WESTFIELD – The bottom of the seventh inning couldn’t have been any more tense for Westfield on Friday night in a 14-year-old Babe Ruth State Tournament matchup.
With a slim 4-3 lead, Pittsfield threatened with a runner on third with two outs. Their number two hitter Patrick Rindfuss stepped up to the plate and drilled a line drive to center field that was caught on the run by centerfielder Carlos Rodriguez to end the game and give Westfield the win.
Westfield starting pitcher Jeremy McCormick delivers a pitch to home plate. (Photo by Marc St. Onge)
Kareem Zaghoul, who came in for relief in the fourth inning, was looking to close out the game in the bottom of the seventh, and Rodriguez’s catch to end the game was one of many plays that backed up Zaghoul on the mound.
“It was pretty much all defense, just trying to get fly balls, ground balls, and they did all the work,” said Zaghoul.
The 4-3 victory at Bullens Field, now secures Westfield as the number one seed in the 14-year-old Babe Ruth State Championship. Westfield will battle Pittsfield for the title at 2 p.m. on Saturday at Bullens Field.
“Tonight, the kids came to play,” said Westfield Manager Jim Cloutier. “We made the plays we needed to, we got the hits we needed to.”
Tied at 1-1 entering the third inning, Westfield was able to threaten offensively when Jeremy McCormick singled to drive in Dylan King. Three batter’s latter with the bases loaded, Troy Hevey was hit by a pitch in order to score McCormick and give Westfield the 3-1 lead. In the top of the fourth, Westfield added another run for insurance.
Cutting into the lead in the fourth inning to make it 4-2, Pittsfield rallied in the bottom of the sixth inning when a Michael Grady single scored Nick Hall to bring Pittsfield within one run.
Jimmy Cloutier tries to avoid the tag at home. (Photo by Marc St. Onge)
Defensively, the boys from the Whip City received two great diving plays in center field from Rodrigues. In the bottom of the second inning, Ryan LaPoint and Troy Hevey turned a double play to get out of the inning.
“Carlos Rodriguez was absolutely outstanding out there, he’s really turned into an unbelievable baseball player,” said Cloutier.
Saturday’s game would mean a lot for the 14-year-olds to hold the championship trophy.
“These kids have put in so much effort, some of these kids played last year and didn’t do so well all-star wise,” said Cloutier. “For them to be at this point in this situation tomorrow is fantastic.”
