Windham gets by Westbrook in first round of prep softball playoffs

Freshman Brooke Gerry winds up to pitch during
Windham's first-round state softball playoff game
against Westbrook at Windham High School on
June 8. Windham beat Westbrook 9-2 to advance
to the next round of the playoffs.
PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA  

By Matt Pascarella

The Lady Eagles softball team played their first-round playoff game, at home against Westbrook on Tuesday, June 8 and advanced to the next round with a huge win.

Windham had a 2-0 lead after three innings but in the fourth inning, Westbrook tied the game. Windham pulled away after a three-run home run from freshman Jaydn Kimball in the bottom of the fourth rocketed the Lady Eagles to an 8-2 lead. They held off the Blue Devils for the next few innings and won 9-2.

Windham’s defense was there from the beginning. In the first inning, after freshman Brooke Gerry struck out two batters, Kimball made the throw to junior and shortstop Amanda Foss who tagged a runner on her way to second.

In the bottom of the first inning, Gerry walked. She got around the bases and stole home on a passed ball to put Windham on the board.

Gerry singled in the bottom of the third inning, sophomore Ella Wilcox popped out to center field. Kimball also popped out, but Gerry tagged up and sloe home safely.

Westbrook hit a home run in the top of the fourth to tie the game at two.

“I knew I couldn’t take anything for granted,” said pitcher Gerry. “Before (playoffs) you want to work to get better. Here (during playoffs) you need to be the best you can be.”

After the Westbrook home run, Gerry said she shut down for a moment, but knew she couldn’t give up and needed to get back up there because her team needed her. Towards the end of the game, Gerry stayed confident and took it pitch by pitch.

In the bottom of the fourth, junior Kelsey Gerry and sophomore Hannah Heanssler both walked. Senior Shyler Fielding bunted and the bases were loaded. A pop up caught and Windham scored. Brooke Gerry singled and the bases are loaded again. Wilcox ripped the ball up the third base line and brought in two runs. Kimball stepped up to the plate and nailed a three-run home run. Windham now lead 8-2.

In the bottom of the fifth, Fielding walked, then Brooke Gerry singled on a line drive to center field. Fielding crossed home plate.

“We have to focus like every team is better than we are,” said Windham coach Fred Wilcox.  We didn’t have our ‘A’ game but we did just enough ... to get ahead and give us a little momentum.” He added they need to approach every game one pitch at a time and stay focused.

Windham’s defense kept Westbrook from getting around the diamond late in the game. After the final inning, Windham advanced to the next round of playoffs with a 9-2 win.

“Our defense played great today,” said Kimball. “That’s what you need ... especially in playoffs where (opposing teams) have seen Brooke throw and we need good defense to be there and have her back and they did that. That was awesome.” <