Westfield Tech celebrates a run scored during the MVADA Vocational Small School baseball tournament championship against McCann Tech. The Tigers and Hornets will meet for the third time this season at Joe Wolfe Field in one of six quarterfinals involving local teams Monday. (File photo by Chris Putz)
WESTFIELD – Thanks to Mother Nature and some very successful ball clubs, Monday afternoon and evening is shaping up to be a super quarterfinal day of action like never before.
A nearly unprecedented six area teams will challenge for a spot in the semifinals – all on Monday – when each travels to various locations all throughout western Massachusetts.
No. 7 Westfield Technical Academy (12-7), fresh off an 8-6 win over No. 10 Smith Voke, will get things kick started with an early day game against No. 2 McCann Tech (18-2) in the West Division 4 quarterfinals.
This is the third time the two teams will meet this season. McCann Tech, which enjoyed an early season blowout against Westfield Tech at Bullens Field and narrowly escaped the rematch to capture the MVADA Vocational Small School Baseball Tournament championship at Joe Wolfe Field in North Adams, is seeking a sweep.
First pitch at Joe Wolfe Stadium is 2 p.m.
In another D4 quarterfinal, the defending state champion St. Mary Saints, which drew the tourney’s third seed, will begin defense of their western Massachusetts and state titles with a home game against sixth-seeded Pioneer Valley Regional (11-9) at Bullens Field at 7 p.m.
In Division 1, fifth-seeded Westfield (12-8) travels to Forest Park in Springfield to face No. 4 Pope Francis (13-7) at 4 p.m. Sixth-seeded Southwick (14-7) travels to Great Barrington to take on third-seeded Monument Mountain (16-4) at 4:30 p.m.
In softball quarterfinal action, No. 7 Southwick (15-5) is on the road at No. 2 Hoosac Valley (15-3) for a D2 matchup. No. 7 Gateway (15-6) travels to No. 2 Mount Everett (13-6) as two D3 squads square off.
