Matt Masciadrelli scores the first run of the game for Westfield in Monday night’s American Legion Baseball playoff opener against Wilbraham Blue, diving around the tag attempt. (File Photo by Bill Deren)
WESTFIELD – The Westfield Post 124 senior baseball team’s four-game winning streak – and its 2018 season – came to a surprising end Monday night.
Westfield fell to Wilbraham Blue, 6-2, at Bullens Field in what amounted to a play-in game that kicked off the American Legion playoffs. With the win, Wilbraham advanced to play Pittsfield. Post 124 (12-7) was eliminated.
The night started on a good note for Westfield. After Wilbraham loaded the bases on an error, a walk and an infield single, starter Devin Baker struck out the next batter on three pitches to end the threat. Post 124 then immediately went ahead in the bottom of the first. Matt Masciadrelli reached on an infield single, stole second and took third on a ground ball out. He scored on Aidan Dunn’s ground ball to the right side. Just like that, Westfield led 1-0.
And just like that, in a scenario that was repeated too often by this team this year, Post 124 gave back its lead. Wilbraham Blue scored three times in the second, all coming with two outs, to take a 3-1 lead that it never relinquished. Wilbraham extended its lead with a single run in the fifth and two more in the sixth.
Westfield’s only other run came in the bottom of the sixth. Steve McKenna singled on a full count and later took second on a wild pitch. McKenna eventually scored on Mitchel Longley’s sacrifice fly to right.
Post 124 went quietly in order on only seven pitches in the bottom of the seventh.
John Daley, the veteran on this team that honors veterans, closed out a storied career with Post 124 with a 1-2-3 seventh, and he did it with style. The leadoff runner reached on a Westfield error – and then Daley promptly picked him off of first. He struck the next batter out and got an easy ground ball to end the inning.
The Post 124 Juniors’ playoff opener was rained out Tuesday night. They game has been rescheduled for Wednesday night at Bullens Field at 7:30 p.m. – Courtesy of John Blake
