Westfield Post 124 coach Don Irzyk (7) stands alongside coaches and players as they bow their heads for a moment of silence for Don’s wife, Kim, who passed away earlier this year after losing a battle to cancer. (Photo by Chris Putz)
WESTFIELD – When the lights finally went out on Westfield Post 124’s ugly 11-5 loss to Agawam Post 185 in American Legion Baseball action Monday night at Bullens Field, it wasn’t a blessing but rather sad that a special evening had to finally come to an end.
The results proved to be secondary, taking a back seat to the evening’s true devotion.
Yes, Agawam tripped up Westfield (7-3), which committed nearly a half-dozen errors. The lumbering effort though could easily be attributed to a hectic schedule that had Post 124 playing their third game in three days in the middle of a sweltering heat wave.
“Five errors … that killed,” coach Irzyk said. “I think (the heat) was a little bit of a factor … but the thing is – I was happy – we came back. We went down, came back. Went down, came back. But we just kept giving them runs, giving them runs, giving them runs. If we didn’t give them the runs when we came back – get a clean inning – who knows what happens.”
Westfield entered the game on a seven-game winning streak, and were proud to begin the contest by honoring a beloved individual who was more than just a familiar face at Legion games.
Westfield Post 124 dedicated the night to coach Don Irzyk’s wife Kim, who passed away earlier this year after battling cancer. Their son, assistant coach Matt Irzyk and his sister, Emily, each tossed out a ceremonial first pitch. The post’s Honor Guard led the National Anthem.
Emily Irzyk tosses out one of two ceremonial first pitches prior to an American Legion Baseball game Monday night at Bullens Field. Irzyk’s mother, Kim, passed away earlier this year following a short battle with cancer. (Photo by Chris Putz)
“It means a lot,” coach Don Irzyk said. “She was at all the games all the time. She was the one behind me. She wanted me to stop when Matt was done, and then she got into it and enjoyed the parents. It pushed her even more to go all the time. She was a real supporter, and behind the scenes too. This really meant a ton.”
“This was Kim’s night,” he said. “It worked out well except for not winning.”
Agawam jumped out to the game’s first lead, loading the bases in the top of the first inning with a hit, hit by pitch, and walk, and scored on an RBI single from Nick Kavrakis (Southwick). A bases loaded run-scoring error in the second resulted in a 2-0 Post 185 lead.
Westfield responded.
Andy Daniels singled to begin the bottom of the second. Another base runner reached on an error. Jack Blake advanced the runners with a fielder’s choice. Aidan Dunn snuck a base hit through the left side of the infield to cut the deficit in half.
Assistant coach Matt Irzyk hands off the ball to Westfield Post 124 catcher Jack Blake (6), right, after throwing out of two ceremonial first pitches in Monday’s night’s contest. Irzyk’s mother, Kim, passed away earlier this year after a short battle with cancer. (Photo by Chris Putz)
Kavrakis came up big on the mound though, recording a strikeout with the bases loaded to end the inning.
In the top of the third, some infield mishaps allowed Agawam to add two more runs to their lead, making it 4-1.
A bit of some timely hitting, opportunistic base running, and poor fielding by Agawam allowed Westfield to score three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning and tie the game.
The seesaw game tilted back in favor of Agawam in the top of the fifth, following an RBI single from Steven Grasso and a run-scoring wild pitch. Post 185 led 6-4.
Westfield cut its deficit in half again. Post 124 loaded the bases with a Daniels lead-off single, Blake one-out base hit, and Dunn walk, setting the table for Matt Masciadrelli, who launched an RBI single to deep left center field.
“Kim’s Night”
Agawam failed to back down, jumping out to a three-run lead in the top of the sixth inning. Ryan White belted an RBI triple to the right field corner and scored on a sac-fly to put Post 185 up 8-5.
Agawam manufactured another insurance run, and then some.
In the top of the seventh, Colin Pelchat singled, stole second base, advanced to third on a fielder’s choice and scored on Joe Oliver’s RBI single. Agawam led 9-5.
The hits kept coming as White blasted an RBI single to deep center field for a 10-5 advantage. Agawam squeezed in the final run.
LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL ALL-STARS
12-YEAR-OLDS
Westfield National 7, Agawam 3
Gavin Connors and Ray Vergara turned in strong pitching performances, only allowing three runs over six innings for Westfield National.
Nats’ Evan Grant made a spectacular diving play from the shortstop position. Kaevon Eddington turned an unassisted double play after sprinting in from center field, making the catch, and tagging second base as the runner tried to return.
Nats’ Dylan Gibson and Jacob Mello doubled, Eddington collected two base hits, and Grant and Connors each had one hit.
In other Little League district tournament action, the Easthampton 9-Year-Old All-Stars downed Westfield 15-3.
