The Westfield High School softball team got a superb performance from starting pitcher Bella Scipioni, while the offense was packed with power in a 13-5 season-opening triumph over the Union Catholic Vikings in Scotch Plains on April 1. On April 5, however, the Blue Devils were stunned by the Dayton Bulldogs, 13-3.

Scipioni pitched five scoreless innings, permitting just three hits and a walk, while striking out three Vikings. Grace D’Angelo pitched the final two innings. Lilah Reidy went the distance for the Vikings and yielded nine walks while striking out seven.

The Doherty sisters provided most of the power but the Blue Devils also wobbled the Vikings with a number of stolen bases. Quinlan Doherty went 3-for-3 with a solo home run, two walks and four runs scored. Erin Doherty whacked a home run, walked and had four RBI. Cat Heflin singled twice, scored twice, walked once, stole three bases and added an RBI. Naomi Kamins singled, scored twice, had two RBI and also swiped three bases. Gianna Puglisi singled, walked twice, scored once and stole two bases. Kayla Reyes singled, walked, scored twice and stole a base. Julie Kamins had an RBI single and Natalie Ardente walked and scored once.

The Blue Devils scored nine of their runs within the first four innings but the Viking pitching held them scoreless for two innings then scored once in the bottom of the sixth. The Blue Devils plated four runs in the top of the seventh then the Vikings scored their final four runs in the bottom of the inning.

Hanna Buniak had a home run and two RBI for the Vikings. Jules Hart singled twice, scored twice and stole two bases. Reidy singled, had two RBI and scored once. Aniya Fleming singled, scored once and stole a base. Cameron Kelly rapped an RBI single. Sarah Potts and Emma Kaminski both singled.

The Blue Devils could not make much headway against Bulldog pitcher Lila Carroll, who recorded five strikeouts. Quinlan Doherty doubled, singled and scored once. Alex Laguna went 2-for-2 with a walk, two RBI and a run scored. Puglisi walked and scored once. Reyes and Annie Reilly each singled. Scipioni and D’Angelo were on the mound for the Blue Devils.

Dayton’s Kate Buckley went 3-for-3 with a home run, two doubles, four runs scored and an RBI. Natalie Mignone went 4-for-4 with two doubles, an RBI and two runs scored. Carroll homered, walked, scored twice and had three RBI.Angela Gatto homered, walked three times and scored three times. Bella Pintado singled twice and had an RBI. Charlie Badalamenti had an RBI double. Alyssa Santangelo singled and scored.

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