NORTHBOROUGH – Like a fine-tuned car, the Westfield 14U Babe Ruth tournament team (Westfield Wolf Pack) continues to adjust all of its working parts in anticipation of the Big Game.
Westfield began its final tournament prior to taking the field for the Babe Ruth Baseball 14 Year-Old World Series (Aug. 11-18) in the Mid-Summer World Series Monday at the New England Baseball Complex. The Wolf Pack lost their opener to the Adirondack Heat (N.Y.), 11-0, and the Dugout Dawgs (Cape Cod), 5-3.
In the first game, Colby Gazda and Matt Pelletier landed the only base hits for Westfield while the team struggled to get its offense on track in the all-wooden bat tournament.
“It’s a smaller sweet spot and less forgiving than a metal bat,” Westfield Wolf Pack manager Matt Avery said in describing the team’s brief transition to hitting with a wooden bat. “It’s slightly heavier and a little bit harder to swing.”
Westfield got into the swing of things a little more in the second game of its double header.
Gazda continued his hit streak with a double and two RBIs against the Dugout Dawgs. C.J. Skribiski also had two hits for Westfield.
Mason Collingwood (3 inn.), Mike Hall (1 inn.), Greg Sarna-McCarthy (1 inn.), and Ethan Flaherty (1 inn.) all saw time on the mound for Westfield in Game 2. In the opener, Darrin Roberts and Will Cameron split pitching duties.
Westfield returns to action Tuesday against the GBG (Black) Hawks at 12:30 p.m., before taking on the Central Mass Cubs at 2:45.
