Westfield Sons of Erin baserunner Shaun Gezotis, right, attempts to beat the tag of McDonald’s Ryan Porter during Tuesday night’s Babe Ruth game at Bullens Field. (Photo by Frederick Gore/www.thewestfieldnews.smugmug.com)
WESTFIELD – Sons of Erin staved off elimination against McDonald’s in the Babe Ruth Baseball Dan Welch City Cup Tuesday night, and now have a bite at claiming the top prize.
Sons built an early lead, fell behind, and rallied late to defeat McDonald’s 12-11 to force a final championship game Thursday.
Mickey D’s led 10-8 in the sixth inning after being down 8-3 early.
Tyler Stairs landed the big hit in the fifth, an RBI single that resulted in two runs (thanks to a throwing error). Sons shortstop John O’Brien robbed McDonald’s of additional runs with a spectacular leaping, running grab of a fly ball to left field to end the threat.
McDonald’s scored five more runs in the sixth. Liam Whitman smacked a two-run double down the first base line. With two outs, Scott Hoiberg hit a two-run squibber on the infield grass. The ball was haplessly thrown around the infield, resulting in another run. Mickey D’s led 10-8.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Shuan Gezotis drew a bases loaded walk to pull Sons within one, 10-9. They surged back ahead on Noah Murray’s double to deep left center field. Jake Butler tacked on an insurance run with an RBI single.
Sons’ reliever Kyle Priest earned the victory after gutting out a tough seventh which saw Ryan Porter drive a run-scoring single to left field, and left fielder Shaun Gezotis gun down the potential go-ahead run at home plate with a sensational throw from left field for the game’s final out.
The runs came in bunches from the outset.
McDonald’s opened the game with three runs in the top of the first inning, but Sons bounced back with three runs of its own to tie the game. Sons scored three more in the sixth, and tacked on two in the third to claim an 8-3 lead before Mickey D’s rallied, setting the stage for the late-game drama.
Westfield Nationals win opener
LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL ALL-STARS
9-10 YEAR-OLDS
Westfield Nationals 12, Northampton 5
NORTHAMPTON – Cam Hoynoski pitched four strong innings, and Westfield manned a 15-hit offensive attack to pick up a road victory in the opening round of district play.
Jared Noel led Westfield with three hits. Alex Provost had two.
Amherst Americans 4, Westfield 3
AMHERST – Amherst rallied from a 3-2 deficit, scoring two runs in the bottom of the fifth with outs to win the tourney opener.
Westfield’s lead-off hitter, Ryan LaPoint went 2-for-3, was hit by a pitch, knocked in two runs and scored another to lead the team. Nick Valentino had two hits, and Alex LaCourse had one.
Amherst robbed Nathan Pellegrini of an extra base hit, snaring his deep shot to right field with a stellar defensive grab.
Westfield pitcher Troy Hevey struck out eight batters.
