ANDREW MITCHELL
SOUTHWICK – Only a few games have been played in the 2015 high school baseball season, but the Southwick Rams have earned the moniker, “Cardiac Rams.”
In less than a 24-hour span, Southwick went from suffering a heartbreaking late-inning loss Friday to enjoying a thrilling come-from-behind victory Saturday.
On Saturday, junior outfielder Travis Pirello hit a walk-off sacrifice fly in the bottom of the seventh inning to cap off the comeback and send Southwick to a 4-3 win over visiting Mount Greylock.
Southwick (2-1) entered the seventh trailing 3-2 before Andrew Mitchell got the rally started with the tying RBI. Mitchell, who crossed the plate on Pirello’s game-winning sac-RBI, also earned the victory on the mound. He recorded six strikeouts.
Vinnie Fortini had a monster day at the plate for Southwick, going 3-for-4 with an RBI. Rams’ Eddie Martinez went 2-for-4.
“We got a win against a quality opponent,” Southwick coach Tim Karetka said. “Fortunately today, we were able to pull it out.”
The Rams are no stranger to late-inning dramatics.
Southwick fell to Monson 3-2 Friday, courtesy of a Mustangs’ walk-off single in the bottom of the seventh, and beat Minnechaug in a thrilling season opener, 5-4, on Jake Goodreau’s walk-off double in the bottom of the seventh.
Next up for the Rams: the Hampshire Red Raiders Tuesday at home at 4 p.m.
Lacey solid in defeat
Billerica 2, Westfield 0
Westfield’s Colin Dunn and Chris Sullivan managed the only hits off Billerica starting pitcher Kyle Murphy, who struck out eight batters and walked five in a two-hitter Saturday. Murphy helped himself out at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a run scored.
Craig Lacey pitched well in defeat for the Bombers (2-2). Lacey scattered four hits, struck out five batters and walked two.
NICK CLEGG
Clegg clicks for Tigers
Westfield Voc-Tech 14, Pioneer Valley Christian Academy 6
Westfield Voc-Tech’s Nick Clegg recorded nine strikeouts in a four-hitter on the mound, and had three hits at the plate. Tigers’ Chris Boyden also had three hits, and Nate Boulay had two.
Jake Parsons had two strikeouts in an inning of relief for Voc-Tech (2-1). Six other Tigers’ batters collected one hit apiece.
“It was a nice way to finish off the week,” Voc-Tech coach Kyle Dulude said. “It was very important as we have three games next week, all in our league. The guys are ready to give it their all.”
SOFTBALL
Rams rout McCann
Southwick 14, McCann Tech 0
Southwick sophomore ace Emily Lachtara pitched a one-hitter, striking out 10 batters, and the Rams (3-0) racked up 14 runs in Saturday’s blowout victory.
Sydney Rogers (3-for-3, double, 4 runs scored), Katelyn Sylvia (2-3, run, 4 RBIs), Tori DellaGiustina (2-4, 2 runs, RBI), Jenn Yelin (4-4, double, run, RBI), and Steph Devine (2-4, double, triple, 4 RBIs) led the Southwick hit attack.
ALEC BEST
BOYS’ TENNIS
Best effort for WHS
Westfield 3, Central 2
Westfield senior Alec Best won a three-set thriller, 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 in front of a large crowd of onlookers to help propel Westfield to victory Friday.
Earlier in Friday’s contest, Westfield swept doubles’ play with Matt Roberts and Tim Hurley defeating their opponent 6-2, 6-3, and, Lyle Libanan and James Knapik winning handily, 6-0, 6-1.
