Having not played them yet during the season, the JDS girls varsity softball team travelled to the McLean School in Potomac to play the Mustangs with no idea of what to expect.
Yet, on April 23, in the fourth conference game of their season, the Lions bested the McLean Mustangs 27-13, allowing them to give members of their bench more playing time.
Though the mercy rule was ultimately enforced, meaning that the game ended after JDS was ahead by 10 points after the fifth inning, it was a full game in which both sides scored many runs.
The Lions got five hits in the top of the first inning, making it clear that the Mustangs would have to keep up if they wanted to win.
At the top of the second inning, the Lions were ahead 12-0. Freshman Selma Teichman hit a double to line drive to center field. Junior and captain Eliana Wolf followed with a single and a Runs Batted In (RBI), a statistic that credits the batter with one or more runs scored due to their offensive play. Then, at the bottom of the second, the McLean Mustangs got their first run and shortly thereafter their second. The Lions called a timeout.
Despite consistent pitching from sophomore Anna Polon in the third inning, the Mustangs continued to score. The Lions remained in the lead, and sophomores Yarden Wilkenfeld and Jordana Dauber each scored.
“We knew we were the starter team [with the stronger players], although they did put up a bit of a good fight,” said Wilkenfeld.
In the top of the fourth inning, junior and captain Tali Loeffler scored, as did junior Chloe Grossman. Additionally, several Lions stole 5 bases, which helped the team garner more points.
The fifth inning ended with the Lions ahead by over 10 runs. According to the mercy rules of the PVAC league, when one team is at least 10 points ahead at the fifth inning mark, the game ends.
Though the Lions ultimately won, the game was more competitive than others this season, as the Mustangs got more hits than the Lions expected. The game also gave the Lions a chance to experiment by providing an opportunity for players to try out new roles.
Head coach Thomas Worden, who has been the Lions’ head coach for varsity softball for eight years, saw this game as a growing opportunity for the team.
“I believe the most notable thing about this game is that players were generous enough to step aside and let players who don’t normally do stuff step into roles that they don’t normally step into and start to get ready for next year,” Worden said. “We had very, very good seniors leave, and the juniors have done a nice job of filling those slots.”
Not only have the juniors led the way in filling slots this year, but they have also helped to create a great team environment for girls’ varsity softball at JDS.
“There’s a tradition of just having fun out here, even if they lose a big game, even if they lose a championship, there’s tears, but then five minutes later, there’s happiness, there’s just a genuine love of the game, and I don’t see that very often,” Worden said.
The JDS Lions are hoping to win a third consecutive PVAC championship.
“We’re aiming for that [the third PVAC championship win in a row] so everybody look out,” Kelner said. “Keep your eyes on us because we’re coming in strong and we’re passionate, and we’re determined to win.”
