Sophomore Linda Pirro slugged perhaps the most majestic home run in Westfield softball history Friday night against Chantilly, but it is her pitching that has created the most talk this season.
Pirro's solo shot in the 4-0 home win cleared the batting cages in left-center field, Bulldogs first-year coach Dean Ferington said. And she has allowed just six earned runs in 65 innings for the defending Concorde District champions (7-2, 2-0 in the district), who are tied with Centreville (5-1, 2-0) atop the standings. The two will meet on April 26.
Pirro has struck out 54 batters, but she does not rely on the heat.
"I've been using curveballs and screwballs and trying to work inside and outside," said Pirro, who clubbed a two-run double and struck out eight last week to lead Westfield to a 5-3 win over Oakton. It was the Bulldogs' third consecutive win over the perennial power Cougars, spanning two seasons.
"Linda has just been on fire," said Ferington, who coached Langley for 10 years and led the Saxons to state and region titles in 1992.
-- Paul Bergeron
