Warriors play brain games

Westlake softball team has 4.3 GPA; stars bound for Harvard, Stanford, Cal and Chicago



ON THE FENCE—Westlake junior left fielder Summer Faille makes a leaping catch at the fence to steal a home run from Marmonte League foe Calabasas during the Warriors’ 3-0 win on March 14 on the road.

ON THE FENCE—Westlake junior left fielder Summer Faille makes a leaping catch at the fence to steal a home run from Marmonte League foe Calabasas during the Warriors’ 3-0 win on March 14 on the road.

SOFTBALL /// Westlake Warriors

The Warriors see light at the end of the struggle tunnel.

It’s hard to keep a positive mindset when you’re squandering leads, losing close games and battling a seemingly never-ending stream of injuries.

Westlake High’s softball team just keeps trudging along.

FINDING THE ZONE—Westlake High sophomore Alexa Campbell, who verbally committed to Stanford, is the staff ace for the Warriors.

FINDING THE ZONE—Westlake High sophomore Alexa Campbell, who verbally committed to Stanford, is the staff ace for the Warriors.

“It’s been one of the most trying seasons we’ve ever had,” said first-year skipper Bob Creamer, who was a Westlake assistant last year. “It’s been tough, but they’re hanging right there.”

Westlake’s compiled a 3-8 overall record, including 2-5 in the Marmonte League, while trying to get everyone healthy.

Three of the Warriors’ five league losses have been by one run.

Mental errors proved costly in a 2-1 setback to Thousand Oaks on March 16. A lack of timely hitting allowed Agoura to sneak away with a 1-0 win March 23. Westlake had a five-run lead in an 8-7 loss to Newbury Park on March 27.

 

 

“We know we can hang with these teams,” Creamer said, “and beat these teams.”

The Warriors are getting healthy.

Morgan Melito, a senior who patrols third base, is bouncing back from an ankle injury. The Harvard commit entered the week leading the team with a .462 batting average, 12 hits and six RBI.

Melito provides necessary punch in the lineup. The coach said Melito will take the Ivy League by storm.

“Morgan will break every record at Harvard that was ever set in softball,” Creamer said. “She’s one of the top ten hitters in the nation.

“She could have played anywhere she wanted to, but she’s a smart kid who wanted to go to Harvard.”

Lauren Jones, a senior center fielder, has returned after suffering a broken right arm in December.

Jones, who sports a 5.0 gradepoint average, was second on the team behind Melito last season with a .315 batting average.

The senior, who will study math at California-Berkley after high school, gives the Warriors a boost in the batting order.

“I think our team’s slowly coming together,” Jones said. “I think we’ll keep improving the rest of the season.”

Starting pitcher Alexa Campbell, a sophomore committed to Stanford, has struggled with back pain throughout the spring. She is hard to hit when she’s healthy.

Abby Hayes, a senior who patrols second base, will play softball at the University of Chicago next season.

Hayes, who hits .290, said she has high hopes for a strong finish.

“I think our hitting is getting back on track, which is very important,” she said. “We’re actually finding ways to win and push through errors.”

The Warriors haven’t been able to rattle talented pitchers in the Marmonte so far this year, but Hayes said the team’s ready to seize some wins.

“There’s definitely not one team that’s a guaranteed win,” Hayes said. “You always have to play your best. You can’t have an off day. All the teams capitalize on errors, so we have to minimize that.”

Jamie Goodman, a junior, is a mainstay at first base.

The slugger, who has three RBI, said the Warriors are ready to make a push.

“The first half of the season hasn’t been that great, but you can already tell in practice that we’ve been improving,” Goodman said. “It’s been showing lately.

“We’re a lot more relaxed and I think we’re having a lot more fun.”

Sammie Schalk, a sophomore pitcher with solid command, also earns starts in the circle.

Summer Faille, a junior, starts in left field.

Lauren Yarnell, a junior who started in center field while Jones was out, has shifted over to right field. She also contributes at catcher.

Maddie Charles, a junior, makes most starts behind the dish.

Emma Froemke, a sophomore, and Brittany Dinerman, a junior who patrols the outfield, share time at shortstop.

Marissa Mehler, a senior, also gets starts in right field. Merve Kocak, a junior, and Ylse Prieto, a sophomore, are reserve outfielders.

“This is one of the best group of girls I’ve ever been around, and they’re the smartest group of girls I’ve ever been around,” Creamer said.

Westlake boasts a cumulative of 4.3 GPA, led by Jones’ and Hayes’ perfect 5.0 GPAs.

The Warriors will need to use their wits to hit the pitchers in the Marmonte.

“All the pitchers are very unique,” Jones said. “They all have their specialty pitches. We just need to work on adapting to each pitcher’s ways.”