WESTFIELD – The 11-year-old Little League District 2 Championship game was on the line at Ralph E. Sanville Memorial Field on Saturday morning.
Westfield National came onto the field as visitors to their Whip City rival, Westfield American, looking to avenge the 6-3 loss that Westfield American handed them last week.
Westfield National was able to have the revenge become a reality as they defeated Westfield American 7-4 and became the District 2 Champions.
The Westfield National 11-Year-old team poses for a picture with their championship banner. (Photo by Marc St. Onge)
“I kept telling these guys all week after we beat Agawam in the semifinals, “It’s our turn,”” said Westfield National Manager Shane Collins. “It’s our turn, let’s go out and take it, and they sure did,” said Collins.
Ryder Pieczarka went out to the mound for Westfield National with the 7-4 lead looking to close out the victory. It certainly wasn’t a one, two, three, inning as Westfield American wasn’t going to surrender easily.
Liam Poole led off the rally with a pop up just past home plate that wasn’t caught and allowed Poole to reach first base. Ryan LaPoint then doubled to advance Poole to third base. A sacrifice fly from Sean Roselli allowed Poole to score. But, Westfield National strongly believed that Poole tagged up early so they tagged third base and were able to get the double play in result of that. Pieczarka was able to finish the opponent with a fly out.
In the middle of a 1-1 tie after two innings of play, Westfield National broke the game open. Cam Lisowski singled to left field and then Collins doubled. Anthony Schabowski followed it up with a double to score both Lisowski and Cody Collins. Ethan Porter kept the hitting streak going with a groundout to first base which allowed Schabowski to cross home plate and open up the game at 4-1.
The three hits and three runs in the inning that Westfield National put up off top pitcher Jay Scherpa was a very important part to the game.
“We faced Jay Scherpa, their ace,” said Collins. “We prepared for him, we knew we were going to put the ball in against him today.”
Westfield National’s Anthony Schabowski slides into third base as Westfield American’s Liam Poole looks to apply the tag. (Photo by Marc St. Onge)
The three-run lead for Westfield National would not stay intact as Westfield American was hungry to get back into the ball game.
In the bottom half of the third, Nick Lenfest laid down a beautiful bunt single in order to take first base. Patrick Flaherty then doubled to allow Lenfest to reach third base. Scherpa then doubled to score two runs and cut that Westfield National deficit to one run.
The rally wasn’t finished quite yet as Jacob Wagner singled to right field to score Sherpa and tie this contest up.
Westfield National had to keep their composure and become resilient after giving up the three runs.
“When they came off the field, the heads weren’t hung, I knew we were alright,” said Collins. “I knew it was going to be a dog fight.”
It then became rather clear that the heads were not hung and in fact leveled. In the top of the fifth, National managed to break the tie with a single from Pieczarka that scored Schabowski. Pieczarka then produced runs of his own with a single up the right side in the top of the sixth that would add the two insurance runs that were needed.
“We got some real timely hits in the top of the sixth to give us a little bit of a cushion,” said Collins.
Collins couldn’t have been more proud of his team for the way they finished off the game and ultimately earned the championship.
Players from Westfield National run out onto the field to celebrate the championship victory. (Photo by Marc St. Onge)
“It is awesome, I love these group of kids,” said Collins. “They have worked so hard.”
Westfield National will now attempt to ride their championship momentum into the sectionals as they will play at their home field, Paper Mill Field, on Wednesday night at 5:30 p.m. against a team to be determined.
