Westfield Blue Silences “Boro” Bombers With A 4-2 Victory

In their third game of the North Edison Tournament, Westfield Blue was up against the always tough Bombers of Hillsborough. With the Saturday afternoon sun high and the rest of the baseball complex quiet, Westfield took the field against a fundamentally sound Bomber squad. Tyler took the mound and got Blue off to a fast start with a 1, 2, 3 top half of the first. Tyler then led off the bottom of the first inning with a single and Rowan followed with a walk. With one out Parker beat out an infield hit, loading the bases for George. George smashed a hit deep and just inside the right field foul line clearing the bases and giving Blue a 3-0 lead going into the second inning.

The highlights for Westfield in the second inning included Owen C. snagging a sharply hit line-drive and robbing a Hillsborough batter of a base hit, Tyler’s solid pitching, and, in the bottom half of the second, Daniel ripped a single.

Boro’s bats started to rumble in the third inning and after four hits quickly got within a run of Blue. If not for the outstanding play of Owen Murray in centerfield charging a ball and quickly hitting his cut-off man (Tyler), who in-turn threw it to Owen C. at third base where he slapped a tag on an overly aggressive Bomber runner Hillsborough may have scored several more runs in the inning. M.J. led off the bottom of the third with a line drive single to left, Rowan followed with a walk, but that was all of the offense Westfield could muster. Westfield headed to the fourth inning with a 3-2 lead and gave the ball to their tricky southpaw, Rowan. Rowan’s battery mate would be Parker, who did a fine job catching with George hampered by a sore elbow and Coach Mike giving M.J. a rest from behind the plate.

Two Boro batters reached base in the fourth but Rowan’s precision pitching and strong outfield play by Justin Lankler and Owen M. held the score at 3-2. In the bottom of the fourth inning Owen Murray singled, stole second and eventually scored on an RBI single by Justin Lin. So, with two innings to go Blue was up 4-2.

Rowan continued to master the Hillsborough batters in the fifth inning with strong defensive plays by Steven and Owen M. In the bottom half of the fifth Justin Lankler hit a long fly out, which sparked the bats of M.J., Tyler and Rowan, each of whom singled. Despite loading the bases Westfield could not add another run and went into the last inning with a slim 2-run lead.

In the top of the sixth Boro sent up some of its strongest hitters but good defensive plays by Owen B., Daniel and Owen M. dashed the comeback hopes of the Bombers.

In what was a quality, well played game by both teams Westfield Blue prevailed 4-2 and will move on into the tournament playoffs. Coach Mike awarded game balls to both Tyler and Rowan for their excellent pitching efforts.

Game Recap by Scott Jeffery

First inning Rally

Tyler Single (and good view of Mr. Roth's back)

Parker Hustles out IF hit

George launches one to RF for 3 RBI

Daniel single in 2nd inning

MJ single in 3rd inning

MJ single in 5th inning

Tyler single in 5th inning

Rowan single in 5th inning to load bases