaela Neulight preps to pinch hit.

As President George H.W. Bush once said, "Nobody said it would be easy, and nobody was right."

It wasn't the prettiest win, but it was the clutchiest.  (Editor's Note: No such word!)

Wolverine Whispers: In another week jammed-packed with softball (at least the girls don't have homework.  They do?  Not sure how they do it all!) West Potomac travels back to Fairfax tonight to take on the WT Woodson Cavaliers.  (First time softball parents, do not confuse Woodson with HB Woodlawn in Arlington.  Or with HD Woodson in Washington DC.  Or HB Quick's, which was a Roy Roger's knock-off back in the 1980s.  If you can get google directions to HB Quick's, your computer is more impressive than mine!).

There is also a game Thursday, and two on Saturday.  After these tight games, our beloved Team Rep is thinking of selling antacids at concessions for the Spring Break Tournament.  Given the cold weather predicted for the so-called Spring Break Tournament, hand warmers might also be for sale. The lower the temperature, the higher the price (capitalism works!)

In earning the save, Christina went two and one-third innings, with one strikeout, one walk, and two hits.  Although it was only one K, it was the most important whiff of the season so far.  Jayne picked up her second win of the season, going 4 2/3rd innings, with two whiffs, three hits, eight walks, and one hit-by-pitch.

West Potomac had six hits and seven walks.  The back to back triple/double blows by Olivia and Torie doubled the number of extra base hits so far this season for West Potomac.  Caroline, Olivia, and Torie each had one RBI, while the other two runs were manufactured by alert Wolverine runners.

Wolverine web gems were turned in by combos last night.  The very first Robinson hitter laid down a nice bunt.  Jayne fielded it and threw a nice strike to Harley, who did a good job covering first. Second sacker Harley actually recorded three putouts covering first base, as the Robinson bunt strategy was blunted by the Wolverines.  Torie gunned a throw to Nikki to catch a would-be base thief, and of course, it the piece de resistance was the Grace to Harley to Annabelle tag at third. That's 8-4-6 for those looking for a Lotto number for today (don't hold me responsible when you lose, but feel free to give me half your winnings if the numbers hit).

The rumor is NOT true that the Robinson coach could be heard muttering repeatedly to himself after the game: "14 LOB! LOL!  14 LOB!  LOL!  LOL!  LOL!  (To be fair, though, who would blame him if he did?).  West Potomac got the last laugh.

Wolverines Successfully Blockade Yorktown

While the battle of Yorktown came in 1781 at the very end of the Revolutionary War, the West Potomac win over Yorktown came much earlier in the 2015 softball campaign.

The result was the same either way, as the good guys won back in 1781, and the good gals won 11-7 in slugfest in the opening game of the Spring Break Tournament.

The American win over the British in the battle of Yorktown took place in, well Yorktown, on Virginia's famed Middle Peninsula and changed the future of the world events.

The Wolverine win over Yorktown HS, which is based in Arlington (165 miles from the actual Yorktown), while probably not quite as historically momentous, still lifted the Wolverines to a 2-0 mark (akin to the U.S. record after the War of 1812, which were also back-to-back home games).

(Editor's Note: "Probably not?"  Wow -- going out on a limb there?  Reporter's Note: Do you wanna trade jobs?  Waiting. . .didn't think so.  Editor's Note: Moving on.)

The Spring Break Tournament game, which resumes next Saturday and the following Monday, featured a starring role by a new Wolverine, "Tarp."   Tarp, or "Tarpy" as it is known by Wolverine insdiers, kept the infield dry enough to allow the games to go on.  An army of West Potomac players, coaches, parents, and siblings showed up at 8:30 in the morning to first push a bunch of ice and water off the tarp, and then fold and drag the heavy tarp off the field so the games could go on.  The combination of strength and cardio needed for to move Tarpy provided parents with credit for having completed a Crossfit workout.

(It's NOT true that the Team Rep is planning to charge people a small workout fee the next time Tarpy has to be moved, although she did consider it.  Add the soundtrack from "Flashdance," and it would be quite the trendy workout that would raise good coin for the team coffers.)

(Editor's Note: Now you are just making stuff up!  Reporter's Note: This is my third year doing this, and you finally just now figured it out?)

Yorktown greeted emergency starter Christina Dillard with two quick runs in the first inning, but West Potomac rallied to take a lead it never relinquished in the bottom of the first.

After a walk to Grace Moery, Annabelle Miller forced Grace at second.  With two outs, the next four Wolverines reached.  Raven singled to right for the first West Po hit, and went to second on the throw to third.  Caroline Bowman reached on an error, as did Maddie Miller.  With the score tied 2-2 after the errors, Megan Jackson ripped a two run single to left to make a 4-2 lead, with all four runs coming with two outs, and, because of the errors, all four were unearned.

