Softball: First-Year Woodgrove Clinches State Tournament Spot

Allie Reid held Goochland scoreless over the last five innings for the win.
(photo courtesy Carl Lukat/Loudoun Times-Mirror)

By Carl Lukat
Loudoun Times-Mirror Sports Editor
Special to VivaLoudoun

Purcellville (June 3, 2011) - Woodgrove High School softball coach Joe Spicer knew his young team was feeling the pressure early in a Region II semifinal game against Goochland June 2 that would advance the winner to the AA state tournament as region finalist, while ending the losing team's season.

So when junior Amanda Rathjen raced home from third base on a pitch in the dirt to bring the Wolverines even at 1-1 in home half of the third inning, Spicer looked into the dugout from his third base coaching box and jokingly said 'You can breathe now.'

His team responded, adding solo runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings while junior pitcher Allie Reid held the visiting Bulldogs scoreless over the last five innings.

"We came out flat and really struggled with some mechanical things," Spicer said. "The kids were a little panicked for a minute there. Once we got the run to tie it up, I thought they refocused and were okay after that."

The result was a 4-1 victory that advances the first-year Wolverines (22-4) into the Region II championship game and secures their spot in next week's Group AA state tournament.


"No one thought we would do this," Reid said. "This makes us so happy that we are going to states. That is what we wanted to do ... We knew we were good enough to do it, we just wanted to prove that we could."

Spicer added, "We were hoping to get out of districts so this is a bonus, this is icing on the cake ... We are excited about the opportunity to be there. A lot of young kids and their eyes are pretty wide right now, but we are enjoying every game."

After a long second inning where Reid was called for a pair of illegal pitches, issued two walks and sent a low throw to home plate that allowed an unearned run to score, the junior standout found her groove over the final five innings.

Reid sat Goochland down in order in three of the last five innings and allowed just an infield single in the fifth. The Bulldogs did threaten in the sixth with runners of second and third with one out following a single and an error. But Reid induced the next batter to pop up and struck out the following batter to strand the runners in scoring position.

"I was just focused on hitting the corners and letting my defense do the work again," Reid said. "I just made sure I jammed them a little bit, and went outside and threw the changeup to mix it up. It worked out in the end."

Woodgrove's offense never fully found its rhythm Thursday, but were able to score enough to earn the win. Sophomore Ashley Cole scored on sophomore Delanie Daughtry's ground out in the fourth; junior Katie Sholl led off the fifth with a bunt single and later scored on an error; and sophomore Mackenzie Moler scored on Daughtry's ground out in the sixth.

The Wolverines will face Briar Woods - a 3-0 winner over Orange in Thursday's other semifinal game - for the fourth time this season in the region championship game. Briar Woods - which holds a 2-1 lead in the season series - will host the game Friday at 6 p.m.

"We just want to have fun," Reid said of her team's mindset heading into the region final. "We want to get that trophy but it's all about getting ready for states and making our mark."

Read more of Carl "Slow-pitch" Lukat's great coverage of Loudoun sports at www.loudountimes.com.