WESTFIELD – The Westfield American 12-Year-Old All-Stars were down, but proved they were never out.
Caden Matuszczak hit a two-run, go-ahead home run in the fifth inning, and Kyle Scherpa homered as Westfield American rallied past Agawam 8-5 in a Little League Baseball District 2 tournament game Tuesday at Ralph E. Sanville Memorial Field on Cross Street.
Jack Litz belted a two-run homer to put Agawam out front in the first inning. Westfield American cut the lead in half in the bottom half of the second inning when Jax Grady reached on a fielder’s choice and scored on a Jay Scherpa grounder.
Caden Matuszczak slides into home for another Westfield American run Tuesday at Ralph E. Sanville Memorial Field on Cross Street. (Photo by Lynn Boscher)
Agawam built its lead back up in the top of third with a two-run single from Ben Blanchette.
In the bottom of the third, Scott Hepburn drew a lead-off walk, and Liam Poole (2-for-4, 2 runs scored) followed with a single. Matuszczak, pinch-running for Hepburn, advanced to third base on a passed ball and scored on a wild pitch. Poole then came around on a line drive single from Bryan Bolio. Westfield American trailed just 4-3.
Poole started the rally in the bottom of the fifth with a single. Matuszczak gave Westfield a 5-4 edge with a home run to left-center field. Sebastian Gomez kept things going with a double to right-center. Grady ran for him and scored on a hit to right by Patrick Flaherty. Flaherty advanced to third on a sac-bunt by Sean Roselli, and scored on a wild pitch. Kyle Scherpa capped off the rally with a homer to left-center.
Agawam threatened in the sixth, scoring once, but Poole induced a grounder to second to close things out.
Jay Scherpa earned his second win on the mound. Scherpa struck out nine batters in 3 2/3 innings. Kyle Scherpa started and struck out three over 1 2/3 innings.
SENIOR DIVISION
Fit to be tied
Westfield 3, Southampton 3
The game was called in the top of the sixth inning with the game tied 3-all.
Kyle Starzyk pitched four solid innings for Westfield, allowing just two runs. Reiley Coughlin and Colby Gazda each went 2-for-2 with a double.
Westfield, which currently stands 1-1-1, is in good position to represent the Whip City in the District 2 championship Saturday. They next travel to St. John’s Field to take on Agawam Wednesday.
10-YEAR OLDS
Belchertown storms ahead
Belchertown 7, Westfield American 0 (susp. bot. 2nd inn.)
Belchertown put together a strong start, racing out to a 7-0 lead through two innings before a hail storm forced the suspension.
Agawam 11, Westfield American 0 (4 inn.)
After sitting out a 30-minute delay for lightning in the area, Westfield American and Agawam completed just four innings.
Westfield pitchers Will Fruwirth, Josh Drumm and Ben King combined for only four walks but it was Agawam making solid contact and hitting it in gaps that drove their run total.
Offensively, Josh Drumm went 2-for-2 with solid singles to the outfield each time and Jack Madsen recorded a hit. No other hits were allowed.
