Sophomore Josie Westfall leads Hoover softball team to Federal League win over Perry
NORTH CANTON — Sunshine and warm temperatures have been in short supply so far this spring on local softball fields. Both could be found in abundance Tuesday as Hoover hosted Perry in a Federal League matchup.
Hoover sophomore outfielder Josie Westfall decided to take advantage of the opportunity. Westfall went 2-for-2 with two doubles and two runs to lead the Vikings to a 3-1 victory over the Panthers.
"I thought she played a really nice game for us and had some key hits," Hoover head coach Jerry Goodpasture said. "She's in her first year as a starter. She was actually an infielder we moved into the outfield out of need."
The position switch for Westfall has been a smooth transition.
"She's picked it up quickly and she fits in nicely with the rest of the team," Goodpasture said. "It's nice to have her speed and her bat at the bottom of our lineup as you saw today."
Westfall has just been trying to do her part for the Vikings.
"It's been a tough spring," Westfall said. "We haven't gotten to play much. It was just really nice to get out and play today. It felt great to have a good game. I was just trying to be there for the team when they needed me."
Junior Ella Letosky was 2-for-3 with two singles and two RBIs for Hoover. Sadie Carroll also drove in a run for the Vikings on a fielder's choice in the fifth inning.
Summer McCaw pitched a complete game and struck out six to pick up the win for Hoover. That included escaping a bases loaded jam with no outs in the sixth. McCaw was aided by Delaney Shannon, who dove to catch a line drive between first base and second base and threw to first for a double play.
"She made a great play," Perry head coach Scott Daugherty said. "Her first look was to third base but she still had the wherewithal to turn and throw to first after looking that off for the second out."
Perry was able to hit the ball well at times. CC Martin was 2-for-2 with two doubles and a walk. Paityn Conley was 2-for-3 with a walk. Hoover's defense seemed to thwart the Panthers at every turn with solid play. Perry's lone run came on a bunt single by Grayce Steiner. Perry stranded nine base runners.
"We fought hard," Daugherty said. "There is definitely a lesson you can take away from a game like this. Sometimes you can give it everything you have and fight as hard as you can and you still don't get the outcome you were looking for."
Hoover improves to 4-4 overall and 2-2 in the Federal League with the win. Perry falls to 2-5 overall and 1-2 in the Federal League.
Reach Cliff at cliff.hickman@cantonrep.com
On X: @chickmanREP
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Jose Westfall has two doubles to help Hoover softball defeat Perry
