Westfield Blue Loses a Close One to Hazlet, 5-4

At Edison's impressive baseball complex, the weather cooperated to allow Westfield Blue to play its first game of the North Edison Tournament. Although they lost, Westfield generated some solid pitching and hitting and showed hustle with some adept base running.

Hazlet opened the game with a few hits to establish a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the 1st inning. Westfield bats were quiet in the 2nd and 3rd innings, but controlled pitching by Rowan Oberman and strong defense held Hazlet at bay. Owen M. made one of his 3 fantastic, leaping game catches in deep center field and Tyler stopped several balls making 3 outs at short stop to wow the fans.

The fourth inning is when Westfield Blue came alive offensively. The rally started with a line drive by Tyler who stole around the bases and scored when Rowan hit to get on first. Rowan stole 2nd and 3rd which enabled him to steal home when there was an overthrow at home plate with Parker at bat. Parker then walked and, deja-vu, stole bases and scored with another overthrow to the catcher. O.M. then walked and George Murray pounded the ball to the outfield to get an RBI. Justin Lin finished the inning with solid pitching and an excellent pick-off to make the score 4-2 at the bottom of the 4th.

Daniel crushed the ball for one of his 2 great hits of the game in the 5th inning, but Westfield wasn't able to capitalize on his single to score any additional runs. Hazlet threatened Westfield again with another run in the bottom of the 5th to make the game a nail bitter and then ties up the game with another run in the 6th. Parker stopped the go ahead run by charging a line drive to third and firing the ball to George to put us into extra innings.

Despite 3 hits, outfield singles by Owen M. and George M., and a whopper double by Justin Lin, Westfield wasn't able to score in the 7th and Hazlet snuck in another run in the bottom of the inning to win the game 5-4.


Game Recap by Fiona Oberman

Rowan knocks in Tyler for first run

Rowan steals Home

Parker steals Home

George RBI rip to send home OMurr

Hess charges and fires to George to save a run

Daniel Rips single to RF

Spectacular leaping catch in CF by OMurr (look closely!)