Sports

Bombers’ Strange, Gour sizzle on mound

Westfield High School baseball pitcher Brian Strange is locked in against Amherst-Pelham Monday evening at Bullens Field. (MARC ST.ONGE/THE WESTFIELD NEWS)

WESTFIELD – Two Westfield pitchers were hotter than the record heat.
Westfield baseball ace Brian Strange recorded 14 Ks over seven complete innings, allowing just two hits in a 3-1 victory against Amherst Monday night at Bullens Field. Bombers softball pitcher Erin Gour tossed a one-hitter, striking out seven batters and walking four in a narrow 1-0 win over Agawam late Monday.
Westfield softball lead-off batter Kenzie Raymond blasted a first-inning home run and Gour came out on the winning end of a pitcher’s duel. Ali Rehor had the team’s only other hit.
Agawam pitcher Sarah Ross allowed just one run on two hits and two walks. Ross also broke up Gour’s no-hitter with the Brownies lone hit of the game.
At Bullens, Andrew Florek delivered a two-run pinch hit single in the bottom of the third inning for Westfield. Bombers’ Alex LaCourse went 2-for-3, and Daniel Provost had a walk, run, and RBI.

BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Bombers sweep Lions
Westfield def. Ludlow 25-10, 25-18, 25-19

One potential road block has been removed from Westfield’s path as the Bombers won on the road at Ludlow, Monday, sweeping the Lions 3-0.
Vitaliy Samoylenko (16 kills, 7 digs), Nick Maslar (12 kills), Nick Gonzelez (5 kills, 1.5 blocks), Aiden Quarterley (35 assists, 4 digs), and Alex Robitaille (12 digs, 1 ace) led the way for Westfield. The Bombers improved to 9-1 overall, 7-1 North.

GIRLS TENNIS
Saints overcome heat, Panthers
St. Mary’s 3, Palmer 2

St. Mary’s beat the heat and the Palmer Panthers.
Due to the heat advisory, St. Mary’s played an evening match under the lights at Palmer High School.
Palmer controlled the pace of play early. The Panthers broke St. Mary’s service plays and dictated the style of play. The Saints took the change of sides breaks to gather themselves.
After settling in, St. Mary’s began to unravel Palmer’s play style.
At second singles, St. Mary’s first-year freshman Brooke Piziak began to move her opponent around the court and take points away. Her opponent did not fold and at one point fired a high deep shot into Piziak’s side of the court that just cleared Piziak’s head and caught the baseline before bouncing high toward the fence.
Piziak sprinted after the ball. She caught up with it at the fence and with her back to the court, hit a shot back over her head that cleared the net and dropped inbounds.
Piziak got back to the line in time to get to her opponent’s return shot and hit a crosscourt forehand to win the point. She won the match in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2.
With that one play, the mood and tempo of the match had changed.
In the adjoining court, at third singles, Catherine Seklecki found her footing and began to move her opponent around the court with crosscourt approach shots and sizzling serves. She rallied and surpassed her opponent to take both sets, 6-4, 6-2.
St. Mary’s first-year freshmen Genevieve Howes and Rachel Wilcox sealed the victory with a win in straight sets at second doubles, 6-2, 6-3.

BOYS LACROSSE
Bombers blow by Blue Devils
Westfield 21, Northampton 11

Westfield raced out to a 9-1, first-quarter lead and built a 17-3 halftime advantage before cruising to a victory.
Cam Theriault led Westfield with two goals and six assists. Bombers’ Chris Racicot (6 goals) and Andrew Dion (5 goals, 1 assist) finished with six points apiece. Tristan Koumentako tallied four goals and one assist. Race Kiniry collected two goals and two assists. Drew Theriault had three assists. Blake Braceland and Connor Connaly each netted a goal. Nick Bates and Logan Jones had assists.
Westfield goalie Aaron Hooben (6 saves) and Mark Kravchuck (4) combined for 10 saves.

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2021 High School Spring Sports Standings
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Westfield 9-1
Southwick 9-1

BASEBALL
Westfield 5-3
Westfield Technical Academy 7-3
St. Mary’s 2-9
Southwick 5-5

SOFTBALL
Westfield 6-2
Westfield Technical Academy 3-5
St. Mary’s 7-1
Southwick 8-0

GIRLS LACROSSE
Westfield 5-3
St. Mary’s 5-4

BOYS LACROSSE
Westfield 6-3
St. Mary’s 5-3

WRESTLING
Westfield 1-1

GIRLS TENNIS
Westfield 2-9
St. Mary’s 5-2

BOYS TENNIS
Westfield 3-1
St. Mary’s 0-5

BOYS TRACK & FIELD
Westfield 3-0
Southwick 1-1

GIRLS TRACK & FIELD
Westfield 1-3
Southwick 1-3

Monday’s Results
BASEBALL
Westfield 3, Amherst 1
SOFTBALL
Westfield 1, Agawam 0
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Westfield 3, Ludlow 0
GIRLS TENNIS
St. Mary’s 3, Palmer 2
BOYS LACROSSE
Westfield 21, Northampton 11

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2021 High School Spring Sports Schedules
WESTFIELD HIGH SCHOOL
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.
WRESTLING @ East Longmeadow, 7 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.
WRESTLING @ Agawam, 6 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.
TRACK & FIELD @ Southwick, 4 p.m.
BOYS TENNIS vs. Chicopee Comp, 5 p.m.

Tues., June 15
SOFTBALL @ Hampshire, 4 p.m.

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WESTFIELD TECHNICAL ACADEMY
Tues., June 8
BASEBALL @ Smith Vocational and Agricultural, 4 p.m.
SOFTBALL vs. Smith Vocational and Agricultural, Whitney Park, 4 p.m.

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ST. MARY’S
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
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.
SOFTBALL vs. Smith Voke, 4 p.m.

Fri., June 11
BOYS VOLLEYBALL vs. Sabis, 6 p.m.
BASEBALL vs. Sabis, 7 p.m.

Mon., June 14
TRACK & FIELD vs. Westfield, 4 p.m.

Tues., June 15
BOYS VOLLEYBALL vs. Athol, 5:15 p.m.
BASEBALL vs. Ware, Whalley Park, 7 p.m.

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