Westfield High School varsity baseball newcomer Andy Hess underwent a cruel hazing incident of sorts. Bombers coach Rich Discenza threw his first-year varsity pitcher out on the mound for his first start in frigid, blustery conditions yesterday, and Hess accepted the role with success.
The pitcher, a senior, excelled, scattering four hits, recording four strikeouts, and earning a 5-1 victory against Longmeadow at Bullens Field.
“It was nasty,” coach Discenza said of the weather conditions. “But what a great job from Andy Hess. He was spectacular.”
Hess said, “It was windy. It was freezing. I couldn’t find my curveball and changeup until the fourth inning. Our defense helped me a lot this game.”
Hess, who had a pair of two-inning stints of relief duty this season, took advantage of his fastball, noting that if the wind was blowing from the left, he would start his delivery from the right corner in, and vice versa.
Longmeadow notched its only run off Hess in the top of the first inning when Greg Echeverria walked and scored on a Mike Keating single.
Westfield bounced back in the bottom half of the inning as Conner Laraway (2-4) hit a lead-off single, and came around to score on a base hit from Billy Smith (2-4).
In the fourth, Westfield took the lead on Aris Larancuent’s quick-sinking single to center field. The hit scored Ethan Atkociatis (2-4), who led off the inning with a line drive single.
The Bombers tacked on another run in the 5th (a run-scoring error) and 6th (RBI singles from Larancuent and Kyle Murphy, both of whom also finished 2-4).
Nate Barnes closed out the seventh for Westfield (8-1), retiring the side in order 1-2-3.
“Our defense is strong, we’re hitting the ball, and our pitching is solid too,” Hess said after the game. “We need to continue to do what we’re doing, and be selective at the plate.”
