Westfield Little League Softball 10-Year-Old All-Stars’ Katie Bouchard scores a run during Friday night’s contest at Sadie Knox Field. (Photo by Chris Putz)
WESTFIELD – The Westfield Little League Softball 10U All-Stars defeated Agawam 6-5 Friday night at Sadie Knox Field.
Westfield opened the scoring with four runs in the third inning. Sydney LaPanne had the key hit, scoring Riley Davidson and Julia Bonfitto. Katie Bouchard and LaPanne also scored.
Agawam responded with two runs in the bottom of the inning as pitcher, Bonfitto, lost her control.
Westfield answered back with two more runs as Bonfitto, LaPanne, and Emma Nelson each had hits; Bonfitto and LaPanne scored.
Westfield pitcher Julia Bonfitto follows through with a pitch. (Photo by Chris Putz)
The see-saw game went Agawam’s way in the bottom of the fourth with three more runs scored, sandwiching two hits around three walks to close within 6-5.
Westfield held on though, shutting down Agawam in the final two innings.
Bonfitto dominated on the mound, striking out 18 batters over six innings. She allowed two hits and 12 walks.
LaPanne finished the game 2-for-4 with a double, two runs scored and three RBIs. Bonfitto was 1-for-3 with two runs. Jalianie Santiago went 1-for-3. Emma Nelsonn was 1-for-1 with two walks.
LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL
12-YEAR-OLD ALL-STARS
No. 4 Westfield 2, No. 1 Belchertown 1
Westfield won the first game of the four-team double elimination portion of the district tournament, escaping Belchertown with a narrow victory at Mini-Fenway. Pitcher Josh Wagner and first baseman Nate Blackak led the upset.
Westfield advances to the winner’s bracket game at Agawam Saturday at 10 a.m.
Blackak drove in Tyrus Traska with the game’s first run in the bottom of the first inning, and plated Traska again in the fifth for a 2-0 lead.
Belchertown’s Evan Ferguson sliced the lead to 2-1 with a leadoff homer over the Green Monster in the top of the sixth. After Cooper Ferguson reached on an error, shortstop Joe Maffia and Traskka combined for a key 6-4-3 double play to get Westfield out of trouble. Wagner then induced a popup to close out the game.
Wagner was dominant on the mound, scattering four hits in a complete game effort. He struck out eight batters while walking none.
Wagner was also a perfect 2-for-2 at the plate with a walk. Traska, Nick Gauger and Ethan Connors also had hits for Westfield.
