WESTFIELD – It takes a lot of practice time and in-game situational practices to prepare for a World Series appearance. The Greater Westfield Babe Ruth League 13-year-old All-Star team is taking their preparation to face off against some of the best 13-year-old teams from around the country and Canada very seriously.
Since the Babe Ruth regular season ended in late June, Westfield’s 13-year-old All-Star team has been playing in a very competitive Pioneer Valley Youth Baseball League with nearly a half-dozen games a week throughout late June and July. The city’s team of 13-year-olds have been playing in the Sandy Koufax division against 13-, 14- and 15-year-olds to prepare for the World Series in August at Bullens Field.
Having completed the regular season on Saturday with a doubleheader sweep against Dalton at Bullens Field, the team had a record of 10–7 in the regular season and earned the No. 2 seed for the playoffs, which will begin with a home game Tuesday at Bullens Field at 7 p.m. The entire Westfield baseball community is invited to come out to cheer on the home team.
The Westfield team is made up of 15 players from their regular season teams that have been working hard to prepare for the World Series in August and have really come together as a team with all their hard work over the past five weeks, Greater Westfield Babe Ruth League President Dan Welch said.
The Westfield team roster is made up of Ted Dunn, Emmett Garfield, Dylan Gibson, Evan Grant, Rylie Heeter, Colby LaPoint, Paul Lawry. Nicholas Lenfest, Noah Luis, Jacob Mello, Patrick Moore, Connor Niemiec, Zachary Olsen, Eli Petrone and Andre Phaneuf. The majority of the team played on one of the two Westfield Little League teams last season and have come together to play under the Babe Ruth League umbrella for the 2019 season.
It takes strong and disciplined coaches to bring the team together and have them work together to make everyone a better player, according to Welch.
“The team is coached by three dedicated regular season Babe Ruth experienced coaches that have committed their summer to these young men,” Welch said. “All have been there day-in and day-out to help make the players understand the benefits of team play.
The coaching staff is led by manager Dick Lenfest and assisted by coaches Mike Dunn and Chris LaPoint. – Courtesy of Dan Welch
