Westfield All-Star North Major Carter Cousins delivers to an Agawam batter during last night’s game at Paper Mill Field. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
WESTFIELD – Its been a rough past few days for the Little League All-Stars of Agawam, who fell on Wednesday 11-3 to Westfield’s South All-Star team, and fared no better Friday evening at Paper Mill Field, falling by an identical count to Westfield’s 11-12 North All Star team.
Behind a complete game gem from stud pitcher Carter Cousins, and a stout evening at the plate from third baseman Spencer Cloutier, North flexed it’s offensive muscles early in this one after Cousins began the game white hot, striking out the side in the first inning to start the night.
Following a dominant first inning from Cousins, Cloutier launched a fastball from Agawam pitcher Ben Mielnikowski deep into left field, hitting the fence. He crossed home plate several pitches later thanks to an RBI double from catcher Joe Raco.
Meanwhile, Cousins continued to strut his stuff in the second, and got some big help from his infield, as second baseman Elliot Avery made his first web gem of the day, robbing an Agawam batter of a surefire double with an athletic snag.
Westfield Little League All-Star Major short stop Jimmy Hagan connects during last night’s game against Agawam. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
The North batting machine continued to march onward in the second inning, as Cousins drove in leftfielder Ryan Rix with a single to make the game 2-0.
Following Avery’s second miraculous play of the day, a Nomar Garciaparra-esque scoop and toss to get the third out of the inning, North was back at it again, this time pounding Agawam for three more runs, thanks to some intelligent baserunning from outfielder Cam Davignon, who registered an RBI single and a stolen base in the third frame.
The tide seemed to turn in the top of the fourth, as Agawam made a stand, scoring three runs and then holding North scoreless in the bottom of the inning despite loading the bases.
Out of the jam, Agawam attempted to reignite the spark of the fourth, but were put down by Cousins, who finished the evening with eleven strikeouts on 87 pitches.
By the bottom of the fifth, North took it upon itself to quell the Agawam uprising, and finished the evening by scoring six runs in the bottom of the fifth to send the Little Brownies packing.
Westfield Little League All-Star Mike Hall, rear right, crosses home plate during last night’s game at Paper Mill Field where Westfield won 11-3. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
North registered thirteen hits on the evening to Agawam’s three, with both teams committing two errors apiece.
After the game, North’s star slugger was modest about their efforts.
“We hit it good tonight,” said Cloutier. “We had the timing on the pitches, we got alotta runs, but we cleaned up well in the field.”
North’s Manager Mike Nihill was impressed by his team’s offensive production Friday, especially that of his third baseman.
“He hit that laser beam in the first, that hit the fence, I’m surprised it didn’t cut the ball,” the skipper said. “He’s been the MVP of the league thus far, without question. I think he’s hitting like, .800 right now? He’s been off the charts.”
Despite Cloutier’s heroics at the plate, the star that burned brightest Friday evening was that of Cousins, who Nihill believed set the tone for his team’s efforts at Paper Mill.
“What was most impressive was that he was throwing twelve pitches an inning, which is very efficient in this heat,” Nihill said. “He was able to get the defense off the field and into the shade, which was big today.”
North’s next contest takes them up 91 to take their 2-0 record into a showdown with arch-rival Northampton Monday evening.
