Softball: It's a Wild, Wild, Wild, Wild Race as Dulles Could End Up in 3-Way Tie; PFalls vs. BWoods Winner Tonight to Join Woodgrove as Champs; BR Still in Mix

(May 18, 2011) - The Dulles District softball race this season hasn't just been wild. It's been wild times four as Briar Woods, Broad Run, Potomac Falls and Woodgrove all enter the final week of the season with three losses. At times, each of the teams, has been the team to beat this season and on any given night it seems like any of the four can knock each other off.

Woodgrove (13-3) with a two-out comeback in the seventh inning Monday against Loudoun County has secured at least a share of the regular-season championship. The Wolverines will finish tied with the winner of tonight's Potomac Falls (12-3) at Briar Woods (12-3) winner. And Broad Run (12-3) can make it a 3-way tie with a win against Dominion Thursday.

A two-way tie would require a playoff to determine the district's top seed and automatic bid to the Region II tournament. A three-way tie would throw all four of the district's four bids to the regional tournament to the fate of the district tournament.

"It's been a great first year," said Woodgrove coach Joe Spicer, who moved from Loudoun Valley to start the Wolverines first-year program. "This season reminds we of the glory days of the Dulles district with all the very good softball teams. Back in 2003 we had to beat Loudoun County in the last game to even have a chance to advance to regional play, We were third in the district to Park View and Broad Run but ended up winning States."

Woodgrove was the team to beat after opening the year with 12 straight wins but then the Wolverines fell in turn to the other big three, losing 4-3 to Broad Run, 5-1 Briar Woods and 2-1 to Potomac Falls in a marathon extra inning game. The Wolverines showed their pluck by beating Potomac Falls in the bottom of the seventh inning last Friday, 4-3.

"This year has reminded of those times (of 2003). You had to face a Christy Anch and a Karie Morrison in 2003 and now you have Macy Jones and Heather Kiefer and lots of other very good players," said Spicer. "Every night has been a dog fight it seems. Any team could come out of the district playoffs."

The Wolverines main goal was establish a winning tradition and in turn they will be hanging a title banner in the school's gym.

"Our main goal for Woodgrove this year was to establish a winning tradition and compete with the "name" schools and I think the girls have fought very hard to accomplish that," said Spicer. "We wanted to start a buzz about our school and I think other schools now know who we are, if not where we are, out here in the country."

Even with a share of the district title, the Wolverines may not have a Region II bid in hand should a 3-way tie scenario come true.

"We would very much like to get to the regionals in our first year but it not going to be easy. It took everything we had to win at Loudoun County the other night and we might have to see them again, but not bad for a first year (program)," said Spicer.