OCALA, FLORIDA – Welcome to the Big Show!
The World Series of Babe Ruth Baseball is set to open for the Westfield 14-Year-Old All-Stars in Ocala, Florida.
Westfield will participate in four games in pool play over a five-day stretch, beginning with Southeastern representative Lawrenceburg, Tenn. today. First pitch is at 7 p.m.
Westfield’s Mitchell Longley participates in the home run derby as part of the World Series festivities yeterday. Longley finished third in the event. Teammates Dalen Mochak, Adam Kearing, Aidan Dunn, Zach Medeiros, Steve McKenna, and J.D. Daley finished third overall in the golden arm competition. (Submitted photo)
Lawrenceburg is the reigning World Series runner-up from a season ago as 13-year-olds. The Southeastern champ rallied from a 3-2, fifth-inning deficit to defeat Key West (Fla.), 5-3, in this year’s regional title game.
Lawrenceburg also posted a 7-6 come-from-behind victory over Nash County (N.C. East) in the regional semifinals.
The World Series ticket-punching ceremony was also filled with drama for Westfield.
The 14-year-old All-Star players from Westfield won a 10-inning thriller against Trumbull (Conn.), 5-4, in the New England regionals at Bullens Field to win its championship.
Mitchell Longley provided the heroics, smacking a groundball base hit through the infield with the bases loaded and the game tied to score Nate Bonini. Westfield walked away a winner.
Westfield came within one win of a regionals final berth a year ago as 13s. This season, the Whip City All-Stars rallied to defeat rival Pittsfield in the state finals and won the eastern regionals without ace pitcher Dalen Mochak, who suffered a season-ending injury.
The Babe Ruth Baseball 14-Year-Old All-Star teams gather for the World Series opening ceremonies in Ocala, Florida. (Submitted photo)
“It’s going to be tough for anyone to match our pitching depth,” Westfield manager John Bonini said, following the eastern regionals championship victory, “and we can hit with anybody in the country.”
Westfield will battle four teams in five days. Following Friday’s opener, the Whip City All-Stars will take on Pacific Southwest champion Aiea, Hawaii (Aug. 16), Florida state champ Key West (Aug. 18), and Ohio Valley’s Southeast champ, Lexington, Kentucky (Aug. 19).
The top three teams who emerge from the divisional pool play games will advance to a single-elimination tournament, alongside three other teams from the other division, until a champion is determined.
The World Series championship will be played Friday, Aug. 22 at 1 p.m.
