Westfield’s Erin Gour (4) congratulates Carly James (2) at home plate after James clubbed a solo home run in the bottom of the first inning Thursday against West Springfield. (MARC ST.ONGE/THE WESTFIELD NEWS)
WESTFIELD – Bam! Pow! Kaboom!
The Westfield High School softball team smashed three home runs (one of the in-the-park variety) and delivered so many well-struck hits in overpowering West Springfield 19-2 Thursday that likely had fans saying “Wow!”
Westfield’s Carly James stepped up and delivered the team’s first bomb, blasting the ball over the fence just inside the left foul pole with one out in the first inning.
“Honestly,” James said, “I was just looking for a base hit. I’ve only hit two home runs so far so I’m never looking to hit it over, but when I did it felt pretty good.”
Two batters later, Emma LaPoint swatted a ball that rolled all the way to the center field fence. Two base runners scored, including LaPoint, who raced home to complete the in-the-park home run. Ali Rehor hit a two-run single to give the Bombers a 5-0 lead.
“I was just excited to get something started,” LaPoint said. “I felt like we normally are behind a lot, we don’t start hitting right away, so it just felt good to get going.”
Westfield showed no signs of slowing down.
Gour led off the second inning with a double to the left field fence. She advanced to third base on a wild pitch. LaPoint smacked a RBI single. With one out, Cichonski walked and eventually came around to score on a wild pitch. Rehor hit a ground rule RBI double. Walks from Kenzie Raymond and James loaded the bases. Then Gour launched a bases-clearing, three-run triple to center field. A LaPoint RBI single made it 13-0.
“We put in a lot of effort in what we do and we push ourselves really hard and it’s paying off,” Gour said. “I have a lot of faith in my teammates and the lineup that we have. We’ve got strong bats.”
Westfield continued to batter the opposition.
In the third inning, Cichonski reached on a single, stole second base, advanced to third on an outfield error and scored on a Ciara Toporowski sac-fly RBI to left field. Kenzie Raymond followed with a two-run homer to left field. The Bombers led 16-0.
“I was not trying to pull the ball at all,” Raymond said about her at-bat. “I think that, in the end, collectively we just keep pushing and pushing. We don’t give up.”
Westfield pushed ahead even further in the fourth inning. Marlow Murphy smashed a two-run single through the left side of the infield. Camille Bruno launched a run-scoring double to right field. The Bombers led 19-1. One half-inning later, the game ended on the mercy rule.
“We work really, really hard together and we’re always pushing each other to do the best that we can with our individual abilities to put it together and make a really good thing,” Raymond said. “I really think with the bond we have and the connection we have, we can really go somewhere.”
While Westfield’s offensive assault was unrelenting, the Bombers pitching staff was nearly unhittable.
Westfield starting pitcher Erin Gour tossed a one-hitter over three innings before turning the ball over to Bruno, who allowed just two hits and two runs over the final three innings.
Bombers’ Emma LaPoint (14) flies soars into home plate for a run. (MARC ST.ONGE/THE WESTFIELD NEWS)
– – –
2021 High School Spring Sports Standings
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Westfield 4-1
Southwick 5-0
BASEBALL
Westfield 1-1
Westfield Technical Academy 4-2
St. Mary’s 0-1
Southwick 1-2
SOFTBALL
Westfield 4-1
Westfield Technical Academy 2-3
St. Mary’s 2-0
Southwick 4-0
GIRLS LACROSSE
Westfield 3-0
St. Mary’s 3-1
BOYS LACROSSE
Westfield 2-1
St. Mary’s 3-2
GIRLS TENNIS
Westfield 2-1
St. Mary’s 2-0
BOYS TENNIS
Westfield 1-1
BOYS TRACK & FIELD
Westfield 2-0
Southwick 1-0
WRESTLING
Westfield 1-0
Thursday’s Results
SOFTBALL
Westfield 19, West Springfield 2
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Westfield 3, Minnechaug 0
Southwick 3, Sci-Tech 0
BASEBALL
Smith Vocational 7, Westfield Technical Academy 5
– – –
WESTFIELD HIGH SCHOOL
Fri., May 21
BASEBALL vs. Minnechaug, Bullens Field, 4 p.m.
