WLL Majors softball All-Stars hold off Westbrook to advance in tournament

Windham seventh-grader Kaylee Napolitano attempts to
tag out a Westbrook runner trying to steal third base in a
District 6 Majors Division All-Star softball tournament
game on Tuesday, July 5 at the Westbrook Little League
Complex. PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA

By Matt Pascarella 

It was down to the wire in this elimination District 6 All-Star Majors division softball game where both Windham and Westbrook had lost one game, but defense made the difference as Windham took a 5-1 win and continued to advance in the tournament.

Windham took a two-run lead early on. The Lady Eagle defense did not allow Westbrook to cross the plate more than once at the Westbrook Little League Complex.

After this awesome win, Windham seventh-grader Kiley Card was awarded the game MVP. Card went three for four at the plate and scored two runs.

“Going into today’s game I didn’t know I was leading off, so I got a little nervous,” said Card. “Once I got up there, I was all pumped up and I was just ready to play my game.”

Card said they all worked together to get the win. They lifted each other up. Hitting went well and her teammates made a lot of contact with the ball. 

Card tripled in the first inning. A ground out from Windham seventh-grader Sarah Smyth brought Card home.

“Our defense was phenomenal, and we got the bats going early,” said Smyth. “Right off the bat we scored runs and we locked down defense. We always just got back up; if we bobbled the ball, we stuck with it and got the outs. I knew this was a big game and we had to come out strong.”

Windham sixth-grader Eliana Kostopoulos walked, then seventh-grader Ava Cole reached first base on an error. Kostopoulos later stole home.

Westbrook scored their only run of the game in the bottom of the first inning.

After three scoreless innings, Card singled in the top of the fifth inning. Kostopoulos walked. Cole singled and Card scored.

Seventh-grader Kaylee Napolitano doubled and brought in Cole and Kostopoulos.

Napolitano said she was nervous going into this game but knew they could get the win if they tried their hardest, did their best and had a good mindset from the start. She said Windham kept their heads up all game and did well on defense.

After Windham defense shut Westbrook down in the bottom of the fifth inning, Westbrook’s final chance to score in the bottom of the sixth inning was met with three consecutive outs after a single.

Windham Little League Majors Division All-Star softball coach Gina Kostopoulos said the team won 100 percent because of their attitudes. They kept their energy high from first pitch to last pitch; they all came out to play.

She said that first big hit made a difference; getting on the scoreboard early and battling from there trying to win one inning at a time. <