WESTFIELD – No. 4 Sons of Erin stunned top-seeded Westfield Bank 5-4 in a Babe Ruth Baseball City Cup opener Tuesday night at Bullens Field.
“This was a really great game – a great win for us,” Sons of Erin manager Jeff Lubarsky said.
Sons of Erin exploded for four runs in the second inning – Logan Krol (RBI double) and Jake LaBombard (RBI triple) provided the key hits – to take an early lead.
Advance’s Mike Hall attempts to steal second base against McDonalds in a Babe Ruth Baseball City Cup opener Tuesday at Bullens Field. (Photo by Marc St. Onge)
Pitchers Colton Baker (3 inn.) and Mike Lurgio (4 inn.) bolstered Sons’ presence on the mound. Westfield Bank had runners at second and third with no outs in the sixth inning, but Lurgio came back to strike out the side.
Sons advances to play Advance Manufacturing on Wednesday night.
Advance Manufacturing 5, McDonalds – East Main 3
Garrett Collis scattered six hits, struck out two batters, walked four, and allowed just two earned runs over seven complete innings; Spencer Cloutier and Mike Hall broke open the game in the top of the seventh; and, Advance advanced to take on Sons of Erin, which toppled Westfield Bank.
McDonalds pitcher registered 10 strikeouts in five innings, but his team’s defense committed five errors.
Hall scored the game’s first run on a catcher’s throwing error while stealing third base. McDonald’s got the run back in the bottom of the fourth when Connor Roy singled, advanced two bases on consecutive ground outs, and scored on a wild pitch.
Advance reclaimed the head in the fifth. Cloutier reached for Advance on an error, stole second, and scored on a clutch two-out single from Ryan Moorhouse.
A shorthanded yet scrappy McDonalds squad managed to tie it in the bottom of the sixth. Collis induced two ground outs, but Collier reached second with a line single and error in right field. Mason Collingwood ripped a single to left to plate Collier.
In the seventh, Liam Webster legged out an infield single and was brought home by Cloutier’s gap line drive double to right center. Hall followed with a ringing line drive to left, scoring Cloutier. Hall scored later in the inning after stealing second and moving to third on a throwing error. He then scored on a wild pitch.
Cloutier and Hall each finished with two hits, two runs, and an RBI.
McDonalds was able to scrape a final run across in their final at bat but Collis shut the door on the rally to complete the game.
AMANTI CUP
Berkshire Insurance Group 8, Cortina Tile 5
Berkshire Insurance Group delivered an inspired effort, playing its game in honor of Trent Adam, who left the game with an arm injury in the first inning.
“It was a well-played game,” Berkshire Insurance manager Steve Jarvis said.
Tyler Cousineau, Jeremy McCormick, and Karen Zaghloul turned in strong pitching performances for Berkshire Insurance. Mason Hynes (2 hits, run scored), Cousineau (2 hits, 2 runs scored), and Brennan Jarvis (double, 2 runs) led the offense.
Hunter King, Noah Gardner, and Matt Bernatchez turned in solid pitching performances for Cortina Tile.
Berkshire Insurance moves on to face top-seeded ITI at Bullens Field at 7:30 p.m.
