Westfield senior pitcher Anthony Nomakeo has faced adversity many times in his high school sports career. So it should come as no surprise that when he was knocked around early in yesterday’s Western Massachusetts Division I semifinal game that he brushed it off and finished strong.
Nomakeo shook off a rough start on the mound, and came through with the game-winning hit at the plate to help lead No. 4 Westfield into the finals with a 5-3 win over upstart Central at Szot Park in Chicopee.
The Westfield senior laced a two-out hit to left field for the go-ahead run in the bottom of the fifth. Teammate Lee Albertson tacked on an insurance run with a RBI single in the sixth.
Nomakeo retired 10 of the last 11 batters, and 16 of 18 to end the game. But it was a challenging start for the resilient pitcher.
In the first inning, Central strung together four consecutive two-out hits, including back-to-back RBI singles from Michael Melendez and Juwan Rosario to jump out to a 2-0 lead. The Golden Eagles collected three singles in the second, tacking on another run with Isan Diaz’s RBI hit.
Still the Westfield fireballer remained calm.
Last fall, Nomakeo, a star running back for the Bombers’ football team, broke his leg in a regular season game. It was the second straight season-ending injury for him. But the senior persevered, recovering in time for the baseball season. Slowly, he regained strength, and on Wednesday, he helped lead his team in more ways than one.
“I was feeling good,” Nomakeo said. “In the beginning of the game, I left a couple of balls up in the zone. They were hitting it. But then I got into a groove.”
Westfield’s offense found some footing in the third inning when Lee Albertson drew a one-out walk off Central starting pitcher Endy Francisco. Conner Laraway followed with a booming double to left-center field, and Kyle Murphy hit a sac-fly off reliever Manny Alvarado for the team’s first run.
In the fifth, Laraway hit a one-out single, and Central brought in its third pitcher of the game, Seth Allen. Murphy hit into what appeared would be an inning-ending double play, but the first baseman misfired on a throw to second base and the runners were safe. Adam Mayhew drew a two-out walk. Then, Dan Jacques, after fouling off several pitches with a 3-2 count, drove a ball to left field for a two-run single to tie it, 3-3.
“It’s all a blur,” Jacques said of his long at-bat. “I tried to get my pitch and put it into play. …We showed a lot of heart. We’re not out of any game. We could be down 10, and we’re still not out.”
Then, Nomakeo put on the finishing touches at the plate and on the mound.
“Dan Jacques may have had the game of a lifetime,” said Westfield coach Rich Discenza. “And for Anthony just to be able to run now is rewarding.”
As far as Saturday’s championship is concerned, the Bombers coach said his bullpen is locked and loaded. According to Discenza, seniors Adam Mayhew and Andy Hess, junior Nate Barnes, and even the team’s ace, Albertson, could all see time on the mound.
