Westfield catcher Nate Boucher blocks the plate and holds on to the ball despite the collision for an out to end the first inning against Vermont in a New England Regionals tournament game for the Babe Ruth Baseball 13-Year-Old All-Stars Monday in Manchester, New Hampshire. (Submitted photo)
MANCHESTER, N.H. – The Westfield Babe Ruth Baseball 13-Year-Old All-Stars is alive and kicking out the competition in the New England Regionals tournament.
Westfield staved off elimination in the loser’s bracket, trouncing Vermont 8-0 Monday night. The Whip City’s All-Stars will take on Bedford (N.H.) Tuesday in another must-win game, beginning at 5 p.m.
“I told the kids ‘we need to take care of business – it’s just one game at a time,’” Westfield Babe Ruth Baseball 13-Year-Old All-Stars manager John Bonini said. “We definitely have the pitching depth to get through this.”
Westfield relied on starting pitcher Sam St. Jean (4 inn., 2 hits allowed, 3 Ks), reliever Aidan Dunn (1 hit, 4 Ks), and closer Dillon Bazegian (2 Ks), who delivered a 1-2-3 seventh to take care of business on the mound.
The offense came from several batters.
In the first, Bazegian (2-for-3, 2 stolen bases, 2 RBIs) led off with an in-the-park home run, and included Mitchell Longley’s double, Matt Masciadrelli’s two-run single, and Andrew Tobias’s RBI double. Westfield led 4-0.
Westfield tacked on two more runs in each of the next two innings.
In the second inning, Sam St. Jean hit a run-scoring single. Nate Boucher delivered an RBI double and another run scored on a fielder’s choice.
