Softball: Cougars Head to Region Semifinals

For the second consecutive year, the Oakton High softball team has advanced to the Northern Region's final four — and this time around, they plan to win it all.

"I can't think of a better team to help us finally get there. A lot of people know that with the seniors we have and the energy we have, this may be the best team Oakton will have for a while," said Emily Corridon, a senior All-District center fielder and co-captain. 

The Cougars shut out the National District Champions Hayfield Hawks 6-0 on Monday in the Northern Region Tournament's second round, overcoming the Hawks' starting pitcher Taylor Neuhart's nine strikeouts.

Allison Davis pitched a two-hit, 11-strikeout shutout for the Cougars, as the offense racked up six runs — two unearned — on five hits.

"Allison was on today. She was having a hard time earlier in the game gripping her changeup, but other than that she was [in the zone]," Coach Ray Gordon said. "... When Allison is on and if we catch the ball, we're pretty hard to beat because we're going to put some balls in play and usually score runners."

The Cougars scored their first run in the top of the first inning, taking advantage of a dropped fly ball in right field to score Emily Corridon, who stood at third base after hitting a single then advancing on a sacrifice bunt and groundout. 

Mary Kate Mehegan drove in the Cougars' second run in the next inning, scoring Alana Peters who walked and then reached third on an error.

The Cougars' last four runs came in the fourth inning. Peters led off with a walk, then advanced to second base on a groundout. Mehegan also walked, and both runners advanced on another groundout. With two outs, Becky Cerva hit a line drive single for an RBI and Davis followed with a line drive double to knock in two more. Emily Krisanda, who led the Concorde District in RBI, traded places Davis with a double of her own. 

The game remained at 6-0. 

The Cougars will make their second appearance in two years in the Northern Region Tournament semifinals at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday at Madison High, where they'll face Patriot District Champions South County.

The Cougar squad has not had a major change to its roster since last year's final four appearance and proved in the regular season they have only gotten better, now more skilled at giving Davis, their sophomore phenom pitcher, run support while limiting defensive errors.  

"One of our T-shirts has the word 'Finish' on the back of it. We were two innings away from going to states last year, and we didn't finish," Gordon said. "... Our goals have been the same. We're going to finish. We've got another tough game, South County is a really good team. Our goals haven't changed. These girls are pretty locked in."

Despite their 11-3 regular season, including a 9-1 run through Concorde District opponents, the Cougars still feel like outside expectations for their chances at an extended postseason are low. But their own expectations put them in the running for a state title.

"I like that nobody is thinking about us. It means we can just go in and work hard, not worry about anyone else," Corridon said. "We want to be in the final two of the region so we can move onto state. The closer we get, the more we feel it. The region final may be on prom night, but that's where we want to be."

The last, and only, time the Cougars claimed the Northern Region Championship was in 2001, long before anyone on the roster or coaching staff was affiliated with the team.

"I think if we just go in there thinking, 'OK, this is going to be a good team, but we are the best team around,' we can do it. I mean, the less we think, the better it goes, really," Corridon said.