Jimmy Hagan went 3-for-3 from the plate, reaching on two singles and a double in Westfield’s 3-1 loss to Pittsfield. Hagan had three of the five total hits given up by Pittsfield pitcher Ian Benoit.
WESTFIELD – Regional Babe Ruth rivals Westfield and Pittsfield engaged in a tight pitchers’ duel Friday night at Bullens Field, but costly errors and some well-executed small ball from the visitors gave the 14-year-old All-Stars a tough 3-1 loss.
Spencer Cloutier and Pittsfield’s Ian Benoit both pitched complete games and the bottom of Pittsfield’s order manufactured all three runs to give the visitors a 1-0 lead in a two-game series before both teams head to the State tournament.
Pittsfield’s Cedric Rose tagged out Westfield’s Carter Cousins in the first inning, helping Pittsfield strand three Westfield runners. Westfield left eight runners on base in their 3-1 loss to Pittsfield.
Cloutier earned the tough loss for Westfield, pitching seven innings and allowing two earned runs on six hits, while striking out five Pittsfield batters. Cloutier didn’t receive help from the defense, which committed four errors to help extend Pittsfield’s threats.
Tied 1-1 heading into the final frame, the visitors’ first three batters loaded the bases on a fielding error and two singles. After Cloutier struck out Paul Wales, Jon Halse executed a successful suicide squeeze, plating pinch-runner Hayden Harrington who just beat the throw to the plate.
Benoit then helped his cause by driving in Carter Matthews on a sacrifice fly to centerfield, extending the Pittsfield lead to 3-1. Benoit earned the victory by allowing five Westfield hits and striking out four batters across his seven innings of work.
Pittsfield opened the scoring in the second inning, plating a run with the help of two throwing errors. Jon Cracolici singled with one out, then advanced to second on an errant pickoff attempt. One batter later, Matthews hit a squib infield single down the third base line, which forced Cloutier to make another errant throw past first base, allowing Cracalici to score.
Westfield would tie the score at one apiece in the bottom of the third inning. After Mike Lurgio reached on a hit-by-pitch and then stole second base, Jimmy Hagan lined a RBI double to plate Lurgio. Hagan went 3-for-3 from the plate to lead Westfield, recording three of the five hits for the hosts.
Westfield left eight men on base, including five runners in scoring position. Westfield loaded the bases in the first inning and had runners on second and third base in the fourth inning–both with two outs–but Benoit and the Pittsfield defense shut down every threat Westfield made.
