WESTFIELD – This short All-Star season has produced more than its share of great moments for Westfield North’s 11-12 year old squad, but one could not blame the patrons of Paper Mill Field if a sense of doubt crept into their minds after the first inning of action in Friday’s semi-final matchup against visiting Easthampton.
However, North got their bearings during their first at-bat, and put the game out of reach early, topping the little Eagles 11-1, and ending the evening early thanks to the Little League mercy rule.
Even with ace Carter Cousins stamping the rubber for North, Easthampton stepped up to bat undeterred and promptly knocked the young hurler around, drawing first blood with a top of the first inning run.
After the pitcher loaded the bases with Easthampton runners, North shortstop Jimmy Hagen would save Cousins from giving up further runs, channeling his inner Stretch Armstrong for a line drive to prevent Easthampton from adding to the lead.
“Had he missed that, the bases would’ve cleared,” said North coach Mike Nihill. “It was like he was on a step ladder.”
Hagen then saved Cousins again by taking over pitching duties in the second, and faced only seven batters the rest of the game, turning Easthampton’s bats, which were scorching hot in the first, into icicles.
After dodging a bases-loaded bullet in the top of the first, Westfield proceeded to shred the Easthampton defense over the next three and a half innings, notching eleven runs thanks to a strong evening at the plate from Mike Nihill Jr., who jacked a two-run shot over the Paper Mill fence to go along with two doubles.
Cousins made up for his dismal first inning pitching performance by going three for three at the plate with two singles and a double. Joe Raco and Spencer Cloutier also registered hits, with Cloutier going two for two.
“He’s registered only one out this entire tournament,” Nihill said of perhaps the best player in the district.
Now all that remains in the way of a district championship for North is Belchertown, a strong team that has proven it can handle a team of North’s caliber, having decimated South at Cross Street earlier in the week with a walk-off grand slam in extra innings from do-everything star Vic Camerota.
“We aren’t sure if the game will be here or (Belchertown), but we know it’ll be Sunday and we’re ready,” Nihill said.
