Westfield's Seniors Honored With All-District Softball Selections

Under Head Coach Dean Ferington’s direction this season, the Bulldogs finished 9-1 in Concorde District play. Even more impressive is the 32-2 Concorde District, and 43-8 overall record, the Bulldogs have amassed over the past three seasons.

Despite the amount of success that he’s accomplished during his tenure at Westfield, Ferington remains very modest about his achievements.

“The kids do the playing, not me,” said Ferington with a laugh.

While Ferington’s modesty won’t allow him to take too much credit for Westfield’s success, fellow Concorde District coaches will. Five other Concorde District head softball coaches voted Ferington the 2011 Concorde District Coach of the Year.

Additionally, a staggering seven Westfield softball players earned First Team All-Concorde District honors, the most of any team in the district.

Jess McNamara (SS), Jenn Goodman (P), Carrie Otroba (1B), Jackie Martinez (OF), Frankie Martinez (UTIL), Alex Bohrer (2B) and Alex Tenney (RF) earned the honors.

Jess McNamara was named Concorde District Player of the Year and Jenn Goodman was named Concorde District Pitcher of the Year.

McNamara led the Bulldogs in homeruns (5), RBI, and batting average. Despite finishing the season as the Concorde District’s Player of the Year, she flew under the radar of a several Division 1 softball programs earlier in the season, mainly Virginia Tech.

McNamara had her sights on attending Virginia Tech from the beginning, but was not recruited by them earlier in the season. However, Tech couldn’t ignore her talent for long. McNamara is headed to Blacksburg this fall as a member of the Hokie softball team.

“I’ve coached Jessie in little league so I know her very well. She’s just an outstanding player. She’s a quiet leader, but leads by example. She’s an even better person. Other coaches have commented on how fundamentally sound she is. She’s the real thing. Virginia Tech got a steal,” said Ferington.

Of the seven players given All-Concorde District honors, five are seniors. Westfield’s senior class will be remembered as one of the most successful in school history.

Highlights of their four seasons at Westfield include winning: two (2008 & 2011) Northern Region championships, three consecutive regular season titles and back-to-back Concorde District titles.

“We have high expectations of the softball program every year. They’ve won since they’ve got here, they know how to win,” said Ferington.

Following the Bulldogs’ victory over Chantilly, McNamara was named Concorde District tournament MVP.  Jenn Goodman, Keona Gaines and Jackie Martinez were also named to the All-Tournament team.

With a team as consistently good as Westfield has been over the past four seasons, it comes as no surprise that many of the team’s seniors will be playing collegiately next season.

In addition to McNamara, five other Bulldogs have signed national letters of intent to play at their respective schools in 2012:

• Frankie Martinez (Radford)
• Jackie Martinez (College of Charleston)
• Jenn Goodman (Queens College)
• Alex Tenney (Mary Washington)
• Alex Bohrer (Shepherd)

The curtain closed on the career of Westfield’s senior class on Tuesday  in their state quarterfinal loss to Grassfield . Despite the outcome, they leave behind a lasting legacy that will not easily be forgotten.