Westfield’s Sam Brochetti scores the team’s first run. (Photo by Chris Putz)
WESTFIELD – The Westfield Babe Ruth 14-Year-Old All-Stars took care of business for starters.
Westfield rallied for three runs and held off hard-charging Worcester-East Side 5-4 in the state tournament opener Friday night at Bullens Field.
Worcester-East Side scored the game’s first run in the second inning.
Matt Panarelli reached on an error to lead off the inning, advanced to third base on a wild pitch and crossed home plate on Anthony Vincequere’s sac-RBI.
But Westfield quickly bounced back.
In the bottom half of the frame, Sam Brochetti reached on a one-out walk. Colin Burns followed with a blast that caught a large piece of the right field grass and curled into foul territory. Then the pitcher balked in the tying run.
Worcester-East Side responded.
In the third inning, Tanner Roy doubled with a runner on first base and stole second before Anthony Mattero hit a sac-fly and a fielder’s choice made it 3-1.
Worcester-East Side made it a three-run advantage in the next inning with Pat McCann’s RBI single.
But Westfield remained focused.
In the fourth, Brochetti walked with one out, stole second, advanced to third on a passed ball, and scored on a wild pitch to narrow the gap to 4-2. Then, in the fifth, Scott Hoiberg and Nate Tsatsos hit consecutive base hits, and scored on John O’Brien’s ground out.
Westfield finally got even in the sixth inning. Burns singled with one out and Thomas Flaherty, Jr. who was earlier robbed of a screaming line drive hit by a leaping shortstop, hit a booming double over the left fielder’s head for a 4-4 tie. Flaherty eventually came around to score on a wild pitch for the team’s third unanswered run, the game-winner.
Flaherty also had a hand in preserving the victory, tagging down a baserunner attempting to steal home plate after catching him in a pickle.
Westfield pitcher Jared Iglesias and Brochetti combined to shut down the Worcester offense for a good part of the game.
Iglesias allowed three hits and two unearned runs over the first three innings. Brochetti gave up three hits, one unearned run and struck out three batters.
Westfield advances to play Leominster Saturday afternoon at 4 at Bullens Field.
