Westfield Babe Ruth 14-Year-Old Andrew Tobis plays center field during a practice at Bullens Field yesterday. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
WESTFIELD – The New England champion 14-year-olds from Westfield are one week away from journeying on a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Starting with their early morning flight down to Florida next Wednesday, the experience of playing in the Babe Ruth World Series will be a reality.
With a week to go, the players have apparently not lost a step amid the celebration and fundraising, according to their coaching staff.
“The team is still pretty excited and wound up, still coming off the high of the victory Thursday,” said manager John Bonini. “It’s been a great experience for these kids. I think they realize that this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and they’re enjoying it.”
Westfield has had to utilize multiple late-inning comebacks to clinch their spot in this year’s World Series. After defeating rival Pittsfield with a sixth-inning rally to win the Massachusetts state championship, Westfield used a Mitchell Longley groundball single to defeat Trumball, Conn., 5-4 in ten innings and win the New England regional.
Westfield 14-Year-Old Babe Ruth catcher Nathan Boucher warms up the pitcher during yesterday’s team practice at Bullens Field. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
The Whip City squad will open tournament play on Friday, August 15, against the southeast representatives from Lawrenceburg, Tenn., a town south of Nashville near the Alabama state line. Westfield will play games on Saturday, Monday and Tuesday to decide their spot in the American Division.
Ten teams have clinched spots to Ocala: eight regional winners (New England, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Midwest Plains, Ohio Valley, Pacific Northwest and Pacific Southwest), the host city of Ocala, and the Florida state champions from Key West. Westfield (NE) and Lawrenceburg (SE) are matched up with Key West (FL), Southeast Lexington, Ky. (OV) and Aiea, HI (PSW).
The teams have been split in two divisions—the American and National Divisions—and will play round-robin games to determine the seeds of each pool. The bottom two teams in each pool will be eliminated, while the No. 2 seed in one division will play the No. 3 seed in the opposing division. The No. 1 seeds earn a bye and will play the winners of the No. 2 v. No. 3 matchups.
Westfield 14-Year-Old Babe Ruth Mitchell Longley makes a throw home during yesterday’s team practice at Bullens Field. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
“We’ve talked to managers who have taken teams to these World Series and each of them told us not to get overwhelmed by the moment just because you’re New England and you’re playing someone from Texas and California,” said Bonini. “We’re going in with the attitude that we can play with anybody down there and I truly believe it.
“There’s no question in my mind that our hitting will hold up against anyone and we’ll have just as deep pitching as anyone down there,” he said.
The all-stars have gotten quite a boost from the Westfield community, raising and receiving money to offset the costs of heading down to Florida. Many local residents and organizations have donated to the team and the gifts have not gone unnoticed.
“The community has been outstanding,” said Bonini. “The outpouring of support from the Westfield baseball community has been tremendous and the kids appreciate that.”
