Saturday, July 25, 2009

Westfield Clinches #1 Seed in State Playoffs With Win Over South Brunswick

Westfield White completed Cal Ripken State tournament pool play with a 4-1 record which was good enough to clinch them the #1 seed in the playoff round and spot in Monday's championship game.

Westfield got on the board in the top of the 1st when Chris Rinaldi singled with one out and stole 2nd. He advanced to 3rd base on a single by Vin Difilippo and then stole home on a passed ball. South Brunswick responded immediately in the bottom of the 1st and took a 2-1 lead after the lead off single and the 2nd hitter connected for a home run. Westfield starter did not let the adversity get to him and he stayed focused and got out of the inning without further damage.

Westfield scored 3 more times in the 2nd. Boutsikaris singled, stole 2nd and advanced to 3rd on a passed ball. Tupper lined an RBI single to knock home Boutsikaris and then he stole 2nd and scored on Tommy Summer's RBI single. Summers stole 2nd and advanced to 3rd on Eric Varakian's single and then Summers used his speed to swipe home on a passed ball. Westfield led 4-2 following Summers' theft.

South Brunswick bounced back and scored 3 in the 2nd to take a 5-4 lead, but Westfield bats sounded loudly in response in the top of the 3rd. They scored 6 times in the 3rd with the big blow coming off of the bat of Chris Rinaldi who connected for a 3 run home run to deep left center field. Nick Mele, Hopper Murray, Vin Difilippo and Summers all singled in the inning for Westfield who took a 10-5 lead as a result of the rally.

Westfield held South Brunswick scoreless in the 3rd, but South Brunswick scored two in the 4th to pull within 3 runs at 10-7. Westfield's offense got right back to work in the top of the 5th and scored two more runs. With 2 outs and no one on, Varakian and Rinaldi singled and Difilippo walked. Mele's hard ground ball was misplayed by South Brunswick and 2 runs scored to make it 12-7. Westfield then added 2 more runs in the 6th to make it 14-7 with the last run scoring on an RBI sac fly by Varakian.

Boutsikaris, Difilippo and Michael Mobarakai each threw 2 innings a piece for Westfield. Mobarakai did not allow a hit.

Westfield plays next at 4:00 PM today against Bridgewater American in the Bridgewater tournament semi-finals.

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