Westfield Blue comes from behind to beat Clark 9-6

Westfield Blue once again showed its mettle in a dramatic come from behind victory against a tough Clark team in the Clark Tournament on Friday night. Solid pitching combined with an explosive offense did the trick against the team that beat WB in a scrimmage just a few weeks ago.

In the first 3 innings, Clark pulled out to a 3-0 lead on smart base running and a few key hits, including a 2-run HR by Nick Santos (the same hitter who put 2 over the wall in our scrimmage a few weeks ago). WB didn’t get a hit until the bottom of the 3rd. Daniel Criscuolo and Justin Lin both put the ball in play but were thrown out by Clark defenders. Then with 2 outs, Will Stern and Liam Loughlin both singled. However, the rally was short lived and WB was unable to score.

Clark added a run in the 4th to go up 4-0 as WB came up to bat in the bottom of the inning. Rowan Oberman started the inning off with a single followed by hits from Owen Colwell, Owen Murray, Parker Hess, Justin Lankler and Stern. After Loughlin worked a base on balls the score was tied 4-4 with bases loaded and Tyler Roth at the plate. The pitcher tried to jam Roth but ended up hitting him, sending him to first and the go ahead run home. Not content with a 5-4 lead, Oberman continued the rally with a 2 out double that drove in 2 more, followed by a 2 RBI single from Colwell. When the inning was finally over, WB had the lead 9-4.

Clark continued to hit the ball well in the 5th and 6th but could only add 2 more runs. WB almost added to their lead in the 5th with a hit by George Devanney Murray and a walk by Owen Brancatella but neither player scored, leaving the final tally at 9-6.

WB pitching was superb with duties shared by Colwell and Roth. Oberman was called in for relief in the 6th with men on base and Clark threatening. In a dramatic showdown, the game ended with a strikeout of Clark slugger Santos.