Softball: Cougars Battle But Fall Short in Region Semifinal

The Oakton Cougars fought hard, but couldn't overcome the Westfield Bulldogs in their 4-2 loss in the Northern Region semifinal game Wednesday at Robinson Secondary School.

The game stayed evenly matched defensively for much of the game, with each team answering the other after each run scored, leaving the game tied at 2-2 heading into the fourth.

"They gave so much. ... They played probably one of the best teams in the state today loaded with seniors and they never quit," said Ray Gordon, Oakton's head coach.

The first run of the game came from the Cougars in the first inning after Emily Corridon, who has been virtually impossible to keep off the base path all season long, led the game off with a line drive single. After a sacrifice bunt from Emily Krisanda and a groundout from Allison Davis moved Corridon to third, cleanup batter Mandy Krage hit a single to right field to drive her home. 

Though Oakton's starting pitcher, Allison Davis, pitched a one-two-three first inning, the Bulldogs answered that one run in the bottom of the second with an RBI single from Alex Tenney to score Carrie Otroba, who had earlier reached on an error.

Three batters later, the Bulldogs added another run with a squeeze bunt from Caitlin Rudy to score Tenney for a 2-1 lead.

The Cougars tied it up again at the top of the third after Davis drove in Corridon, who had singled on a bunt, leaving the score at 2-2 until the bottom of the fifth inning.

"Emily Corridon is the best player in the state," Gordon said. "In this tournament, nobody has got her out. She lives on base, and we feed off her."

The Bulldogs' winning run came because of a throwing error when the Cougars tried to turn a double play on a bunted ball from Jackie Martinez. Instead, the throw to second soared into the outfield, allowing Martinez and Kayleen Bell — on base because of a line drive single — to score.

Davis pitched six strikeouts and gave up six hits in seven innings.

"[Six strikeouts] against this team is really good. They don't strike out that much. They make contact on everything," Gordon said. "There's no other pitcher I want on my team. Nobody."

The loss ends the Cougars' season with a record of 12-11-1 — a record Gordon is proud of because of the injuries and illnesses his young team suffered this year.

When he looks back on this season, he said he'll remember how tough they played down the stretch.

He recalled how he told the girls after defeating Centreville in the first round of the Concorde District tournament, "We will be the hardest four seed out in the state."

"Everybody who watched this team play the last couple weeks, they didn't want to play us," Gordon said. "As a coach that makes you feel great."