Westfield Eric Dean (2) tags the runner out at home plate to deny Longmeadow a run during a District 2 tournament game Thursday night at Ralph E. Sanville Memorial Field. (MARC ST.ONGE/THE WESTFIELD NEWS)
WESTFIELD – The Westfield Little League Baseball 7-9-Year-Old All-Stars should clearly know by now the Yogi Berra saying, “It ain’t over till it’s over.”
For the second time in a week, one of the city’s youngest baseball tournament representatives were forced to resume a game suspended by inclement weather – – and won. The Whip City’s All-Stars resumed postseason action against Longmeadow Thursday at Ralph E. Sanville Memorial Field with the score tied 9-9. Westfield won 12-10.
Westfield scored three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Noah Roberts drew a bases-loaded walk. A wild pitch made it 11-9. Tyler Woering drove in a run with a single.
Eric Dean pitched two nearly scoreless innings for Westfield. Dean struck out four batters, walked three, and hit one-by-pitch. He allowed just one run to score on a wild pitch.
Westfield (2-1) will play for their respective age group’s district title Sun., July 18.
It was the second straight game that Westfield was forced to complete on two separate days. Westfield played Longmeadow on July 7 only to have that game suspended due to lightning in the bottom of the sixth inning with Westfield leading 6-4.
In the first part of that game, received strong pitching performances from Roberts (2 1/3 inn., no hits, 1 run, 3 Ks), Andy Bouchard (2/3 inn., no runs allowed), and Dean (2/3 inn., 2 Ks). When that game resumed, Dean recorded the last three outs to preserve the victory.
Dean led the offense with four walks and a run scored from the lead-off position. Connor Slavin, Jackson Daley, Jake Moltenbrey, Colin Taylor and Cieran Mackey also scored.
Sat., July 10
Agawam 14, Westfield 3
Agawam exploded for 10 runs in the top of the third with some well-placed hits and some Westfield miscues en route to a convincing victory.
Vegali Murphy pitched two solid innings early in the game for Westfield. Parker Stopa provided two solid innings of relief. Dean, Slavin, Roberts, Woering, Murphy, and Moltenbrey led Westfield’s offense.
