Warren came ready to play and snuck past Westfield White 8-7 in a game that saw several lead changes. Warren got on the board 1st on a solo home run by their number 3 hitter. Westfield came back with 3 runs in the top of the 2nd inning of their own to take the lead 3-1. Nick Mele led off with a single, stole second and scored on an RBI single by Devin Anderson. Anderson advanced to 2nd on the throw to the plate and advanced to 3rd on a wild pitch. Chris Boutsikaris walked and stole 2nd to put runners on 2nd and 3rd with no out. Brett Robertshaw singled home Anderson and then Boutsikaris came home on an RBI ground out by Chris Varano. Warren came right back to tie it in their half of the 2nd on two Westfield throwing errors.
White then went up 4-3 in the 3rd. Tommy Summers led off with a single, stole 2nd and scored on an RBI double to left by Chris Rinaldi. The scored remained that way until the bottom of the 4th when Warren batters connected for back-to-back-to-back-to-back hits. The 4th hit was another home run which cleared the bases and which put Warren ahead 7-4. Chris Varano settled in and struck out the next 3 Warren hitters to end the rally.
Westfield immediately responded in the top of the 5th with 3 runs to tie the game 7-7. Hopper Murray led things off with a walk and then scored when Varano hammered a shot to deep right which went over the right fielder's head. The hustling Varano was held up at 3rd with a triple and after Scott Tupper drew a walk and stole 2nd, Varano scored on an RBI ground out by Tommy Summers. Tupper then scored on an RBI ground out by Eric Varakian. Warren countered in their half of the 5th with a single run on a couple of hits and a very bad hop of a grounder to 1st base to make it 8-7.
Westfield did not quit and threatened in the 6th. With 2 outs, Devin Anderson battled at the plate and drew a walk. He then stole 2nd to get into scoring position. Boutsikaris hit a line shot to right field which appeared to be headed for the gap, but the Warren right fielder was perfectly positioned and made the catch for the game's final out.
The defense was solid at times. Brett Robertshaw made 2 very good defensive plays at 3rd base to rob Warren hitters of singles. 1st baseman Chris Boutsikaris made an outstanding diving play of a hard ground ball and made the out unassisted in the 3rd inning. Catchers Nick Mele and Chris Rinaldi each threw out would be base stealers.
Hopper Murray (3 innings), Chris Varano (1 inning) and Brett Robertshaw (1 inning) each pitched well for Westfield.
Westfield plays next on Thursday at 6 PM in the District tournament against South Orange Maplewood in Warren (Field M2).
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