The Westwood Softball 12UA Select Team continued its winning ways in the Battle of Boston Tournament, going undefeated with a 5-0 record, outscoring their opponents 68-17, and taking their second consecutive tournament championship on Sunday, June 26.
Using a combination of focus, intensity, and enthusiasm, Westwood swept the pool play games, winning the opener on Friday night, 14-5, against Impact R, a local club team. Brooke Poles homered and Maggie Ash had two key hits as Westwood never looked back.
Even an 8:00 a.m. game the next morning against the Show could not slow this crew down as Julia Tartufo shut down the bats, allowing only two hits and striking out five in a complete game, 20-5 victory. Mia French and Eve Clinton had three hits, with Clinton slamming a home run. Poles continued to annihilate opposing pitchers, adding two hits and two walks. Katherine Granata reached base three times with a walk and two hits, including a double. Every Westwood batter scored at least one run, with French, Clinton, Poles, and Granata each crossing the plate three times. Elizabeth Levering added a walk and played solid defense at third base.
In the third game, French threw a complete game of her own, allowing only three hits and striking out six against Impact W. At the plate, French led the offense with a double and triple and three more runs scored. Julia Raffoni reached base all four times she came to the plate, with three hits and a walk.
The 3-0 pool play record earned the Westwood squad the second seed and a rematch with third-seeded Impact W in Sunday's opener.
Alexa Ende was virtually unhittable, striking out 12 and allowing only one hit, as Westwood cruised to a 13-2 victory.
Waiting in the championship game was the top-seeded New England Storm, which had also compiled a 3-0 pool play record. The Storm were no match for Westwood, though, as Ende continued to fire strike after strike. With Westwood up 3-0 in the sixth inning, Tartufo led off with a single up the middle. Brooke Benger, Ende, and Granata reached base to set up a bases-loaded situation for French, who launched a missile over the outfielders’ heads for a game-sealing grand slam. Ende finished her second complete game of the day as she totaled 14 innings, 33 strikeouts, and only three hits allowed all weekend.
Throughout the tournament, Raffoni played great defense in center field — which was no small feat, given the hot turf surface and strong winds.