Offense carries West Point softball to brink of title-game berth in Little League World Series

GREENVILLE, N.C. — Now that the bats are warming up — along with the weather — West Point is finding its comfort zone in the Little League Softball World Series.

West Point scored in each of its first three innings — highlighted by a five-run third — to oust Cranston Western, the New England Region champion based in Cranston, R.I., 10-0 in four innings in an elimination game Saturday at Max R. Joyner Family Stadium on the campus of East Carolina University.

West Point advances to face Pitt County in a matchup scheduled for noon Sunday, weather permitting. The winner earns a berth in the title game scheduled for 3 p.m.

Over the past several days, West Point has come a long way from losing its opener to West Region champion Willcox, Ariz., striking out 15 times in the contest.

“There were some nerves,” West Point coach Matt Maiers said. “I felt like the nerves were still kind of hanging around, but once we got over here, they started to loosen up. And the bats just came alive, and they started to hit. Started to have some fun.”

The pitching has been solid as Jayelyn Luft earned the win, giving up two hits, walking one, striking out five and hitting a batter.

“She’s solid all the time,” Maiers said. “She can fire it, and, with her speed on the bases, she’s a one-two punch.”

The defense was again error-free. But, again, the bats are coming alive.

Luft led off the game with an infield single, and Jocelyn Luft reached on a throwing error as Cranston Western’s shortstop tried to hold Jayelyn Luft at second base before an off-target throw to first for the attempted force out. Morgan Maiers followed by hammering a double to left fleld to score both Lufts and put West Point up 2-0.

Braelyn Graft laced a triple just inside the third-base bag to start the second inning. Sofia Porreca reached on a fielder’s choice. Peyton Reamer’s sacrifice fly scored Graft, Mia Graft was hit by a pitch and Lily Carroll singled to drive in Porreca. Mia Graft later scored on a groundout by Alana Graft to boost West Point’s advantage to five.

The third inning left no doubt. Jocelyn Luft crushed the first pitch deep into left field for a triple. Maiers followed with a single to drive in Luft for her third RBI of the game. Lexi Stabile, Porreca, Reamer and Mia Graft also had hits.

West Point scored five times on six hits, sending 10 batters to the plate.

“Once we started going, and everybody just kind of believed they could hit, it got contagious,” Matt Maiers said of the third inning. “Everybody wanted to go. One through 12 (in the batting order). They were feeling it, and it was a good day with the bats.”

Up next is Pitt County, the North Carolina champion which has three wins in the tournament — all ended in four innings or fewer by the mercy rule — by a combined score of 42-0.

“I think our defense is ready for it,” Maiers said. “They’re a tough team. We see what they’ve been doing, and they’re a really solid team. They’ve got three really good pitchers, and they have some amazing, so they’ve been tough.”

But after the game on a day in which heat — as opposed to the rain and wind of Tropical Storm Debby — became a storyline, West Point is looking to get some rest and cool off.

“We’re going to find some air conditioning, I know that, and we’re going to get out of this heat,” Maiers said, smiling yet serious. “We’ll go get in the A/C, watch the game back and take a look at this one here.”