Westfield Pitching and "D" Solid in Win Over Long Hill

Westfield White got strong pitching and solid defense in an 8-3 win over Long Hill. Vin Difilippo, Nick Mele and Chris Boutsikaris each threw 2 innings a piece and held the Long Hill bats in check throughout the night. The trio limited Long Hill to 5 hits over 6 innings while striking out 4.

While the pitchers were throwing strikes, the defense was making plays behind them. In the 1st inning, White's second baseman Eric Varakian made a great backhand stab of an almost certain base hit up the middle and Chris Rinaldi made a diving stab of a line drive that was headed for center field to rob Long Hill of another hit. In the 3rd inning, pitcher Mele fielded a hard ground ball back to the mound and initiated a 1-6-3 double play to stifle a Long Hill rally. Center fielder Scott Tupper made a strong throw towards the plate on a base hit up the middle, hitting the cut off man (Mele) who initiated a run down of the runner from 2nd who attempted to score. Boutsikaris and Mobarakai executed the run down defense flawlessly to record the out. Catcher Devin Anderson prevented a theft of 2nd base with a bullet of a throw to nail the Long Hill runner.

Eric Varakian got Westfield on the board in the 1st when he singled, stole 2nd and 3rd and scored on an RBI single by Rinaldi. Westfield threatened again in the 2nd when Hopper Murray singled and stole 2nd, but he was stranded there and was not able to score.

Chris Varano initiated the scoring again in the 3rd when he led of with a single and stole 2nd base. Scott Tupper hit the ball to the right side of the infield to advance Varano and he was able to reach 1st base safely when the ball was misplayed. Tupper then stole 2nd to put runners on 2nd and 3rd. Varano was knocked in by a hard RBI ground out by Tommy Summers and Tupper scored on an RBI single by Rinaldi. Rinaldi stole 2nd and Vin Difilippo knocked him home with an RBI single. Nick Mele followed with a shot over the right fielder's head and an RBI triple. Anderson then knocked Mele home on the next pitch.

Westfield got 1 additional run in the 4th and the 5th innings. Mobarakai (2 hits) and Varano (3 hits) led off the 4th with back-to-back singles and they each stole a base to get things started and then Tupper hit the ball to the right side for an RBI ground out. In the 5th Rinaldi led off with his 3rd single of the night and stole 2nd. Difilippo walked and both stole to put runners on 2nd and 3rd. Mele then hit an RBI sac fly that allowed Rinaldi to score.

The win improves Westfield's record to 4-1-1 and they play their 1st District game on Sunday at 11 AM in Warren against the winner of the Cranford / Warren game that will take place on 6/27.