Westfield’s Mason Collingwood, center, celebrates with pitcher Mike Hall, right, after the Bombers baseball team defeated the Longmeadow Lancers in a 1-0 thriller Wednesday at Bullens Field. (Photo by Chris Putz)
WESTFIELD – Move over Avengers, there are a few new heroes in town.
Jimmy Hagan provided the latest heroics for the Westfield High School baseball team. Hagan laced a double down the right field line, scoring Luisin Enchautegui for the game-winning run in the bottom of the sixth inning as the Bombers bested the Longmeadow Lancers 1-0 in a high school baseball thriller Wednesday at Bullens Field.
Longmeadow appeared to score the game-tying run on a sac-fly in the top of the seventh, but Westfield appealed that the baserunner left early and the umpire ruled the runner out for the third and final out of the game.
Westfield’s Mason Collingwood (20) picks up Luisin Enchautegui in celebration after Enchautegui scored the game’s only run Wednesday. (Photo by Chris Putz)
The Bombers stormed the field in celebration.
“We’ve been playing well in these close games, but we’ve been coming out on the losing side,” Westfield baseball head coach Mike Kennedy said. “Today, that was a great win.”
The head coach’s son, assistant coach Donnell Kennedy was actually the one that spotted the base runner’s error in leaving early, relaying that information to his father, who, in turn had his team appeal the play for the final out.
Westfield baseball pitcher Mike Hall delivered a superb effort, tossing a 3-hitter over seven complete innings. Hall struck out seven batters and walked one.
“Mike’s been throwing well,” Westfield coach Mike Kennedy said. “Today was awesome. He kept his pitch count down. Early in the game, he didn’t have command of everything but he bared down and he took control.”
Longmeadow pitcher Michael Barrett scattered five hits in six innings of work. Barrett had five Ks and walked none.
Hornets outlast Tigers
McCann Tech 8, Westfield Technical Academy 7 (8 inn.)
Westfield Tech went toe-to-toe with McCann Tech on the road before falling in heartbreaking fashion.
Westfield Tech took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first before McCann Tech bounced back with a game-tying run in the bottom of the third. The Tigers scored three runs in each of the fifth and sixth innings, but the Hornets matched them in the bottom half of each inning both times.
Westfield Tech threatened in the eighth, but left two baserunners stranded. McCann Tech drew three straight walks in the bottom half of the inning before scoring the game-winning run on a ground ball walk-off.
Westfield Technical Academy baseball head coach Bob Eak described it as one of his “most disappointing losses,” having already lost to McCann Tech three times last season. “(Our) defense has to get better if we expect to make eight the Voc tourney or the Western Mass tourney.”
Braves overwhelm Rams
Taconic 11, Southwick 1
Sam Mizonoglu went 1-for-2 with a walk and an RBI for Southwick.
BOYS LACROSSE
Falcons slip past Bombers late
Minnechaug 6, Westfield 5 (OT)
Peter Wursz recorded a hat trick, and Minnechaug escaped the Whip City with an overtime victory at Roots Athletics Center.
Cam Theriault and Christian Nalepinski scored two goals apiece to lead Westfield. Bombers’ Danny Antonellis had one goal and one assist. Cameron and Bacon had assists.
Westfield goalie Nick Mee and Minnechaug keeper Hartin each finished with six saves.
Gavin Carzello, Kris Meneses, and Aiden Boyle were outstanding on defense, causing turnovers, clearing and tracking down ground balls. Jack Finnie and Tyler Shrewsbury contributed strong defense in the midfield. Cam Foster battled all day long taking face-offs.
Hornets buzz past Saints with strong second half
McCann Tech 9, St. Mary’s 8
McCann Tech outscored St. Mary’s 8-2 in the second half to mount a comeback at Boardman Field. They were led by Darian Tovani (4 goals) and Jason Delisle (3 goals).
Aaron Blanchard had a hand in seven of St. Mary’s eight goals, scoring three and assisting on four others. Ed Towers (2 goals, 1 assist), Evan Ploof (2 goals), and Byron Dudas (1 goal) also scored for the Saints.
SOFTBALL
Penland homers as Rams roll
Southwick 10, Sabis 1
Brittany Penland led Southwick’s offense with three hits, including a home run. Allie Methe and Grace Ingledue had two hits apiece for the Rams.
Southwick pitcher Sarah Hough scattered four hits and struck out eight batters.
“It was a well-played game all-around with everyone contributing in some way,” Southwick softball head coach Joe Hough said.
Gators fall
Smith Academy 14, Gateway 8
Stephanie Paiva, Ava Auclair, Grace Van Buren, and Lily Waters each had two hits for Gateway.
BOYS TENNIS
Lu, Wilcox win matches
Sabis 3, St. Mary’s 2
Kevin Lu and Joe Wilcox won at first and second singles, respectively, for St. Mary’s. Lu toppled Sabis’s Bryan Trinh, 6-2, 6-2. Joe Wilcox downed Jio Cruz, 6-1, 6-2.
St. Mary’s second doubles pair, Tom Youn and Ben Howes lost a hard-fought match to Emmanuel Rivera-Vega and KacKenzie Mongeon, 6-2, 3-6, (11-6).
“The Saints’ singles players’ victories and the second doubles close tiebreaker highlighted today’s close match, which emphasized the team’s progress,” St. Mary’s coach George Hart said.
GIRLS TENNIS
Saints post shutout
St. Mary’s 5, Hampden Charter School of Science 0
St. Mary’s swept all five matches. Jessica Crosby won at first singles, 6-0, 6-0; Amelia Murray battled her way to a 6-0, 7-5 victory at second doubles; and, No. 3 singles player, Erin Olearcek won 6-3, 6-1.
St. Mary’s No. 1 doubles pair, Maura O’Neill and Madison Hamlin won 6-3, 6-2; Caroline Leahy and Catherine Seklecki were victorious 6-2, 6-2.
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Terriers chase Rams
West Springfield def. Southwick 24-26, 25-21, 25-14, 25-21
Andy Brown (9 kills, 9 digs, 2 aces, 1 block), Mason Imbriglio (10 digs, 1 ace), Nick Brown (11 assists), and Tyler Gellert (2 blocks) led Southwick.
Westfield’s Luisin Enchautegui slides safely into home plate past Longmeadow catcher Zach Wright for the game-winning run in the bottom of the sixth inning Wednesday at Bullens FIeld. (Photo by Chris Putz)