SOFTBALL @ Agawam, 4 p.m.
GIRLS LACROSSE @ West Springfield, Clark Field, 7 p.m.
Mon., May 24
BASEBALL vs. Longmeadow, Bullens Field, 4 p.m.
BOYS LACROSSE vs. Longmeadow, 5:30 p.m.
BOYS/GIRLS TRACK & FIELD @ Central, Berte Field, 4 p.m.
BOYS TENNIS @ Chicopee, Szot Park, 4 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS @ Amherst-Pelham, 4 p.m.
Tues., May 25
SOFTBALL @ Minnechaug, 4 p.m.
GIRLS LACROSSE @ Granby, 4 p.m.
BOYS TENNIS @ Holyoke, Crosier Field and Tennis Courts, 4 p.m.
BOYS VOLLEYBALL vs. Sabis, 5 p.m.
Wed., May 26
BASEBALL @ Pope Francis, 4 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS @ Minnechaug, 4 p.m.
Thurs., May 27
GIRLS LACROSSE vs. South Hadley, 4 p.m.
BOYS VOLLEYBALL @ Saint John’s, 6 p.m.
Fri., May 28
BOYS LACROSSE @ Minnechaug, 4 p.m.
Mon., May 31
BOYS LACROSSE vs. Pope Francis, 4 p.m.
Tues., June 1
BASEBALL vs. West Springfield, Bullens Field, 4 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS vs. Longmeadow, 4 p.m.
BOYS VOLLEYBALL @ West Springfield, 5 p.m.
GIRLS LACROSSE vs. Minnechaug, 5:30 p.m.
Wed., June 2
BASEBALL @ East Longmeadow, 4 p.m.
SOFTBALL vs. Hampshire, 4:30 p.m.
BOYS/GIRLS TRACK & FIELD @ Chicopee Comp, 4 p.m.
BOYS TENNIS @ Ludlow, 4 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS vs. East Longmeadow, 3 p.m.
BOYS VOLLEYBALL vs. Chicopee Comp, 5:15 p.m.
BOYS LACROSSE @ East Longmeadow, 7 p.m.
Thurs., June 3
GIRLS LACROSSE @ Agawam, 4 p.m.
Fri., June 4
No Sports Scheduled
Mon., June 7
BASEBALL vs. Amherst-Pelham, 4 p.m.
SOFTBALL vs. Agawam, 4 p.m.
BOYS TENNIS @ Chicopee Comp, 4 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS vs. Pope Francis, 4 p.m.
BOYS VOLLEYBALL @ Ludlow, 5 p.m.
BOYS LACROSSE @ Northampton, 6 p.m.
Tues., June 8
BASEBALL @ Minnechaug, 4 p.m.
GIRLS LACROSSE vs. Amherst-Pelham, 4 p.m.
BOYS/GIRLS TRACK & FIELD @ Holyoke, Roberts Sports Complex, 4 p.m.
Wed., June 9
SOFTBALL vs. Minnechaug, 4 p.m.
BOYS LACROSSE @ Longmeadow, 4 p.m.
BOYS TENNIS @ Chicopee, Szot Park, 4 p.m.
BOYS VOLLEYBALL @ Minnechaug, 5 p.m.
Thurs., June 10
BASEBALL @ Longmeadow, Russell Field, 4 p.m.
SOFTBALL @ West Springfield, Mittineague Park, 4 p.m.
GIRLS LACROSSE vs. West Springfield, 4 p.m.
Fri., June 11
BOYS LACROSSE vs. South Hadley, 4 p.m.
BOYS TENNIS vs. Chicopee Comp, 4 p.m.
BOYS VOLLEYBALL vs. Agawam, 6:15 p.m.
GIRLS LACROSSE @ Amherst-Pelham, 4 p.m.
