Westfield Babe Ruth Baseball 13-Year-Old All-Stars’ Zach Olsen emerges from a cloud of dust after stealing second base against Dalton in Tuesday night’s Pioneer Valley Youth Baseball League Sandy Koufax playoff opener at Bullens Field. On Wednesday, local teams were surrounded by rain clouds, forcing the cancellation of a smattering of games. Teams were expected to return to action Thursday. (File photo by Marc St. Onge)
WESTFIELD – On Tuesday, it was a battle for ballplayers not to kick up dust in the sweltering heat. One day later, they were left dodging storm clouds.
Rain forced some local summer baseball teams to take a one-day hiatus Wednesday, allowing for extra game-planning to take place.
The World Series-bound Westfield Babe Ruth 13-Year-Olds were set to take on Mohawk in a Pioneer Valley Youth Baseball League Sandy Koufax playoff game, but that contest was rained out. The game will be made up Thursday at Westfield State University’s Bud and Jim Hagan Field at 5:30 p.m.
No. 2 Westfield lost its playoff opener to Dalton Tuesday, despite having enjoyed a double header sweep against the same squad on Saturday to complete a 10-7 regular season.
The tournament is being used as a tune-up for the Babe Ruth 13-Year-Old World Series in August. Manager Dick Lenfest said Tuesday that his team is working toward bettering their understanding of game situation and putting that to work on the field.
The Westfield roster is comprised of Ted Dunn, Emmett Garfield, Dylan Gibson, Evan Grant, Rylie Heeter, Colby LaPoint, Paul Lawry. Nicholas Lenfest, Noah Luis, Jacob Mello, Patrick Moore, Connor Niemiec, Zachary Olsen, Eli Petrone and Andre Phaneuf. The majority of the team played on one of the two Westfield Little League teams last season and have come together to play under the Babe Ruth League umbrella for the 2019 season.
The American Legion Baseball playoffs were also put on hold for a day for Westfield Post 124. The Senior squad will begin play Thursday at Spec Pond Field in Wilbraham at 5:30 p.m. The Junior team will play at Belchertown.
The Westfield Starfires also return to action Thursday at North Shore following a brief All-Star break.
