Southwick’s Bob Hamel delivers to a Minnechaug batter. (Photo by Fred Gore)
SOUTHWICK – Jake Goodreau (3-for-4, double, triple, 3 RBIs) delivered a game-winning, walk-off double in the bottom of the seventh inning to cap off Southwick’s thrilling 5-4 season opening victory over Minnechaug Monday.
Goodreau plated Vinnie Fortini, who reached on a one-out double.
Southwick pitcher Bob Hamel scattered four walks, five hits, and five runs over 6 2-3 innings. Andrew Mitchell picked up the victory in a third of an inning of relief.
Mitchell (RBI double) and Eddie Martinez also delivered key hits for the Rams.
Fortini and Southwick freshman Nick Kavarakis made some solid defensive stops.
Parsons, Tigers open strong
Westfield Voc-Tech 15, Dean Tech 4
Westfield Voc-Tech ace Jake Parsons struck out 11 innings through six innings on the mound, and helped himself out at the plate going 3-for-5 with a double and 3 RBIs.
Connor Hebda and Nate Boulay collected two hits apiece, and Tyler French and Alex Sparks each had one hit for the Tigers. Sparks and Nick Clegg completed the team’s first double play of the season in the seventh inning, the same inning that Boulay closed out.
“Overall, I’m very pleased with our performance,” Voc-Tech coach Kyle Dulude said. “We look to learn from our mistakes, and (are) looking forward to a lot more baseball in the weeks to come.”
Bombers stumble, stunned
Longmeadow 10, Westfield 6
WESTFIELD – Longmeadow leadoff hitter Noah Hurwitz went 2-for-4, catcher Conrad McCarthy went 3-for-5, and the Lancers took advantage of several Westfield miscues to hand the Bombers their first loss of the season.
It was a sharp contrast for Westfield, which enjoyed a 16-0 blanking of Northampton in Saturday’s season opener. In that game, Bombers’ ace Kenny McLean pitched a one-hitter and hit a grand slam. Chris Sullivan collected two doubles.
“We can be pretty good this season,” Westfield coach Rich Discenza said, “but we have to improve a lot … We have a loooong way to go.”
