Devin "The Animal" Anderson's bat came alive in a big way this afternoon in the Bridgewater Tournament sem-final game vs Bridgewater American. Anderson was 3 for 3 with a home run, 2 runs scored and 5 RBIs.
Westfield's offense scored 14 runs in a game against South Brunswick a couple of hours earlier and it kept rolling in the bottom of the 1st when Chris Rinaldi and Vin Difilippo walked and stole bases. Rinaldi scored on Nick Mele's RBI ground out and then Anderson stepped to the plate and proceeded to smash a fastball over the left field fence for a 2 run home run and 3-0 Westfield lead.
Scott Tupper took the mound for Westfield and held the powerful Bridgewater bats in check over the 1st 2 innings of play. Bridgewater broke through in the 3rd and tied the game by scoring 3 runs on 4 hits. Tupper kept his composure though and he worked out of the innings with a strikeout and ground out.
Hopper Murray relieved Tupper and threw a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the 4th and Murray made a great play on a slow roller down the 1st base line to record the 2nd out. He received a "Blue Ball" aware for the play. Westfield took a 5-3 lead in the bottom of the 4th when Rinaldi and Difilippo scored on a 2 run single by Anderson.
Bridgewater stepped to the plate with a purpose in the 5th and following a couple of misplayed balls, Bridgewater rattled off 6 consecutive hits, including a 3 run home run. Nick Mele came on in relief and got the final two outs of the inning, but Bridgewater scored 8 times to take a 11-5 lead.
Westfield coaches and players convened a quick conference at the start of the bottom of the 5th to talk about the loss of focus and the bats came alive quickly afterwards. Murray, Tupper and Mobarakai hit 3 consecutive singles. Brett Robertshaw walked and then Tommy Summers, Eric Varakian and Chris Rinaldi hit 3 more consecutive singles. Vin Difilippo then doubled to deep right field to clear the bases. Nick Mele followed with a walk and then Anderson knocked in his 5th run of the game with a line drive single to left field. Chris Boutsikaris knocked in Anderson with an RBI single, but was thrown out on a close play at 2nd trying to extend the hit to a double. 8 Westfield players scored in the inning to give Westfield a 13-11 lead.
Mele closed out the game with a strong inning of pitching in the 6th to secure the victory.
Westfield advances to the Championship game of the Bridgewater tournament on Tuesday at 6:00 PM. They will face Flemington in that game.
Westfield plays next on Sunday at 3:00 PM at Gumbert Field #3 against South Orange Maplewood in the NJASBL playoffs.
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