It is often said that the best comes to those who wait.
Well, No. 2 Westfield (18-3) will find out just how much that saying comes to fruition when it resumes play against third-seeded Agawam (16-5) today in the Division I semifinals at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst at 1 p.m.
The game was postponed yesterday with Agawam leading 2-0 in the bottom of the first inning when heavy rains blanketed the stadium. Westfield has two runners on with two outs.
“We got something going and we’ll see,” said Westfield coach Joe Stella. “Our offense is going to have to come through.”
Westfield committed two errors on defense to begin the game, allowing Danielle Stratton and Danielle Circosta to reach for Agawam. Rielly Wieners hit a sac-fly to left field for the game’s first run, and clean-up hitter, Rebecca Fondakowski hit an RBI single through the left side off Bombers’ pitcher Sarah McNerney to give the Brownies a 2-0 advantage.
Agawam pitcher Danielle Circosta, arguably the region’s best on the mound, struck out Westfield’s first two batters. But, as a driving rain overtook the field, Heather White reached base on an error as Circosta’s throw to first on a grounder sailed over the first baseman’s head. Kaitlyn Puza singled. McNerney came to the plate, but the home plate umpire halted play.
A half-hour rain delay ensued before tournament officials deemed the field unplayable with the game scheduled to resume today.
“We dug ourselves a hole,” coach Stella said. “Now we have to grind our way out. Our offense will have to do it. That’s not to say that our defense doesn’t have to hold up.”
It figures to be a day to remember for many Westfield High softball players, especially for the seniors, who have a morning awards assembly and a graduation later this evening.
BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SET: The Westfield High School baseball team, seeded fourth with a record of 18-4, will take on No. 2 Minnechaug (18-4) in the Western Massachusetts Division 1 final Saturday at Szot Park in Chicopee at 1 p.m.
Westfield knocked off upstart Central, 5-3, Wednesday. Minnechaug survived an 11-third inning affair to defeat third-seeded East Longmeadow, 4-3.
