LONGMEADOW – Jay Scherpa and Liam Poole tossed a combined no-hitter, and Westfield American cruised on the road in its Little League Baseball District II 12-Year-Old All-Stars tourney opener Saturday, defeating Longmeadow 12-0.
Scherpa recorded 12 strikeouts in four innings. Poole struck out three batters in two innings pitched.
Scherpa helped himself out early, leading off the game with a single, and scored on a base hit up the middle from Scott Hepburn.
In the fourth inning, Sebastian Gomez led off with a double to right field. Andrew Melo legged out an infield single and Bryan Bolio was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Scherpa hit a fly ball to center field that was dropped, resulting in two more runs. Scherpa scored the third run of the inning on a Jacob Wagner single.
Westfield National 12-Year-Old All-Star Mason Perieira points to his family as he rounds the bases on a home run trot Saturday. (Photo by Bill Deren)
In the fifth, Caden Matuszczak reached on an infield single and Gomez reached on a fielder’s choice. Matuszczak scored on a hit to right field from Patrick Flaherty. Jax Grady, who was running for Gomez, scored on a Sean Roselli sac-fly.
Poole finished 2-4 at the plate.
Lisowski, Pereira homer; May Ks 8
Westfield National 10, Amherst 0 (4 inn.)
Cam Lisowski and Mason Pereira clubbed home runs in a five-run, first-inning as Westfield National overwhelmed Amherst at Paper Mill Field Saturday. Josh May blanked the visitors, allowing just one hit, striking out eight batters, and walking none in four innings.
Cody Collins and Josh Sturmer each went 2-for-3 for Westfield National.
LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL 11-YEAR-OLD ALL-STARS
Westfield American explodes past Gateway
Westfield American 20, Gateway 1 (4 inn.)
Westfield American exploded for nine runs in each of the first two innings in a rout at Ralph E. Sanville Memorial Field on Cross Street Saturday.
“Our kids were obviously ready to play,” Westfield American 11-Year-Olds Coach Dick Lenfest said. “Up and down the lineup everyone contributed. There was good defense, good pitching, and the kids were really swinging the bats. Everyone batted twice, and all 13 contributed.”
Northampton overwhelms Nats
Northampton 13, Westfield National 3
Northampton plated two runs in the first inning and four in the second before exploding for seven more in the fifth Saturday at LaRivere Field.
Westfield scored one in the third and two in the fourth.
Ray Vergara pitched well in relief for Westfield despite multiple errors in the field.
Westfield’s Evan Grant doubled twice, and Gavin Connors had one. Dylan Gibson (single, hit by pitch), Luke Grabowski (2 walks), Anthony Melo (single), Evan Mastroianni (single, fielder’s choice), Brannon MIele (single), and Vergara (walk, fielder’s choice) also reached for Westfield National.
“Westfield had plenty of opportunities to score, but just couldn’t come up with a big hit at the right moment,” Westfield National manager Pete Grabowski said.
LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL 10-YEAR-OLD ALL-STARS
Nats hold off Americans
Westfield National 9, Westfield American 6
Westfield National turned an unconventional double play with the tying run at the plate to end the game and survive a thriller against Westfield American Sunday at Paper Mill Field.
With runners at first and second, a groundball hit to the left side was misplayed by the shortstop. Westfield National second baseman Cole Page picked up the ball and fired to catcher Nolan Avery to gun down the runner trying to score. Avery, in turn, fired to Tim Moran at third base to complete the sensational double play.
Page was solid at second base all day, doubled and had an RBI. Noah Amaral also doubled for Westfield National. Jackson LaValley made two nice catches in center field.
Westfield National turned to three pitchers to get the work done. Brandon Mielke (2 inn.), Nolan Robets (2 inn.), and Avery (1/3rd inn.)
Josh Drumm tossed three solid innings for Westfield American, and Jack Madsen provided half a game of excellent relief.
LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL SENIOR ALL-STARS
Gazda homers, pitches Westfield past Agawam
Westfield 14, Agawam 1
Colby Gazda was the winning pitcher and hit a home run for Westfield at Hampton Ponds Field Saturday.
Westfield’s Riley Coughlin had two hits and a homer. Zach Buendia had two hits and five stolen bases.
