Westfield Wins in District Semifinals!

Those of us that ignored the torrential rain in Westfield and traveled to Booth Field in Scotch Plains today were rewarded with an opportunity to see 24 outstanding 10 year old baseball players doing what they love best. This District 12 Babe Ruth Tournament semifinal game matched the Westfield White team against our Westfield Blue to see who would proceed to the Championship Game. Both teams played exceptionally well but Westfield White used their speed to run the bases a little more aggressively and came up with some key defensive stops to edge out WB 4-2. With friends, neighbors and former teammates playing against each other, many of the parents ended up cheering for both teams - and both teams certainly deserved it.

It looked like a promising start for WB in the first. After Oberman singled up the middle and Owen Murray drew a walk, Hess drilled a line drive that was knocked down on an excellent defensive play by the umpire, limiting Hess to a single and preventing a run from scoring. In the bottom of the first, WW was able to manufacture a run after Chris Rinaldi walked and stealthily stole his way around the diamond.

Both teams went quietly in the second, with both Vincent Difilippo and Tyler Roth pitching superbly. In the top of the 3rd, WB tied the game at 1-1 after Roth singled and was advanced by Oberman’s walk, a ground ball from Owen Colwell and a line drive single by Owen Murray. In the bottom of the 3rd, Eric Varakian hustled his way on base after a hard hit grounder to 2nd was unable to be fielded. He advanced on a walk by Rinaldi and scored on Difillipo’s RBI hit. After Rinaldi and Difillipo both stole bases, there were runners on 2nd and 3rd with Nick Mele at the plate. Nick hit a towering blast that sent centerfielder Oberman back to the fence. Fortunately for WB, the fence in center at Booth field is 200’ and Oberman was able to catch the ball; at Gumbert or most other fields that ball would have been gone.

WB was able to load the bases in the 4th but couldn’t send anyone home. After Chris Boutsikaris and Tom Summers drew leadoff walks in the bottom of the 4th, Oberman was brought in for relief. Despite picking up 2 K’s, WW was able to tack on another run as the speedy Bouts stole home when a passed ball ricocheted around the backstop, giving WW a 3-1 lead.

Chris Rinaldi took the mound for WW in the 5th and held WB scoreless while WW picked up another run on 2 groundball singles and some very good base running by Difillipo and Mele, making the score 4-1 after 5.

WB almost got a rally going in the top of the 6th as George Devanney Murray and Justin Lin both singled. With one out, Owen Brancatella grounded out and a play was made for George at 3rd. The ball got past the third baseman, sending George home and Lin towards 3rd. George scored but Lin was called out at 3rd in a very close play to end the game.

After the game, WW’s Nick Mele gave a post game interview in which he complimented WB for their play and reflected on the mutual respect that these two teams have for each other. Unfortunately that video clip got overwritten but it was very touching to see that at 10 years old Mr Mele is as gracious off the field as he is extraordinary on it.

[pictures to follow]

Rowan's Catch (video by J.Rinaldi)

Westfield Leader article on Springfield game

The July 3 Westfield Leader has an article "WF Blue Rips Springfield 10s
In District 12 Tourney" on Pages 11-12.

Westfield Blue drops close one to Chatham 6-5

Westfield Blue’s offense came alive a little too late as the team lost 6-5 in the bottom of the 6th to Chatham at Nash fields in Chatham Thursday night.

WB got off to a slow start, unable to score in the first despite having 2 runners on base. Chatham turned a walk and a couple of hits into a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. WB came back to score 1 in the top of the 2nd after Lankler walked, stole 2nd and was driven home on a hard hit single by Stern. However, Chatham had a big inning in the bottom of the 2nd with a few nice hits and a couple of misplayed balls allowing them to score 4 more runs and take the lead 5-1.

WB was able to score 1 more in the 4th and held Chatham scoreless in the 3rd, 4th and 5th innings, making the score 5-2 going into the top of the 6th. Oberman worked a walk and Colwell ripped a single to get things going for WB. When Hess got hit by a pitch, WB had the bases load with only one out and George Devanney Murray at the plate. George came through big time with a solid shot down the 3rd base line that drove in 3 runs and tied the game 5-5. The celebration was short lived however as Chatham came back to score the winning run in the bottom of the 6th on a deep line drive to left center.

