Southwick-Tolland Regional pitcher Andrew Mitchell fires a pitch against Westfield Tuesday at Bullens Field. (Photo by Chris Putz)
WESTFIELD – If Southwick-Tolland Regional High School was wondering how it could put its name on the baseball map in the area, consider it done.
Southwick stunned Westfield in a matchup of baseball superpowers (the Bombers in Division 1, the Rams in D2) 8-4 Tuesday at Bullens Field.
Southwick (15-2) received effective pitching from Andrew Mitchell (2 Ks) and timely hitting. The Rams jumped out to the early lead with four runs in the second inning, and a 3-run third.
“Only giving up four runs against Westfield is a pretty big deal,” Southwick coach Tim Karetka said.
Southwick’s Patrick King struck for two hits and two RBIs. Eddie Martinez had a key run-scoring hit in the third for the Rams, and Jake Goodreau tacked on an insurance run in the sixth inning with a sac-fly.
“This was a huge win for us,” coach Karetka said. “Westfield is obviously the number one team in the region for a reason.”
While Westfield would likely draw one of the top seeds for the Western Massachusetts Division 1 tournament, the Bombers are also one of a few select teams in the hunt to earn a berth in the state’s new “Super Eight” tourney later this month.
Gateway’s Geoff Sobotka scampers back to first base during Tuesday’s high school baseball game against Lee. (Photo by Chris Putz)
Tigers share TCL title
Westfield Voc-Tech 17, Smith Voke 2
NORTHAMPTON – Westfield Voc-Tech clinched a share of the Tri-County League title with a key road victory Tuesday.
Nick Clegg went the distance on the mound for Voc-Tech, giving up three hits and staying around the strike zone. The Tigers also turned a nice double play, and Connor Hebda tracked down some long fly balls in center field.
At the plate, Voc-Tech pounded out 13 hits.
Tyler French had a big day at the plate for the Tigers, going 3-for-4 with a double and 3 RBIs.
“(Our) guys are excited and having fun,” Westfield Voc-Tech coach Kyle Dulude said. “They have played solid baseball, and hopefully still have some of their best ball still to play.”
Lee escapes Gateway with ‘W’
Lee 8, Gateway 5
HUNTINGTON – Curtis Dowers went 2-for-3 with a run, and Geoff Sobotka was 2-for-4 with 2 RBIs to lead Gateway, which lost in the culmination of a previously suspended game.
Justin Edinger had a hit and 2 runs for the Gators, and Johnny Haskell and Tommy Ruffo each collected an RBI.
Gateway fell to 13-5 overall. The Gators, are 7-2 in league play, will battle Granby Wednesday for the league title. First pitch is 4 p.m.
