Westfield catcher Morgan Zabielski prepares to catch the ball for a force play at home plate. Zabielski caught the ball cleanly for an out. (Photo by Chris Putz)
WILBRAHAM – For five innings, the Westfield and Minnechaug high school softball teams played an evenly matched contest. It’s those other two innings that tipped the scales in the Falcons’ favor.
Minnechaug jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the first inning, and tacked on four more runs in the sixth en route to shutting out red-hot Westfield 7-0 Friday.
Janna Murray (3-for-4, 2 doubles, 2 runs, 2 RBIs), Morgan Sanborn (2-for-4, run), and Jessica Anderson (2-for-4, RBI) finished with multiple Minnechaug hits. Falcons’ Rachel Crafts had a double, two runs, and two RBIs.
Crafts also had a suffocating outing on the mound. The Falcons pitcher allowed just five hits through seven complete innings, striking out eight batters.
Hayley Moniz, Casey Almeida, Morgan Zabielski, Madison Robitaille, and Autumn Moccia had the lone Westfield hits.
Tigers’ rip-roaring comeback
Westfield Technical Academy 27, Franklin Tech 15 (5 inn.)
Westfield Tech rallied from a 13-1 deficit with a complete scoring barrage.
In the bottom of the third inning, Westfield Tech scored five runs to cut their deficit to seven. In the fourth, the Tigers pulled within one.
In what can only be described by Westfield Tech head coach Deborah Falcetti as a “magical” fifth inning, the Tigers walked, hit, and scored a whopping 15 runs to complete the amazing turnaround.
“It was an unbelievable come-from-behind win,” coach Falcetti said.
Westfield Tech cleanup hitter, Cheyenne Slack had four hits, including a triple and six RBIs. Tigers’ Taya Allen went 3-for-4 with a home run, and Arianna Levere had two doubles.
Hannah Massoni turned a nice double play for Westfield Tech, snagging a searing line drive and throwing out the runner at third base to end the top of the fifth.
Westfield Tech improved to 6-4 overall.
BOYS LACROSSE
Bombers overwhelm Tigers
Westfield 14, South Hadley 2
Westfield raced out to a 6-0 first-quarter advantage and put together a dominating 9-0 lead at the half en route to a convincing home win.
Westfield’s Cam Theriault (2 goals, 5 assists), Max Maggipinto (2 goals, 4 assists), Matt Bonsall (3 goals, 2 assists), and Kohl Lunardini (2 goals) put up multiple goals. Bombers’ Will Cameron (1 assist), Dan Antonellis, Shane Riley, Landon Reyes, and Nick Clausen scored one goal apiece.
Westfield goalies Alex Beauchemin and Nick Mee combined for 9 saves.
Kohl Lunardini dominated faceoffs for Westfield. Bombers’ Gavin Carzello, Dalton Kiniry and Aiden Boyle delivered solid efforts at close defense. Zach Cree, Tyler Shrewsbury, and Danny Buckelew excelled at defensive mid.
BASEBALL
Daniels suffers tough-luck loss
Franklin Tech 3, Westfield Tech 1
Westfield Tech wasted a nice outing from pitcher Andy Daniels. Daniels allowed just four hits and two walks through six innings, striking out nine batters.
“We just couldn’t get timely hits,” said Westfield Tech coach Bob Eak, whose team fell to 7-7 overall, 3-1 Tri-County South.
Westfield Tech had runners on base in six out of seven innings.
Daniels went 2-for-4 with an RBI double. Dante Bongiovanni also doubled.
Spartans outlast Bombers
East Longmeadow 6, Westfield 5 (8 inn.)
East Longmeadow scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to squeak past Westfield.
Westfield’s Jack Blake went 3-for-3 with a double, two runs, and an RBI. Steve McKenna had two hits for the Bombers, including a run scored.
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
‘Cats scratch past Rams
Sci-Tech def. Southwick 16-25, 26-24, 25-19, 25-21
Despite losing decidedly to Southwick in the first set, Sci-Tech rallied for three straight set wins to upend the Rams.
Tim McGrath (3 assists, 12 digs, 4 blocks) and Chris Baker (9 digs, 2 blocks) led Southwick with 11 kills apiece. Rams’ Nick Brown delivered 22 assists, 11 digs, two kills, and one ace; Chance Tang racked up 21 digs to go along with five aces and a kill.
