Westfield’s Allie Rehor scores the game-winning run against Agawam in Saturday’s Little League Softball 12U District 2 Championship at Sadie Knox. (Photo by Chris Putz)
WESTFIELD – If any team exudes the “next person up” mentality, it is the Westfield Little League Softball 12U All-Stars. Westfield’s Allie Rehor was just “that person” Saturday night in the District 2 championship game.
Rehor went 3-for-4 and scored the game-winning run to slip past Agawam 4-3 in extra innings to capture the D2 title.
“When I got on base, I felt like a wave of relief,” Rehor said. “Then I got to third and then the ball rolled behind her and I got to go in.”
Rehor reached on a base hit in the bottom of the seventh, stole second, advanced to third base on an Ali LaPanne ground out, and scored on a passed ball.
“It was crazy – I was scared,” Rehor said. “I didn’t know if we were going to win because they took a lead in the beginning … but it felt good in the end because we won.”
Westfield rallied from a two-run deficit, tying the game in the sixth inning.
Lexi Sanchez led off the sixth with a bunt single. With two outs, Megan Cichonski hit a game-tying double, setting up the dramatic extra inning.
“The last few years we didn’t really get anywhere,” Rehor said, “so getting to the championship was really amazing.”
Westfield will next play Thursday and Friday at Sadie Knox as part of a double header with the Juniors and 10U All-Star teams.
LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL
Westfield American 2, Belchertown 1
Deven Werbiskis scored on a wild pitch with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning to give Westfield American a dramatic 2-1 victory over Belchertown Saturday afternoon at Cross Street.
Werbiskis reached base on a line drive single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. He moved to third on a single up the middle by Nate Pudlo before crossing the plate for the winner.
The catcher went 2-2 in the contest and also walked twice for American, which improved to 4-1 in pool play with its fourth straight win.
Westfield jumped out to a 1-0 advantage in the bottom of the first inning. Werbiskis and starting pitcher Nick Lenfest drew back to back walks and advanced on a passed ball. Josh Wagner then drove in Werbiskis with a sacrifice fly to left field. Wagner went 2-2 with a double in the game.
Belchertown knotted things up on a single to left by Kainoa David in the top of the fifth. The guests threatened for more, but relief pitcher Ted Dunn stranded runners at second and third with a strikeout and groundout.
Lenfest scattered three hits and held Belchertown scoreless over the first 3 2/3 innings before giving way to Dunn, who finished with three strikeouts and allowed just two hits down the stretch.
Westfield did not commit an error in the contest.
Andre Phaneuf, Emmett Garfield, Eli Petrone and Dunn added hits for the hosts.
American will face off against Westfield National Tuesday night at Paper Mill. First pitch is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. – Courtesy of Mike Raposo
Westfield 12U All-Stars
2018 LITTLE LEAGUE SOFTBALL D2 CHAMPIONS
