Westfield’s Grace Tempelton connects on a hit earlier this season. Templeton heated up again at the plate Thursday. (Photo by Liam Sheehan)
WESTFIELD – Sometimes it takes warm weather for batters to get a bit warmed up. That appears to be the case – at least on Thursday – for the Westfield High School softball team.
Westfield exploded for 12 runs in the fourth inning en route to a 14-1 win in five innings (mercy rule) over visiting Belchertown.
The entire lineup – batters No. 1-9 – contributed to the victory.
“We needed a game like this to get our confidence back,” said Westfield coach Mary Seid, whose team has been scuffling to gain any traction after a delayed start to the season (snow/rain/poor field conditions).
Although they are defending champions, the Bombers are nearly an entirely new unit after several players graduated in 2014. The players they do have shined brightly against Belchertown.
Karly Mastello, Grace Templeton, Sam Schieppe, and Mo Shia all had multiple hits. Templeton and Mastello also scored three runs apiece. Natasha Alverio continued to be a solid force, hitting in the nine spot in the lineup as well.
“That kind of consistency just brings the whole team together,” coach Seid said of Alverio’s contributions.
Nicole Clemente was solid pitching on the mound for Westfield.
“(Clemente) kept our defense focused,” Seid said.
Gators blanked
Granby 19, Gateway 0
Gateway suffered a tough loss on the road Thursday.
BASEBALL
Late burst sinks WHS
Cathedral 6, Westfield 0
It was a 1-0 pitching duel up until the sixth inning when Cathedral scored five runs to break the game wide open.
Anthony Riga went 2-for-3 to lead Westfield.
