The email went out indicating an 8:00 PM start in Bridgewater against a tough Montgomery squad but it appeared as though Westfield White got the message that it was a 9:00 PM start (line stolen from Lance!). Montgomery scored 6 times in the 1st two innings courtesy of 5 Westfield errors and a long HR from Montgomery's Johnson. Vin Difilippo pitched very well in the first two frames, throwing strikes and not walking a batter, but he did not get much help from his defense and Montgomery capitalized.
Westfield White came to bat in the top of the 3rd trailing 6-0 and needing to get something going. Chris Varano kept his hot hitting alive with a line drive single to lead off the 3rd. He stole 2nd and scored on a Brett Robertshaw RBI single. Scott Tupper followed with a walk and both players stole to put runners on 2nd and 3rd with one out. Tommy Summers singled in Robertshaw and then Tupper scored on a hard ground ball to short by Eric Varakian to make it 6-3 Montgomery.
Chris Boutsikaris came on in relief around 9:00 PM and the defense was with him. Boots and the Westfield White D did not allow another run the rest of the way. Boots was spectacular, changing speeds and hitting locations and he only allowed 3 hits and a single walk over the final 4 innings.
Westfield threatened again in the 4th when Devin Anderson pounded a double to the right center field fence, but he was not able to score. White's offense got to work again in the 5th inning and they put together a big rally. Hopper Murray led off with a walk and Chris Varano followed with his 2nd hard single of the day. Both runners advanced on a steal. Murray scored on a ground out by Robertshaw and then Scott Tupper kept his hot bat going with a line drive RBI single that brought Varano across the plate to close the lead to 6-5. Michael Mobarakai singled and Tommy Summers followed with a beautiful bunt single to load the bases. Varakian then walked to force in a run and tie the game at 6. Chris Rinaldi then just missed a grandslam HR when he hit a deep line drive off of the left center field fence for a 2 RBI double that gave Westfield the lead. Summers and Mobarakai scored on the hit and Varakian was held up at 3rd. Varakian scored on a passed ball to make it 9-6.
Montgomery threatened in the 6th by loading the bases on 3 consecutive singles (the only hits allowed by Boutsikaris in his 4 innings of work), but Westfield's defense rose to the occasion. With the bases loaded and no one out, Westfield First Baseman Nick Mele made a tremendous play on a hard hit ball down the 1st base line. Mele snagged the hard grounder on a short hop, tagged 1st and then fired a perfect strike to Vin Difilippo at the plate who made a great tag for a double play. Both players were awarded the "Blue Ball" award which is given to a player when they make an outstanding defensive play. Boots then struck out the last Montgomery batter to close out the game without allowing a run.
Westfield plays next in the North Edison tournament against North Edison on Thursday, 7/9 @ 5:45.
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