By LIAM FLAHERTY
Special to The Westfield News
WESTFIELD – John Daley recorded his first Legion win, Brent Houle pitched his way to his second straight save, and the boys of Westfield Post 124 reeled off their fourth straight win, a 9-7 win over Belchertown, to open the 2015 season.
As has been a theme early on this year, Westfield had to fight their way back to earn the victory against Belchertown at Parson Field last Wednesday. Through four innings, Post 124 found themselves down 4-1, but rallied for four runs in the top of the fifth. They ended up taking the game by two runs.
Highlighting the scoring outburst in the fifth was an Anthony Riga (Westfield High) single, a Stephan Krol (Westfield High) RBI poke to right, and several misplayed balls by the Belchertown defense. Despite the potency of Post 124’s offense, their defense let up two runs in bottom of the sixth to bring the game to a tie at 7-all.
Colin Blake (St. Mary’s) walked to start the seventh inning, and catcher Conner Sullivan (Westfield High) laid down a perfect bunt to advance the runner. Geoff Sobotka (Lasell College) then reached on an error, and later scored, along with Blake, on a double from Anthony Riga.
Matt Hannoush (St. Mary’s) started the game on the mound, fresh off 2 1-3 innings of scoreless relief against Wilbraham on Saturday. He passed the ball to Liam Flaherty (Oberlin College) with one out in the third and runners on first and second. Flaherty proceeded to record a strikeout and fly ball to end the scoring threat. On Saturday, Flaherty racked up eleven strikeouts in 4 2-3 innings against visiting Wilbraham.
Also pitching for Post 124 and making their Legion debuts were Brett Turban (Gateway) and John Daley (St. Mary’s). Rounding out the Westfield staff was Brent Houle (Eastern Nazerene College), who came in with two outs and a runner on first in the seventh, and needed just two pitches to induce a weak fly ball to center field to end the game.
Leading Westfield offensively was designated hitter Jared Iglesias (Westfield High). Iglesias ran the count full in three of his four at-bats, walked and scored twice, and unleashed a mammoth RBI triple in the sixth. The blast rolled to the infield of an adjacent field, well past center field.
Westfield was slated to travel to Amherst Monday night. Post 124 returns for consecutive home games, beginning Tuesday night against visiting Easthampton at Bullens Field at 7 p.m. A special ceremony honoring local sports legend Emmet Morrill will take place shortly before the first pitch.
