All eyes are on home plate as Wareham’s Orlando Guadalupe (21) slides under the tag of Westfield Post 124 pitcher David Tirrell (8) in an American Legion Baseball state tournament elmination game Monday night. (Photo by Chris Putz)
NORTH ATTLEBOROUGH – A power surge zapped the last remaining ounce of energy from Westfield Post 124’s Junior Legion baseball team.
Wareham launched two home runs and exploded for 19 runs in two innings to defeat Westfield 19-2 in a mercy-shortened American Legion Baseball state tournament elimination game Monday night at Community Field in North Attleborough.
Wareham came out slugging from the outset.
An Orlando Guadalupe RBI double in the bottom of the first inning was just the start of the offensive onslaught. A run-scoring error followed. Consecutive RBI singles from Bryson Uhlman and Thomas Coucci, and a sac-RBI made it 5-0. Then, Brendan DaSilva blasted a two-run homer. Guadalupe’s RBI single gave Wareham a stunning 8-0 advantage.
Westfield went to the bullpen early, turning to hard throwing righty Brian Strange. Strange retired three of the four batters he faced, forcing a fly out and ground out, and striking out a batter while walking one in the second inning.
In the third inning, facing Westfield’s third pitcher of the game, Wareham poured it on.
Wareham loaded the bases in the third by reaching on an error and two straight walks. A bases-loaded walk renewed the scoring barrage. Coucci delivered a two-run single. Khai Delgado hit a subsequent three-run dinger that dashed any hopes of a comeback.