Yorktown scratched out a run in the top of the second, but a strong throw from Maddie Miller in right field to cut down a runner trying to go from first to third on a single ended the threat.  After the game, new Nationals rightfielder Bryce Harper (moving from LF last season) checked in with Maddie for tips on playing the position.

Leading 4-3, the Wolverines added a run in the home half of the second.  Harley Devine led off with a single, a steal, but was forced at third on a fielder's choice.  Nikki Minnis, who had walked, scored on a Raven Williams sacrifice fly, that came after an Annabelle Miller single to load the bases.

Yorktown led off the third with a walk, but back-to-back running catches in the outfield by Grace and Maddie quieted any chance at a rally, as Christina got the fourth batter to pop weakly to first.

Then came the big Wolverine inning.  The bottom of the fourth is the first time this season the team batted around, sending twelve batters to the plate and scoring six runs.

Maddie led off with a ringing double to center.  Torie Bolger walked, Harley reached on an error by the Yorktown infield.  Nikki's single brought in the first run of the inning.  Grace scratched out a walk for an RBI, Annabelle singled to left for a RBI, and Raven promptly singled for an RBI.  Pinch-hitter Olivia Manous drove in the final run of the inning with a single.  Suddenly it was 11-3.

But Yorktown refused to surrender (sorry, I can't help myself).  After Christina had a one-two-three inning in the top of the 4th, she was replaced by Micaela Neulight in the fifth.  Yorktown had the first five batters of the inning reach base, scoring three runs on three hits and four walks.  The key defensive play came with two outs out, as Grace pegged a throw to home on a single that back-up catcher Natalie Lerner deftly caught and applied the tag for to end the rally with West Potomac leading 11-7.

Micaela settled down in the sixth, allowing just a single to one of the four hitters she faced.

And the rest is history.

The British fife and drum corps did not play "The World Turned Upside Down" after the Wolverine win.  Instead, hard-working players, coaches, parents, and siblings brought Tarpy out for a command performance, rolled it, and put Tarpy back until it's needed later this week.

Tarpy: Protects Like the Secret Service, Only Duller.

Wolverine Whispers: Jayne Orleans missed the game with a fever.  In a spot start, Christina got the win, striking out three and allowing just one walk and six hits.

The next game is the Robinson make-up on Monday, 6:30 for the Wolverines' first away game.  If you need directions to Robinson, don't contact me, use your smart phone or your Google machine.

Web gems for the game were turned in by both Grace and Maddie.  They each had key outfield assists to cut short Yorktown rallies, and they also made back-to-back running grabs in the third inning to ensure it was a quiet inning for the visitors.

Maddie has the only extra base hit of the game, a double to center.  The Wolverines had nine hits overall.  Annabelle and Raven each had two singles.  RBIs came from Megan (two), Raven (two), Nikki, Grace, Annabelle,

Wolverines Win One for Hannah

The West Potomac Wolverines opened the 2015 softball season with a taut, tension-filled 6-4 win on a bittersweet, cold, and wind-swept evening.

Your 2015 West Potomac Wolverine Varsity Squad.

Monday is likely to include National Anthem practice.

The team survived an attempted comeback by the Mount Vernon Magic  Majors, watching a 5-1 lead melt away as their cross-town (cross-GW Parkway?  Cross- Route 1?) rivals fought back in the sixth inning to cut it to one run before pitcher Jayne Orleans came back into the game to strike out five of the last seven batters.

Sadly, Wolverine parents have failed to teach

their children the proper way to do "YMCA."

This is why important skills are lost over time.

The win over the Magic Majors was the sweet.

After the game, the team, their rivals, and fans of both teams stayed to dedicate the season to Hannah Graham with a moving tribute that led many to tears.  Hannah had been a West Potomac softball player, and a captain during the sophomore years of this season’s six seniors.  Hannah had also played for the Mt. Vernon Magic travel teams, so many of the older players on the Majors knew her well.

The Wolverine tribute to Hannah for the season

The Wolverines are wearing her initials, HEG, on their batting helmets for the season.  There is a banner to her on the Wolverine Monster – the large new fence in right rield, and a plaque to honor Hannah and her retired number.  Coach Craig Maniglia provided brief, moving comments in Hannah’s memory.

Coach Craig with Hannah's Plaque

Neither team was particularly sharp during the game, as the cold, wind, and opening night jitters combined for a sloppier battle than these two teams will be providing later this season.  However, along with the chills of the night, the action provided plenty of thrills.

Jayne started out the top of the first by getting the talented Magic Majors in a one-two-three inning.  The Wolverines followed by scoring two runs with just one hit, taking advantage of Mt. Vernon mistakes.

