Westfield’s Ari Schwartz delivers during the regionals. (Photo by chief photographer Frederick Gore)
WESTFIELD – Westfield Babe Ruth 13-Year-Old All-Star ace Ari Schwartz has had a hand in every step of the team’s regional run. It may take another Herculean effort to complete the quest.
Schwartz pitched all six innings of a 14-4, six-inning win over Manchester (NH) in the New England Regionals opener last Friday night. He came on to shut the door against Pittsfield in an 8-6 victory Sunday night. And on Monday, the diminutive pitcher led his team on the mound with six stellar innings in a 7-3 win over New Milford (Conn.).
It is stuff like this that has earned him the respect of his manager, Mike Smith, who dubbed the ace, “The Hebrew Hammer.”
“When the going gets tough, he seems to come through with a play or pitch,” Smith said after Westfield defeated New Milford to advance to this afternoon’s championship.
But he has not done it alone.
Westfield has leaned on the speed and power of lead-off batter Austin St. Pierre, the strength of clean-up hitter Anthony Clark, the unheralded heroics on defense from players such as third baseman Shaun Gezotis, and others.
“I’m going to come out, throw strikes and make plays, hit the ball,” said Schwartz, who also keeps opposing pitchers off-balance with his speed on the basepaths.
It will likely take more than just Schwartz to fend off their opponent in the title game though.
“I think we will play hard, run the bases, and if we fall behind, we’ll come up and play hard,” Smith said. “This team has a lot of grit.
First pitch for Westfield-New Milford is scheduled for Thursday afternoon at Bullens Field at 3.
Notes: New Milford advanced to the championship with a mercy-rule win over Pittsfield Wednesday night. …If Westfield loses in the first game of the day, a second and final one will be played approximately 20 minutes later to decide who goes to the World Series.
