WESTFIELD – The Westfield Starfires inaugural season in the Futures Collegiate Baseball League is about to take off.
Westfield opens up the 2019 season on the road Wednesday evening when the Starfires travel to Bristol (Conn.) to take on the Blues.
“We were fortunate to get two practices in early this week and these guys have brought a lot of intensity in preparation for the long season,” Starfires Director of Baseball Operations Evan Moorhouse said. “I’ve been really impressed with the group we have both on the field and off. From the top to bottom we really believe we have a group of young men that this city can be proud of.”
Five of those young ballplayers played for Westfield High School. They include pitchers Ryan Towle (Fitchburg State University) and Mason St. Pierre (American International college), first baseman Sean Moorhouse (Westfield State University), outfielder Sean Murphy (Gettysburg College), and catcher Anthony Clark (AIC). Another, pitcher Vincenzo Camera comes to the Starfires from Westfield State University.
“We have a good, athletic team – guys with great attitude and great skill sets,” Westfield Starfires Bill Sandillo said. “We’ve got to come to play, come together, have fun as we get to know each other and try to put our best foot forward.”
The Starfires will be coached by Sandillo and pitching coach Pat Strange, a former New York Mets pitcher from Central High who is currently assisting the Westfield High Bombers baseball team.
Sandillo is a West Springfield native, who lives in Arizona, where he founded the Predator Performance Sports Management and Stars & Stripes Baseball Academy. He has coached summer collegiate ball in the Cape Cod League, and elsewhere, working with the likes of Major Leaguers such as St. Louis Cardinals infielder Kolten Wong and Toronto Blues pitcher Marcus Stroman.
The Futures League was made possible in large part to local investors Donald L. Moorhouse, of Westfield and Christopher J. Thompson, of West Springfield, and the support of Mayor Brian Sullivan and Greater Westfield Babe Ruth League President Dan Welch, who is gearing up for the 2019 World Series (Aug. 7-15) at Bullens Field.
The Westfield Starfires will hold their home opener Friday against the Pittsfield Suns at Bullens Field. First pitch is at 6:30 p.m.
