Bittersweet. Meat left on the bone. A season of ‘what if?’
“Every which way you describe,” Westfield softball coach Caitlin Cheddar said, “it is true.”
Those are the thoughts of a Westfield program that, two years ago, was one of the state’s top programs en route to a 21-3 record.
But the focus was not on those 21 wins—rather its the 3 losses that the Blue Devils haven’t had a chance to redeem.
A loss to Bayonne, which would turn out to be its only one of the 2019 regular season. A defeat at the hands of Roselle Park, which stopped Westfield’s bid for its first Union County Tournament title since 2014. And its final setback, a loss to 5th-seeded Columbia in the North 2, Group 4 state tournament semifinals.
It’s a heartache that was extended with last year’s cancelation of the 2020 spring season and one that has added even more fuel to the fire for a Westfield team that, like in 2019, is off to a fast start with 9 consecutive wins, including Thursday’s 11-1 win over Elizabeth.
The motivation for that 2019 squad that fell just short was for a senior class that included stars Julia Romano, Erica Lawrence and Genevieve Howell.
Now, on a roster with just two contributing underclassmen, this edition of Westfield is keeping the same message.
“We wanted to win for our two seniors. Everyone looked up to them and we wanted to win it for them,” current junior Alivia Macaluso, who had a team-high 4 RBIs in the win Thursday, said. “This year we want to win it for those seniors again. We just want to win. That’s what Westfield is. We want to win.”
The highs of 2019 were just that. Westfield rose to No. 10 in the state rankings following a 13-game winning streak out of the gate which included a victory over eventual Group 3 champion Middletown North.
But all of those positives have been washed away from the results of those three games. And it’s a conversation that has continued for nearly two years as Westfield looks to right those few wrongs of the 2019 season.
“It just came up in post game. We find ourselves saying it a lot because it’s something that...it’s awesome to win season titles. It means you have endurance and it means you’re able to start and end strong,” Cheddar said. “But there’s something about doing the little things right and competing in the moment. That’s what wins important games. And we’re hoping we can be that team this year.”
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Bitter taste from 2019 fueling yet another fast Westfield softball start - nj.com
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