WB used 5 pitchers this game: Roth in the first, Colwell the 2nd, Oberman the 3rd & 4th, Hess the 5th and Owen Murray closed out the 6th. On a positive note, Coach Murray took some time to mingle with the parents in the bleachers during the game.

George's game tying rip

Nothing gets by Stern at 3rd

Colwell about to rip one

Owen Murray takes a healthy cut

Oberman grabs a line drive in center

Hess hustles to first

Lin ready at first

Lankler flys into 3rd

Loughlin shows off his speed to beat throw

OB about to make contact

Daniel gets under fly to left

Tyler gets the relay from left

Westfield Blue loses, eats Ice Cream

Rowan went with his trusty mint Oreo chip but others like OB, Roth & Lanky chose a strange blue concoction called “Smurf” at Scoops tonight after the team lost to Scotch Plains in the Babe Ruth tournament at nearby Booth Field.

Despite an excellent effort from starting pitcher Justin Lin, our dairy devouring diamond devils displayed dozens of deft defensive don’ts, allowing Scotch Plains to rack up 8 runs in just the first inning. After Lin faced his 13th batter of the inning, Oberman was brought in for relief. WB was able to limit Scotch Plains to just 1 more run through the 3rd inning but was only able to rack up 4 runs itself making the score 9-4 after 3. Owen Colwell came in to pitch in the 4th and Owen Murray closed out the 6th but by then the Scotch Plains bats were on fire and the WB bats were as cold as that Smurf colored ice cream.

The loss dashed hopes of an all Westfield Championship game; the two Westfield teams will now meet in the semi-finals.

Westfield Blue beats Cranford 8-4

Westfield Blue clinched a playoff spot in the District 12 Babe Ruth Tournament by defeating Cranford 8-4 at Booth field in Scotch Plains today. The victory was a true team effort, the result of excellent pitching, solid D, aggressive base running and lots of contact at the plate.

WB got things started in the first inning when Tyler Roth drew a walk, stole 2nd and 3rd and was driven home by a single from Rowan Oberman. Owen Colwell next belted a grounder to short. The Cranford SS made an excellent play, knocking it down and throwing from his knees to get the force on Oberman at 2nd. Colwell promptly stole bases and was driven home on a ground out by Owen Murray, putting WB up 2-0.

However, Cranford drew a few walks and hit a couple of singles in the bottom of the first to take the lead 3-2. That was to be the last time Cranford lead in this game as the WB pitching and defense held them scoreless until the bottom of the 6th when they threatened but were able to score only 1 more run.

WB’s big offensive output came in the top of 3rd. After Coach Murray told the team “We can hit this pitcher” the boys went out and did just that. Oberman led off with a single to center. Colwell followed it with a rip to right. When Cranford threw to 2nd to catch Colwell stealing, Oberman stole home. Owen Murray then advanced Colwell to 3rd and Parker Hess drove him in with a single that he managed to stretch into a triple. George Devanney Murray picked up the next RBI with a single to center that was followed by singles from Justin Lin and Justin Lankler. Roth then blasted a hard single to right driving in the last of the 6 runs WB scored in the inning.

Tyler Roth and Owen Murray handled the pitching, allowing only 4 runs against a very good Cranford team and striking out 7 along the way.

Next up in the tournament is a tough Scotch Plains team on Tuesday.

Roth delivers a strike

Murray fires one in

Words of Wisdom from Coach Murray

The 3rd inning rally:
(The photographer apologizes for the shakiness of these clips but he was shooting from 200ft away through a fence. Also, the sun was in his eyes and the dog ate his homework.)

Oberman starts it off

Colwell rips a single

Hess turns single to triple

Devanney Murray blasts a single to center

Lin singles to extend rally

Lankler hustles one out

Roth rips to right for RBIs