Westfield National pitcher Cam Hoynoski delivers a pitch against Amherst in a Little League Baseball 11-12-Year-Old All-Stars district tournament game Wednesday night at Mill River Recreation Park in Amherst. (Photo by Chris Putz)
WESTFIELD – The Town of Amherst must have missed the memo regarding an All-Whip City Little League championship.
Amherst upended Westfield National 4-2 in a Little League Baseball 11-12-Year-Old All-Stars tournament game Wednesday night at Miller Recreation Park to advance to the district finals. They will face Westfield American in the title game Thursday night at Ralph E. Sanville Field on Cross Street, beginning at 6 p.m.
Amherst opened with a 4-0 lead, and held on until the final pitch.
Liam Coughlin smacked a two-run line drive up the middle in the bottom of the first inning to put Amherst up 2-0. A base hit that took a tricky hop resulted in a 3-0 lead. A double, and subsequent fielder’s choice made it 4-0.
Westfield National responded.
In the top of the third inning, Dylan King and Dylan Arooth hit singles.
Westfield National’s Jared Noel, right, high fives his coach after rounding home plate during a home run trot in the fourth inning Wednesday night at Amherst. (Photo by Chris Putz)
Jake Jachym collected an RBI on a fielder’s choice for the first Westfield National run.
Westfield National’s Jared Noel belted a solo home run in the fourth inning to slice the deficit in half.
The offense came up just short of a full-blown Whip City comeback though. Westfield National also had chances in the first and second innings, stranding three base runners in scoring position.
Coughlin earned the victory on the mound for Amherst.
Westfield National pitcher Cam Hoynoski delivered a valiant effort as well, getting out of numerous jams and keeping his team within striking distance all evening.
