Westfield Babe Ruth 15-Year-Old All-Star pitcher Mike Diamond delivers Monday night in Greenfield. (Photo by Chris Putz)
GREENFIELD – The Westfield Babe Ruth 15-Year-Old All-Stars punched their entry into the state tournament with a clinching 8-2 win over Franklin County in a District 2 tourney game Monday night at Abercrombie Field.
It took a total team effort to sweep Franklin County in the best-of-3 series, but thanks to a gem from Westfield the task was made a bit easier.
Westfield’s Mike Diamond provided 5 2-3 innings in a sparkling relief effort to earn the victory on the mound. Diamond inherited a one-out bases-loaded situation in the bottom of the second inning but forced a ground out and fly out to end the threat. He retired seven straight batters, went on to strike out five, and allowed just two hits (harmless fourth- and sixth-inning singles) and no runs.
“I had to throw strong – we were only up one,” said Diamond, who entered the game in the second inning with a 3-2 lead. “I knew I had to shut them down.”
Westfield Babe Ruth 15-Year-Old All-Star catcher Scott Hoiberg squeezes his glove while keeping one foot on the plate to beat the Franklin County base runner for a force out in the second inning Monday in a District 2 tournament game at Abercrombie Field in Greenfield. (Photo by Chris Putz)
“We might not be one of the best (All-Star) teams … but this team has heart,” he added. “Our players are always positive. We have no negative players. When a player gets down, this team gets you right back up.”
Westfield trailed in both District 2 tournament games, but rallied both times.
In the first game, Jared Iglesias and Noah Laplante effectively combined to shut down Franklin County at Bullens Field. On Monday, the team rallied behind Diamond.
Westfield fell behind 2-0 in the first inning Monday, but managed to overtake Franklin County in the second. Ethan Gamble hit a lead-off single to begin the inning, and advanced on a wild pitch. Scott Hoiberg walked. Then Laplante attempted a sac-bunt that resulted in a bloop single to the left side of the infield, loading the bases. Jordan Hinds and Christian Hoiberg drew consecutive run-scoring walks to tie the game at 2-all. A fielder’s choice on Diamond’s ground out made it 3-2.
In the third inning, Westfield tacked on three more runs.
Gamble and Hoiberg hit consecutive one-out singles and advanced on a double steal. Jake Kearing walked with two outs to load the bases. Christian Hoiberg was hit by a pitch to make it 4-2. A wild pitch resulted in the team’s fifth run. Tyler Stairs walked, and Diamond hit an RBI single. Colin Burns and Gamble walked with one out in the fourth. Burns scored on Scott Hoiberg’s RBI single.
Westfield tacked on a run-scoring single seventh.
“We have a whole lot of guys who hit the last game who did not do so good this time out,” Westfield Babe Ruth 15-Year-Old All-Stars manager Ted Burns. “But other guys picked it up today.”
Gamble finished 3-for-4 with a walk.
