Westfield American’s Andre Phaneuf (13) slides into home plate to score another run against Agawam Monday at Ralph E. Sanville Field on Cross Street. (Photo by Marc St. Onge)
WESTFIELD – The results were mixed in Little League Baseball All-Star Majors action to begin the week. One Whip City team enjoyed an enormous victory while the other battled tough before losing a heartbreaker.
LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL ALL-STARS
12-YEAR-OLD (MAJORS)
Westfield American 17, Agawam 0 (2.5 inn.)
Westfield American pitcher Josh Wagner highlighted a four-run first inning with an RBI double to left center field.
Then, in the bottom of the second, Westfield exploded for 13 runs to put things away.
The rally started with consecutive hits from Patrick Moore (triple), Deven Werbiskis (double), Nick Lenfest, Nate Pudlo (double off the center field fence), and Wagner. Paul Lawry, Werbiskis, Andre Phaneuf and Emmett Garfield added hits in the inning.
Werbiskis finished 2-for-2 with a double, two RBIs, and three runs. Pudlow went 1-for-1 with a double, two walks, and three runs. Wagner went 2-for-3 with a double and three RBIs. He also struck out six batters and gave up just two hits in 2.2 innings pitched to earn the win. Garfield close out the game with a strikeout in relief.
Southampton 7, Westfield National 6
Gavin Connors pitched two scoreless innings of relief for Westfield National.
Westfield’s Kaevon Eddington (double, single), Jacob Mello (double), Evan Grant (single), Colin Cusack (single), Luke Grabowski (single), Nick Gauger (single), and Gavin Connors (single) collected hits.
Dylan Gibson delivered strong defense.
WESTFIELD POSTS HOT START: Westfield Post 124’s junior squad resumed its inaugural season Monday with a game against Belchertown at Jachym Field.
No details were reported.
Westfield entered Monday’s contest fresh off a key win over Agawam Saturday, which ran their record to 7-1. That same day, the Seniors defeated Northampton in eight innings, 5-4.
LATE RESULTS – Sat., June 23
LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL
10-Year-Old All-Stars
Westfield National 10, Gateway 0
Westfield National began its All-Star run with a convincing shutout of Gateway.
Westfield starting pitcher Jack Madsen tossed three innings of one-hit ball, striking out five batters and walking just one.
Jordan Hellers made a great diving stab at the lone Gateway hit but came up just short. Tyrus Traska had two strikeouts in an inning of relief.
Westfield was patient behind the plate and worked many walks.
Anthony Roberts powered a ball to deep center for an inside-the-park home run, and Brodie Grabiec doubled.
Sun., June 24
Westfield National 7, Westfield American 4
It was an All-Whip City matchup with National winning for the second straight year.
Pitching proved to be the deciding factor as National starter Anthony Roberts pitched three innings, while Traska and David Beattie delived key innings in relief.
While there were only a combined six strikeouts for National pitchers, the defense stepped up and made several routine plays when required. Jordan Hellers had the stand-out play of the game with an
outstanding mid-air grab.
Jack Madsen caught a solid game and followed it up with a team-high three hits, including a triple. Traska and Jordan Hellers combined to go 3-for-3 along with two walks and a hit by pitcher. Grabiec plated the eventual winning run in the fourth inning after Traska had a two-run base knock.