Mon., June 14
BOYS LACROSSE vs. Agawam, 4 p.m.
GIRLS LACROSSE @ Northampton, Smith Vocational H.S., 4 p.m.
BOYS VOLLEYBALL vs. Milford, 5:15 p.m.
Tues., June 15
SOFTBALL @ Hampshire, 4 p.m.
—–
WESTFIELD TECHNICAL ACADEMY
Fri., May 21
No Sports Scheduled
Mon., May 24
SOFTBALL @ St. Mary’s, Sadie Knox, 4 p.m.
Tues., May 25
BASEBALL vs. Gateway, Bullens Field, 7 p.m.
SOFTBALL @ Amherst-Pelham, 4 p.m.
Wed., May 26
BASEBALL vs. Belchertown, Bullens Field, 4 p.m.
Thurs., May 27
SOFTBALL vs. Gateway, Whitney Park, 4 p.m.
Fri., May 28
BASEBALL @ McCann Tech, 4 p.m.
Mon., May 31
No Sports Scheduled
Tues., June 1
BASEBALL @ Pathfinder, St. Joe’s, 4 p.m.
SOFTBALL @ Pathfinder, 4 p.m.
Wed., June 2
BASEBALL vs. Franklin Tech, Jachym Field, 4 p.m.
Thurs., June 3
No Sports Scheduled
Fri., June 4
No Sports Scheduled
Mon., June 7
BASEBALL vs. St. Mary’s, Bullens Field, 3:15 p.m.
Tues., June 8
BASEBALL @ Smith Vocational and Agricultural, 4 p.m.
SOFTBALL vs. Smith Vocational and Agricultural, Whitney Park, 4 p.m.
Wed., June 9
No Sports Scheduled
Thurs., June 10
No Sports Scheduled
—–
ST. MARY’S
Fri., May 21
No Sports Scheduled
Mon., May 24
BASEBALL @ Hampshire, 4 p.m.
SOFTBALL vs. Westfield Technical Academy, Sadie Knox, 4 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS vs. Sabis, Municipal Tennis Courts, 4 p.m.
Tues., May 25
BOYS LACROSSE @ Monson, 4 p.m.
GIRLS LACROSSE @ Chicopee, 5 p.m.
Wed., May 26
BASEBALL @ Southwick, 4 p.m.
GIRLS LACROSSE vs. Belchertown, Boardman Field, 4:30 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS vs. Hampden Charter School of Science, Municipal Tennis Courts, 4 p.m.
SOFTBALL @ Commerce, Marshall Roy Field, 4 p.m.
Thurs., May 27
SOFTBALL @ Hampden Charter School of Science, 4 p.m.
BOYS LACROSSE vs. Chicopee, Boardman Field, 4 p.m.
BOYS TENNIS vs. Greenfield, Municipal Tennis Courts, 4 p.m.
Fri., May 28
BASEBALL vs. Palmer, Westfield Intermediate School, 4 p.m.
Mon., May 31
No Sports Scheduled
Tues., June 1
BOYS TENNIS @ Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter, 4 p.m.
Wed., June 2
BOYS TENNIS vs. Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter, Municipal Tennis Courts, 4 p.m.
Tues., June 1
BASEBALL @ Monson, 4 p.m.
SOFTBALL @ Sci-Tech, Blunt Park (Diamond #5), 4 p.m.
BOYS LACROSSE vs. Pathfinder, Boardman Field, 4 p.m.
GIRLS LACROSSE @ Pope Francis, 6 p.m.
BOYS TENNIS @ Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School, 4 p.m.
Wed., June 2
BASEBALL vs. Ware, Westfield Intermediate School, 4 p.m.
GIRLS LACROSSE vs. Central, Boardman Field, 4:30 p.m
Thurs., June 3
BASEBALL @ Granby, 4 p.m.
SOFTBALL vs. Renaissance, Sadie Knox, 4 p.m.
BOYS LACROSSE vs. Central, Boardman Field, 4 p.m.