This is what 11 Ks looks like: intense!

Nikki Minnis started out her senior season taking one for the team.  Grace Moery used her speed to reach first on an error by the Majors first baseman.  The two runners advanced on a passed ball.

Raven Williams delivered the first run of the season on a fielder’s choice, and Caroline Bowman carried her hot hitting over from the scrimmages of the previous two nights (and from last season too!) by rapping a single to center, to make it 2-0.

Maddie tracks it down

Mt. Vernon scratched out a run in the second by stringing together a ringing double to center with a later error.  Jayne struck out the fifth batter of the inning to ensure no further harm.

West Potomac struck for three runs in the home half of the second inning.  Torie Bolger, who ranks as one of the 14 fastest players on varsity out of 14, somehow legged out an infield single to deep short.  While her pinch runner was forced at second, that left a runner on first.  Grace walked, Annabelle Miller hit a soft single to left over the 3rd baseman’s reach, and suddenly the bases were loaded.  Raven followed with a seeing eye hit to left for an RBI.  Then, Caroline added two more ribbies with a double that missed being a four bagger by just a few feet.  Suddenly, it was 5-1.

Nikki reached first, scored her second run.

The sun went down.  The mercury went down.  The fans froze (I hope that the players appreciate parental willingness to be popsicles for them, but since they are teenagers, probably not.  Some day, he mumbled softly to himself, some day!).  (Editor’s Note: Um, come back to us and write about the darn game!)

As the temperatures went down, both pitchers kicked it into higher gear.  In the third, Torie held onto a tipped third strike, and Annabelle made a nice catch of a bunt attempt gone awry.  Nikki’s single went for naught, as she got no further than third.

Due to budget cuts, Coach Maniglia did double

duty as an umpire, calls Grace safe here.  

(Editor's Note: For those new to the blog, don't take everything this annoying reporter writes as serious.  The Coach was NOT umpiring, he was just politely making a suggestion.)

The 4th inning passed without much harm to the softball, as both a Mt. Vernon player and Maddie Miller had singles in their respective at-bats, but were not advanced past first.  Jayne had her second one-two-three inning in the 5th and was cruising.

Torie had another infield single leading off the home 5th, and Nikki followed with a walk.  The next three West Po players were unable to do anything with their at-bats, and we moved into the sixth with the score still 5-1.

Raven awaits the throw.

The normally-reliable Christina Dillard came into to pitch the 6th, but the Wolverine wheels came off.  After the first three hitters reached, a Majors double tightened it to 5-3.  Jayne came back in to try and save her own victory.  The lead dropped to one on a bang-bang play at the plate.
 
With no one out, the tying run on third, and the go-ahead run on second, Jayne took matters into her own hands and got a K, a backwards K, and another backwards K.  Inning over!  Crisis averted!   Wolverine fans exhaled!  Coaching staff aneurysms avoided!

Caroline led off the bottom of the sixth by reaching on an error.  Fleet footed Olivia Manous pinch ran, went to second on a groundout, third on a wild pitch, and scored an insurance run to make it 6-4.  Thus, the opportunistic Wolverines scored half of their six runs in an unearned fashion.

Torie alongside the plate, not behind it.

The bottom of the sixth started scary, with a walk to the lead-off Major, but then Jayne got two quick outs.  After a single to right on a 1-2 count, the next batter whiffed on three strikes.  The game was over, but the evening was not.

The Majors and Wolverines shared

their love for Hannah together. 

Wolverine Whispers: In theory, West Potomac plays tonight, but the weather is not likely to cooperate.  Please remember that this blog is unofficial, and NO information about cancellations will be posted here.  (Basically, don’t trust, but verify.)  If tonight’s game gets rained out, the next game is tomorrow at 2pm; the kick-off game of the Spring Break Tournament at home.

Jayne finished with eleven strikeouts, including whiffing seven of the last nine outs.  The colder it got, the hotter she pitched.  She only allowed one walk (two total by West Po pitchers).

(For those readers not good at math, Jayne had an eleven to one strikeout to walk ratio.  In baseball school, they will tell that the technical term for that is “really, really darn good.”)

It was not a night fit for man nor fielding gems. . .Torie’s catch of the foul tip for strike three and Annabelle’s snag of the lined bunt were the relative glove highlights of an otherwise routine night.

Caroline and Torie led the way with two hits each. . .although they couldn’t have been more different.  Caroline slugged hers, while Torie had two more infield hits than expected all season.  Overall, West Potomac had eight hits, but also added two HBPs, three walks, and three reach on errors.  Caroline had three RBIs and the only extra base hit of the night (a double), while Raven added the other two RBIs.

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.