Advance Manufacturing hoists the Babe Ruth Baseball Dan Welch City Cup after defeating Cortina Tile 10-5 Monday night at Bullens Field. (Photo by Marc St. Onge)
WESTFIELD – It was a beautiful night at Bullens Field where the final two teams battled it out for the 2019 Dan Welch City Cup Championship.
Cortina Tile & Advance Manufacturing have a long history of great baseball games, and last night’s game was no exception. It was a fitting way to end the 2019 season as both teams, not only battled each other, but fought through rainouts and game conflicts to claim the trophy.
Cortina Tile started with 13-year-old sensation Emmet Garfield on the hill, who had been rock solid throughout the 2019 season. Advance countered with 13-year-old Colin Cusack. After an inning of play, the score was deadlocked at 1-1.
In the second, Advance’s Walter Ninotti got things going with a walk, followed by a double from Noah Gardner and after two innings of play, Advance had a slight 4-1 lead. But then, in walked Josh Mayo for Cortina Tile. Mayo was dominant on the mound recording seven strikeouts in the next four innings of work. But Advance also had their gunslinger in Jared Noel, who threw six innings with six strikeouts in relief of Cusack.
In the bottom of the fourth, Cortina put two runs across with timely hitting from Dylan Arooth, Caden Matuszczak, and Josh Mayo. After five innings, both teams were deadlocked at 5-all.
In the top of the sixth, Advance’s Jared Noel started with a base hit to left. Next up, Trevor Corriveau laced a base hit to right field, but would Noel score? It was a bang-bang play at the plate and Cortina catcher Darin Towle made a sensational tag to get Noel. The teams were scoreless in the seventh and deadlocked heading into the eighth.
Heading into extra innings, Advance’s Jimmy Cloutier came to the plate and roped a single up the middle. Cloutier stole second leaving him in prime scoring position. Jake Jachym, who came on for relief in the sixth, was at bat. After being down 1-2, Jachym drove a ball to deep right center which scored Cloutier and Advance took the lead. Advance continued the onslaught with hits from Brayden Burgielewicz, Walter Ninotti, Noah Gardner, and Jayden Rodriguez and after 7 1/2 innings, Advance led 10-5.
Jachym was on again to pitch the bottom of the eighth where he retired the side in order. Advance took the Cup with a final score of 10-5.
The last time Advance Manufacturing won the Dan Welch City Cup was back in 2011 when Kevin Sullivan, former Westfield School Committee member, was manager. After the game, an emotional Advance Manager Jim Cloutier said, “I actually played for Advance way back in 1987 and 1988, and to see my son playing for the same Babe Ruth team as I did, it’s just surreal. But, to also know my good friend Kevin also won this Cup, it means a lot to me.”
It was a fitting end to the 2019 Babe Ruth Season with two veteran Babe Ruth managers facing each other for another great baseball game at Bullens Field. John Arooth, and his coaching staff led Cortina Tile to a first place regular season finish and a 12–3 record.
Now it’s on to a summer season of baseball and then to tournament team play for Westfield Babe Ruth teams. In July, Westfield Babe Ruth will host the 15-year-old Babe Ruth New England Regional Tournament and then in August, Westfield will once again be the host for the 13-year-old Babe Ruth World Series. – Courtesy of Greater Westfield Babe Ruth League President Dan Welch
LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL
WHEELER DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP
Teddy Bear Pools 4, Tucker’s Restaurant 1
Nolan Wandolowski was brilliant on the mound for the Bears, striking out 13 while allowing just one hit Saturday at Ralph E. Sanville Field on Cross Street. Chris Pedersen struck out the side to close things out.
After falling behind 1-0, Teddy Bear grabbed a 2-1 advantage in the bottom of the first behind hits from Logan Csekovsky, Wandolowski and Brady Wilder.
The Bears then broke things open with two more runs in the fifth. John Sardinha highlighted the inning with a long shot to left center that he eventually scored on.
Leo Jellison singled and scored the lone run for Tucker’s, who battled through the loser’s bracket with consecutive victories over Green Meadow Lumber (8-5), Westfield Fire (8-6), and McLeod & Dewey (8-3). Their other his came from Evan Paradis and Cater Mason.
Paradis got the start on the mound for Tucker’s. He struck out eight and gave up just two runs in four innings pitched. – Courtesy of Mike Raposo/Westfield Little League Baseball