GIRLS LACROSSE vs. Monson, Boardman Field, 4:30 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS vs. Pioneer Valley Christian Academy, Municipal Tennis Courts, 4 p.m.
Fri., June 4
No Sports Scheduled
Mon., June 7
BASEBALL @ Westfield Technical Academy, Bullens Field, 3:15 p.m.
GIRLS LACROSSE vs. Chicopee Comp, Boardman Field, 4:30 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS @ Palmer, 4 p.m.
Tues., June 8
BASEBALL @ Sabis, Nathan Bill, 4 p.m.
SOFTBALL vs. Commerce, Sadie Knox, 3:30 p.m.
BOYS TENNIS vs. Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School, Holyoke Canoe & Tennis Club, 4 p.m.
Wed., June 9
SOFTBALL vs. Monson, Sadie Knox, 4 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS vs. Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter, Municipal Tennis Courts, 4 p.m.
Thurs., June 10
BASEBALL vs. Hampshire, Westfield Intermediate School, 4 p.m.
BOYS LACROSSE @ Granby, 4 p.m.
Fri., June 11
BOYS LACROSSE vs. McCann Tech, Boardman Field, 4 p.m.
GIRLS LACROSSE @ Belchertown, 5 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS @ Sabis, Forest Park, 4 p.m.
BASEBALL vs. Ware, Westfield Intermediate School, 4 p.m.
Mon., June 14
BOYS LACROSSE @ McCann Tech, 4 p.m.
—–
SOUTHWICK REGIONAL
Fri., May 21
SOFTBALL @ Central, Blunt Park (Diamond #3), 4 p.m.
BOYS VOLLEYBALL vs. Holyoke, 5:45 p.m.
GIRLS TRACK & FIELD @ Frontier, 4 p.m.
Mon., May 24
BASEBALL @ Sabis, Nathan Bill Park, 4 p.m.
BOYS VOLLEYBALL @ West Springfield, 5 p.m.
Tues., May 25
SOFTBALL @ Monson, Quarry Hill Community School, 4 p.m.
Wed., May 26
BASEBALL vs. St. Mary’s, 4 p.m.
BOYS VOLLEYBALL vs. Sci-Tech, 4 p.m.
BOYS TRACK & FIELD @ Belchertown, 4 p.m.
Thurs., May 27
No Sports Scheduled
Fri., May 28
BASEBALL @ Granby, 4 p.m.
SOFTBALL vs. Ware, 4 p.m.
GIRLS TRACK & FIELD vs. Belchertown, Richard Atkinson Track, 4 p.m.
Mon., May 31
No Sports Scheduled
Tues., June 1
BASEBALL vs. Ware, 4 p.m.
BOYS TRACK & FIELD @ Monson, Moriarty Field/Granite Valley School, 4 p.m.
GIRLS TRACK & FIELD vs. Monson, Richard Atkinson Track, 4 p.m.
Wed., June 2
BASEBALL @ Monson, 4 p.m.
SOFTBALL @ Granby, 4 p.m.
BOYS VOLLEYBALL vs. Ware, 5:15 p.m.
Thurs., June 3
No Sports Scheduled
Fri., June 4
BASEBALL vs. Palmer, 4 p.m.
SOFTBALL vs. Central, 4 p.m.
BOYS VOLLEYBALL vs. Commerce, 4 p.m.
Mon., June 7
BOYS VOLLEYBALL vs. Ware, 5:15 p.m.
SOFTBALL @ Hopkins Academy, 6 p.m.
Tues., June 8
BASEBALL @ Hampshire, 4 p.m.
Wed., June 9
SOFTBALL vs. Ware, 4 p.m.
BOYS VOLLEYBALL @ Holyoke, 5:15 p.m.
BOYS TRACK & FIELD vs. Palmer, Richard Atkinson Track, 4 p.m.
Thurs., June 10
BASEBALL vs. Sabis, 4 p.m.
Fri., June 11
BOYS VOLLEYBALL vs. Sabis, 6 p.m.
Tues., June 15
BOYS VOLLEYBALL vs. Athol, 5:15 p.m.
