Tommy Summers must really love playing South Orange Maplewood (SOM). A few weeks back it was Summers who capped off a 4 run, 6th inning, come from behind rally against SOM with a walk off line drive single to win a key District game. Today he came off the bench to deliver 2 key RBI singles as Westfield defeated SOM 11-6 in the Cal Ripken NJ State tournament. Difilippo came on in relief and threw 3 solid innings, holding SOM scoreless through the first 2 innings of work and allowing Westfield to come from behind and take the lead. Difilippo also drew 3 walks, singled and scored 3 times. Shortstop Chris Rinaldi made three key plays defensively, including a diving stab of a hard smash up the middle to halt a SOM rally in the 5th and a backhand stab of a ground ball deep in the hole at short and a great throw to nip the batter at 1st base.
Westfield jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the 1st when Rinaldi walked, stole his way to 3rd and scored on an RBI ground out by Nick Mele. SOM responded with 3 runs in the 2nd courtesy of 4 walks an error and a hit. Westfield came right back though, scoring 2 runs in the 3rd inning to even the score at 3. Eric Varakian singled and after reaching 3rd base, he came around to score a walk on a balk. Difilippo walked and eventually stole home on a wild pitch.
Westfield added 3 more runs in the 4th. Michael Mobarakai led off with a single and stole 2nd and advanced to 3rd on a passed ball. Tupper and Rinaldi walked to load the bases and then Difilippo came up with a big hit to drive in Mobarakai, but Tupper was thrown out at the plate attempting to score. Rinaldi stole home on an attempted pick off and then Mele followed with a single to advance Difilippo to 3rd. Difilippo scored a few pitches later on a passed ball. When the inning finished, Westfield held a 6-3.
SOM threatened in the 5th and added 2 runs via a couple of hits and a couple of balks. SOM's offense looked liked it was poised for a very big inning, but Rinaldi made a diving stop of a one hop line drive up the middle, got up and thew the SOM batter out a 1st base to stop the rally.
Westfield put the game out of reach in the 6th. Lead off hitter Tupper reached 1st base on a hard grounder to the right side. Varakian re-entered the game to run for Tupper and he was advanced to 2nd on a sac bunt. Difilippo walked and then Mele lofted a fly ball to very deep right center field which banged off of the top of the fence. Varakian scored and Difilippo was held at 3rd as Mele scooted into 2nd with an RBI double. Devin Anderson hit a long fly ball to center field and Difilippo tagged up and scored. Boutsikaris and Summers then each added RBI singles to give Westfield an 11-5 lead. Rinaldi came onto pitch the 6th and he allowed one run before recording the final out for an 11-6 Westfield win.
Westfield plays next on Monday at 7:45 PM in the finals of the North Edison tournament against North Edison.
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