Members of the Sons of Erin team hold up the City Cup after defeating the Moose Club during Monday night’s Westfield Little League City Cup championship at the Ralph E. Sanville Memorial Field on Cross Street. The Sons of Erin won 8-6. (Photo by Frederick Gore/www.thewestfieldnews.smugmug.com)
WESTFIELD – If at first you don’t succeed, try and try again.
One year ago, Sons of Erin fell to Kiwanas in the inaugural Little League City. This year, Sons rose above the competition.
Sons of Erin staved off Moose Club in the 2014 Little League City Cup championship 8-6 Tuesday night.
“We were a young squad last year – a lot of 10- and 11-year-olds,” Sons manager Jeff Koziol said. “Those kids have matured. We have a lot of 12-year-olds … These kids have been finding different ways to win.”
Matt Beattie found the team’s first hit – Sons first two runners reached on errors – when he crushed a two-run double to the left center field fence to give the team a 2-0 lead in the top of the third inning. A pair of fielder’s choices (Bobby Della Penne and Nate Pellegrini earned the RBIs) led to a 4-0 lead.
Moose Club battled back.
With two outs in the third inning, Moose rallied. Tobey Barlow singled. Ethan Saunders walked. Trot Gosselin followed with a two-run line drive shot to center field. James Renaudette hit an RBI single. An error knotted the game at 4-all. They enjoyed their first lead of the game when Joey Dekarski dropped a bloop single into shallow right field, scoring two runs.
Moose’s lead was short-lived.
In the fourth, Bryant Keeney opened the inning with a lead-off walk. Tony Torres chopped a single through the left side. A fielder’s choice (Andrew Pelligrini RBI) brought Sons within one, 6-5, and Jeremy McCormick’s sac-fly tied it 6-6.
Sons of Erin scored the eventual game-winning run in the fifth on Della Penne’s bases-loaded single to right field.
Sons of Erin baserunner Matt Beattie slides home as Moose catcher Ethan Saunders waits for the ball. (Photo by Frederick Gore/www.thewestfieldnews.smugmug.com)
Tony Torres (2-for-3) manufactured an insurance run for Moose in the sixth by beating out an infield single, moving to second base on a passed ball, advancing to third on a wild pitch, and scoring on an error.
Sons starting pitcher Tanner Koziol was effective early, retiring the first four batters of the game (two via strikeout) and eight of the first 11 before Moose Club rallied in the third with two outs. Brody Zabielski allowed just one hit and one (intentional) walk over the last two innings to earn the victory on the mound.
Moose pitcher James Renaudette also pitched well on the mound to begin. Renaudette retired the game’s first six batters before errors did him. He exited in the third inning with Sons leading 2-0. Both runs were unearned.
“The chips fell for us against a tough pitcher,” manager Koziol said. “It was a magical year for us.”
The game’s most sensational defensive play belonged to Moose Club outfielder Tobey Barlow who made a leaping grab to rob McCormick of an extra base hit in the fourth.
These types of plays will most likely be on display in bunches over the next several weeks when the Little League All-Stars (ages 9-11) begin tournament play. This year’s All-Star selections were honored prior to the game, and stood along the edge of the outfield grass during the national anthem.
Mayor Daniel M. Knapik tossed out the ceremonial first pitch.
Said Beattie: “It was amazing.”
