Jake LaBombard (15) hit the third of four Westfield American home runs to straightaway center field in this game July 8. The Westfield leadoff hitter scored four runs and went 2-for-3 with a triple in addition to his two-run home run.
WESTFIELD – The Whip City enjoyed a rare “off” day Monday as several youth sports All-Star ball teams recharged their batteries in anticipation of some very big games.
The break is short-lived for one local baseball squad, the Westfield National 11-year-olds, who return to the diamond for a Little League championship contest against Agawam Tuesday at Ralph E. Sanville Memorial Field on Cross Street. First pitch is at 6 p.m.
Westfield American’s 12-year-old team begins its jaunt in the sectionals in Wednesday’s opener at Pittsfield National. The game will be played at Clapp Park, located at 221 West Housatonic Street (for those folks wishing to make the trip north), beginning at 5:30 p.m.
If the Westfield 12’s win, they will play Game 2 on the road against the winner of Leominster National-Holden Thursday. If the Americans lose, they would host the loser of those two previously mentioned opponents, also that same day.
On Friday, the attention shifts to Bullens Field where the Babe Ruth Baseball 14-Year-Old All-Stars open play in the New England Regionals against New Hampshire. First pitch is at 7 p.m.
WESTFIELD LITTLE LEAGUE SOFTBALL U10 ALL-STARS
A whole slate of games is scheduled to take place at Bullens Field with Vermont-Maine kicking off the double-elimination tourney Friday at 11:30 a.m., followed by Rhode Island-WMass at 2 p.m., and Connecticut-Eastern Mass at 4:30.
The tournament will continue throughout the weekend and on into next week.
The city’s 13-year-old All-Star team is also set to write a new chapter in its 2015 postseason, albeit at a venue just south of the Canadian border.
The Westfield Babe Ruth 13s will travel to Winooski, Vt., just outside Burlington for the eastern regionals. The Whip City’s opener is against Maine Saturday at noon.
“The Westfield 13-year-olds have earned the right to go up and play in the regional championships with a chance to go the World Series,” their manager, Mike Avery said, Monday night.
“We are looking for donations to help offset the costs for travel and accommodations.”
Players from the team will be out seeking donations from local establishments, and at key traffic stops throughout the downtown area during the next 2-3 days.
The team has also set up an online fundraising account. Anyone seeking to make a donation is urged to visit “gofundme” at http://www.gofundme.com/zr58xs.
SOFTBALL UPDATE: The lone remaining local Little League softball team, the 9-10-Year-Olds, will open up state tournament play Saturday at Gonsalves Field (46 South Bedford Street) in Woburn, Mass., just north of Boston. Game details were not available at press time.
