A Cathedral player, left, makes his way back to the dugout as members of the Westfield High School baseball team celebrate a dramatic comeback Tuesday night. The Bombers won 5-4. (Photo by Frederick Gore/www.thewestfieldnews.smugmug.com)
WESTFIELD – The two-time defending Western Massachusetts Division 1 champions made their case to named to the state’s new eight-man tournament, dubbed the “Super Eight,” with a superb comeback Tuesday night.
Westfield rallied from four runs down to defeat Cathedral 5-4 in a high school baseball thriller at Bullens Field. Brent Houle landed the game-winning hit in the bottom of the seventh as the Bombers posted three runs in the inning to cap the comeback.
“I never had a walk-off hit at any level since Little League,” said Houle, who also pitched 3 2-3 innings of relief for the victory.
Houle’s heroic at-bat was just one of several big hits for Westfield in the seventh inning.
Jake Toomey and Kenny McLean opened the bottom half of the seventh with swinging base hits. Cody Neidig followed with a well-placed bunt single, beating out the defense, and forcing a wild throw to score one run and pull Westfield within 4-3. Colin Dunn tied the game with an RBI single.
With first base open, Cathedral opted to intentionally walk Chris Sullivan (1-for-1, 3 walks) to load the bases, setting up Houle’s dramatics.
“These kids learned that they have to play all 21 outs hard,” Westfield coach Rich Discenza said. Cathedral opened the scoring, drawing a bases-loaded walk in the top of the third inning.
The Panthers took a 3-0 lead in the fourth when Andrew Noonan blasted a 335-foot, 2-run homer over the left field fence. They tacked on what they thought was an insurance run in the fifth on a squeeze play.
Westfield starting pitcher Matt Irzyk pitched out of several jams early before giving way to Houle in the fourth after the home run blast. Cathedral pitcher Kevin Hassett received the loss. He struck out five batters and allowed just three hits prior to the seventh inning.
Westfield began its comeback in the sixth inning when Craig Lacey and Houle singled around a Sullivan walk to load the bases. The Bombers scored on a fielder’s choice and a passed ball to cut the lead in half, setting the stage for the dramatic seventh.
“This was huge for the ‘Super Eight,’” Houle said. “If we keep up our intensity, I feel we have a real good shot at that. We leveled the playing field (tonight).”
According to beat writers for ESPN.com, Westfield and Cathedral were seated atop the polls for what analysts feel may be the only spot a Western Massachusetts team may claim in the new eight-man tourney, which will be announced later this month.
The Panthers (11-5) won the first meeting, 3-0. The season series is now tied 1-1.
“What’s going to happen is going to happen,” coach Discenza said, noting a tough 3-game stretch Thursday-Saturday. Westfield will resume an extra inning affair against the Lancers Thursday at Longmeadow, beginning at 4 p.m. The game will begin cleanly in the top of the 14th inning. The Bombers then travel to Amherst Friday night, and host Southwick on Saturday.
