Westfield Blue defeats Berkeley Heights 11-3

After getting off to a sluggish start and trailing 3-0, Westfield Blue came to life in the bottom of the third inning. Liam Loughlin started a rally with a solid hit followed by a line drive single by Owen Brancatella. After Justin Lankler battled the pitcher in a tough at bat, Parker Hess then slammed a double, driving in the team’s first run. Strong hits and superb base stealing by Rowan Oberman, Tyler Roth, and Daniel Criscuolo added 3 more runs to the scoreboard. A great hit by Owen Colwell drove in run 5. Owen Murray knocked in the last run of the inning.

The fourth inning was a 1-2-3 inning. Justin Lin made the play at first to get out Berkeley Heights’ first batter. Owen Murray then struck out the next 2 batters. Westfield Blue’s defense showed its depth in the top of the fifth, when George Devanney Murray jumped up to grab a bunted ball and rifled it to first for an out. Roth then made 2 nice catches to wrap it up. In the bottom of the fourth Westfield almost got another rally going with hits by Will Stern and Loughlin but no runs were scored.

The bottom of the fifth got off to a great start with solid hits and stellar base stealing by Parker Hess, Oberman, and Criscuolo. Hess stole home for the seventh run of the game. A nice hit by Criscuolo knocked in the next run. Owen Murray’s stand up triple drove in 2 runs. A big hit by Devanney Murray drove in run 11.

Owen Murray’s spectacular on-the-run diving catch to get out a Berkeley Height’s batter was the highlight of the top of the sixth. Murray struck out the other 2 batters to wrap up the game.

Strong pitching by Daniel and Owen M., tough defense, and aggressive batting by the entire lineup contributed to the team’s 11-3 win over Berkeley Heights.

Game Recap by Cindy "Lois Lane" Roth

Photos from the game:


Criscuolo fires a strike
Murray unleashes some heat
Loughlin starts off rally
Excellent D from Lin at 1st
No thanks Will - I have my own
No thanks Lanky - Will already offered me some

The Hit Parade:


Brancatella

Hess

Oberman

Roth

Criscuolo

Colwell

Murray

Devanney Murray