Northampton 11, Westfield 1
JACHYM FIELD, WESTFIELD – The plan for Westfield Post 124 was to spread out the pitching so that every arm was rested and available for the American Legion postseason tournament, where a team can find itself playing every night until you either lose twice or you win the whole tournament. On paper it was a good plan; it was the execution of that plan that was the problem.
Westfield used seven pitchers in seven innings, giving up eight hits, nine walks and hitting two batters (actually one batter twice). Northampton Post 28 (16-1) finished the regular season in first after an easy win Sunday at Jachym Field. Westfield (11-7) finished with its fifth straight loss.
Westfield catcher Jon Huntley attempts the tag at home plate on the Northampton base runner. (Photo courtesy of Marc St. Onge)
Ari Schwartz started for Westfield, walking the first hitter on four pitches before eventually closing out the 1-2-3 inning by picking off the leadoff walk at second base. He gave up two runs in the second before giving way to John Daley. Northampton took advantage of four defensive miscues in the inning by Westfield, including three missed double plays (two close plays at first base and a bobbled transfer at second).
The parade of pitchers continued with Devin Baker, Adam Kearing, Matt Hastings, Stefan Krol and Nick Clegg. Northampton added two runs in the third and three runs in both the sixth and seventh.
Westfield got its first base hit in the fourth, a Jack Blake line drive to center, and two more in the sixth. After Hastings opened the sixth with a single, he was quickly erased by a J.D. Huntley fielder’s choice. Huntley moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on Krol’s double down the line in left.
Beginning Tuesday, the 14 remaining teams (both West Springfield and South Hadley forfeited their seasons) will be broken up into two brackets. Each bracket will play a double-elimination tournament with the winners of each bracket meeting to crown a champion and send a western Massachusetts team on to the state tournament.
Photo courtesy of Westfield Post 124.
