Westfield Comes From Behind to Tie Ridge Americans 3-3

Westfield rallied from a 3-2 deficit in the bottom of the 6th inning, tying the game and sending it into extra innings for an exciting finish where the winning run was cut down at the plate to end the game.

Westfield got on the board first when Chris Rinaldi walked and stole around to 3rd. Nick Mele hit a deep fly ball to right that allowed Rinaldi to tag and score for a 1-0 lead. The Blue (White?) Devils scored again in the 2nd when Chris Varano got things going with 2 outs with a blast to deep center field that almost cleared the fence. Varano was then knocked home with a line drive RBI double to deep right center by Hopper Murray.

Vin Difilippo started on the mound for Westfield and pitched the 1st 3 innings, holding Ridge to 1 hit and 1 run. It was 2-1 going into the 4th inning when Ridge batters connected for 2 home runs to make it 3-2 Ridge. Chris Boutsikaris did not allow a run after the 4th and threw 2 strong innings to hold Ridge in check.

Westfield entered the bottom of the 6th trailing 3-2. Tommy Summers got the rally started with one out when he leaned into a hard fastball and took first base. Eric Varakian followed with a deep blast to right field that landed near the fence. The speedy Summers scored all the way from 1st base and Varakian ended up with a clutch RBI double. Westfield could not score again in the 6thand the game went into extra innings for the 2nd straight day.

Chris Rinaldi pitched scoreless innings in the 6th and 7th and Westfield came to bat in the bottom of the 7th with darkness settling in and hopes of ending the game. Nick Mele got things started with a single and proceeded to steal 2nd and 3rd. After a ground out to 3rd, Devin "the Animal" Anderson sent a high fly ball to right field and Mele returned to 3rd to tag and left for home just as the catch was made. The Ridge right fielder threw a strike to the plate and just nipped Mele at home for a great play and the final out of the game.

The Westfield defense was stellar all game and Scott Tupper, Brett Robertshaw and Michael Mobarakai added strong defensive plays. Tupper was awarded a Blue Ball award for throwing out a Ridge runner attempting to stretch a single into a double.

The next game is against the Boro Bombers in Hillsborough on Thursday, June 18th.