Herndon Softball Gets Burned In Double-Header

Herndon dropped two games in a double-header against Westfield, Friday, to remain seeded last in the Concorde district with an overall record of 7-7 (1-5).

In game two, the Hornets began strong defensively and held Westfield to one run, while stranding five runners on base through four innings, until a steal by Kayleen Bell, and then a wild pitch by Sarah Kurtz, followed by an errant throw by catcher Heather Ferguson, sent Bell from first base to home.

With the score tied at two, Kurtz next walked Westfield leadoff hitter Jackie Martinez, then gave up a single to Alex Tenny, which placed Jessica McNamara at the plate with runners on first and second. McNamara wasted no time at all and hit a first pitch homerun over the center-field fence.

"Her change-up and her curveball were working really well," said Ferguson about Kurtz. "Her drop, not really, and her fastball was off and on."

Coach Roy Amps works with Ferguson to call the pitches and said that he still has not chosen a dedicated starting pitcher for each game. Thanhthao Le started game one.

"Both of them have been pretty consistent," said Amps. "We don't have a set number one, and probably won't. They've both been getting better every day."

The season for the Hornets has been a vast improvement over last years three wins, but this young team, which consists of only three seniors and one junior, continues to struggle with routine infield plays and Ferguson had trouble keeping balls in front of her. In game one, the Hornets gave up 14 runs on 15 hits and two errors. In game two, they allowed nine runs on nine hits and three errors.

Herndon began with strong at-bats, but failed to bring runners home, leaving four runners on base in the first two innings of the evening. The Hornets started the second game with four straight strikeouts and never really got going, outside of a two-run third inning that gave them the lead until the breakdown in the fifth.

Amps stated that his team needs to improve their hitting in order to finish the year strong and possibly get out of the Concorde districts last place standing, and he added that hitting has been the focus over the past couple years and something he expects his team to take initiative on.

"We as a team need to focus on playing good competition in the off-season in order to work on better hitting," said Amps.

Herndon's next opponent is Centreville.