WESTFIELD – During Westfield Post 124’s six-game losing streak, playing from behind was the norm. On Friday night it was more of the same, at least for the first half inning.
Down 1-0, Westfield scored six runs in the bottom of the first on its way to its first win in the double-elimination American Legion baseball playoffs. Westfield (1-1) next plays at Greenfield (1-1) on Saturday beginning at noon. The winner advances to play again on Sunday; the loser is done for the 2017 season.
Westfield Post 124 sent John Daley to the mound for their game against Monson Post 241 Friday evening. (Photo by Bill Deren)
Westfield starting pitcher John Daley was in complete control for Post 124, giving up six singles – never more than one hit in any inning – while striking out an even dozen. His only 1-2-3 inning came with darkness falling in the bottom of the seventh, the third out and the game’s final out coming on a called third strike.
J.D. Huntley reached base four times, including a pair of singles, and scored three runs. Matt Hastings, Stefan Krol and Jack Blake each scored twice. Jacob Butler had the big hit in the first, driving in two with his ground ball single to left. After taking second on the errant relay, Butler scored on Nick Clegg’s triple to right.
Westfield added a single run in the fifth on Anthony Riga’s long sacrifice fly. In the sixth, with one out, Hastings and Jacob Colapietro reached on back-to-back singles. A wild pitch moved them each up a base. After Huntley was intentionally walked, a parade of Post 124 runners scored on four successive wild pitches. The only run of the inning that didn’t score on a wild pitch was when Blake scored on an Andy Daniels groundout. – Courtesy of John Blake/Westfield Post 124
