No. 1 Westview softball wallops No. 17 Barlow 9-3 in second round of state

The number one team in the state took a while to get going in the second round of playoffs.

But once the floodgates opened it didn’t stop.

Westview welcomed No. 17 Barlow with a wallop Wednesday evening, May 22, thanks to a second inning that answered a momentary surge from the visitors.

After the Wildcats took the early lead — a sacrifice hit from senior Bridgette Boling that brought home senior Sophia Groshong — the Bruins got one back. In the 2nd inning junior Charlie Renner smashed a home run over the left fence to make it 1-1. That could have derailed the favorites championships aspirations.

Instead Westview got out of the inning on a pair of strike outs and a cool nod from sophomore pitcher Ana Fifita; and then a well-placed single from senior Kallan Bordwell Gray that scored seniors Taylyn Lampo Kaiya Suyama.

Westview (26-3) beat Barlow (17-12) 9-3 in the second round of the 2024 OSAA 6A Softball State Championships.

It was a party for the Wildcats, as just across campus No. 6 Westview baseball downed No. 11 Barlow 6-1, after a strange twist of fate in the brackets paired the two schools.

Now the focus for Westview turns to a group of upstarts. No. 25 McNary pulled a mercy-rule 13-3 shocking upset over No. 9 Medford, setting up the quarterfinals bout. That game will be played Friday, May 24, at Westview High.