PITTSFIELD – BOOM! POW! BANG!
No that’s not the sound of some leftover fireworks from the Fourth of July but rather the sound of some booming home runs at Pittsfield National’s home park, Clapp Field, launched during a Little League Baseball sectional tournament opener Wednesday night
Much to the chagrin of the Westfield faithful – a strong contingent of fans that made the 60-minute trip northwest – it was Pittsfield National that made the loudest noise, belting three home runs in a 12-0 mercy-shortened affair over the Whip City’s American All-Stars.
Pittsfield’s Haywood Eurquhart blasted two home runs, including a solo shot to lead off the game in the top of the first inning. Eurquhart also hit a one-run dinger, a 230-foot shot in the third.
Fellow teammate, Jake Risley hit a towering 250-foot, two-run shot that made it 10-0 in the third.
Westfield fell behind from the outset.
Brennan Jarvis takes a swing for Westfield American. (Photo by Chris Putz)
Westfield American starting pitcher Joey Dekarski came out firing on the mound. After Eurquhart homered in Pittsfield’s first at-bat, Dekarski issued a walk, and then retired three straight National hitters to escape the first inning down just 1-0.
Pittsfield pitcher Anton Lazits matched Dekarski, allowing just a lone two-out double to Westfield’s No. 3 batter, David Tirrell. Tirrell was stranded at the bag when Lazits forced a pop up to end the threat.
Pittsfield did most of its damage in the top of the second inning.
Sam Sherman led off the top half of the second with a single and Nick Harrington delivered a one-out base knock. John Monahan followed with an RBI double that smacked the left-center field fence. Eurquhart earned an intentional walk. A bases-loaded walk made it 3-0. Westfield handed the ball over to its bullpen.
Westfield American’s David Tirrell stands at second base after belting a double in the bottom of the first inning Wednesday night. (Photo by Chris Putz)
Pittsfield tacked on four more runs in the inning, one on a run-scoring single from Risley, one on a bases-loaded walk, and two more via infield errors.
Westfield brought in five different pitchers, but the Nationals proved to be a worthy foe.
Eurquhart and Risley homered in the third, and Pittsfield drove in two more runs in the fourth to go up 12-0.
Lazits retired the side 1-2-3 in the fourth to end the game. The Nationals pitcher allowed just two hits, Tirrell’s extra base hit and a third-inning, two-out single from Chris Gage.
With the loss, Westfield will now be tasked with running the table in the sectionals to remain alive in the postseason. American returns home Thursday night to face the loser of Holden-Leominster National at Ralph E. Sanville Memorial Field on Cross Street, beginning at 5:30 p.m.
