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.

Westfield Blue tops Plainfield 21-8

The entire Westfield Blue line up swung their bats exceptionally well leading to a victory in the team’s first CJBL away game in Plainfield Thursday night.

The game started off slowly for the WB. In the top of the first 3 runs were manufactured off aggressive base running following a few singles. Plainfield, however, came back swinging and was able to rack up 5 runs. Neither team was able to score in the 2nd leaving Plainfield with a 5-3 lead after 2.

In the top of 3rd, Tyler Roth started WB off with a walk, followed by hits from Rowan Oberman, Owen Murray, Parker Hess, Justin Lin and Daniel Criscuolo adding 4 more runs for Westfield. Plainfield responded with 1 run in the bottom of the 3rd, but WB now lead 7-6 after 3.

Will Stern started off the 4th with a walk, a stolen base and scored on a single from Justin Lankler. Roth, Oberman, Owen Colwell and Hess all followed with hits tacking on 5 more for WB. Plainfield was unable to produce any runs in the 4th or 5th making the WB lead 12-6 after 5 full innings.

But that wasn’t enough for the hungry WB bats. In the 6th the offense exploded, with 12 batters coming to the plate, racking up 8 hits including a triple by Hess and a rocket from George Devanney Murray. Owen Brancatella also singled and used excellent base running to score on a close play at the plate. When the dust settled, WB added 9 more. Plainfield tried to rally in the final inning but could only add 2 more, making the final score 21-8.

WB pitchers Owen Murray, Justin Lankler, Owen Colwell and Parker Hess pitched exceptionally well, shutting down the Plainfield offense with 15 strikeouts between them. They also learned some valuable lessons from the Umpire including how many warm up pitches are allowed and how balks are called.

Photos from the Game:

Colwell drives one

Hess drills one

Roth smashes one

Oberman lines one

O B safe at home

So this is what it's like to be Mike..

Hard to believe they're only 10!

Our fans

Westfield Blue drops 11-9 decision to Warren

The Westfield Blue 10 baseball team enjoyed a strong evening at the plate but gave up a few too many and lost to Warren, 11-9, in Central Jersey League action last night on Gumbert Field 3.




On Nickname Night at Gumbert, Parker Hess "Station" had a great game offensively, crushing three line drives for base hits. Other Westfield standouts at the plate were Tyler "Triple" Roth, Rowan "Roy Hobbs" Oberman, Liam "Launch" Loughlin and Owen "No The Coach Is Not My Father" Murray. Justin "Spanky" Lankler made his first start of the season on the mound. Owen "The Hitman" Brancatella had three great at-bats against Warren's talented pitchers. George "Scooter" Murray and Justin "Heater" Lin also were at the game and were very helpful in cleaning up the dugout after the loss.

The Blue Kids take the field tomorrow night on the road against Plainfield.

Game Recap by M.Murray

Photos by Nancy Murray (No she's not related!)

Westfield loses close one to Livingston 3-2 in extra innings

Gimme a “D!” Gimme an “E!” Gimme an “F, E, N, S, E!”

Those that braved the wind, rain, thunder and lightning for Monday’s nightcap were rewarded with an outstanding display of defense and a very well-played game overall. This game went into extra innings, and was pressure packed throughout.

1st Inning - Livingston sends a solid pitcher to the mound to start the game. Throwing hard and with good control, #9 retires our side in order after knocking down a bullet by Tyler Roth to open the game. Crafty Rowan Oberman, doing his best Greg Maddux impersonation, also retires the side in order in the bottom of the inning. While changing speeds and nibbling at corners, Rowan strikes out all three batters. Score after 1 – Westfield 0, Livingston 0.

2nd Inning – Livingston’s #9 retires the next three batters, keeping his perfect game in-tact. He records his second and third strikeout of the game. Rowan also pitches well in the second, striking out one and allowing one double in the inning, but no runs. Tyler Roth and Daniel Criscuolo convert two ground balls into outs. Score after 2 – Westfield 0, Livingston 0.

3rd Inning - #9 allows his first hit of the game, an infield hit by Justin Lankler. Other than this one hit, #9 remains in control, adding two more strikeouts. Rowan walks the first batter in the bottom of the inning. Then, after retiring the next two batters, is tagged for a line drive to the fence. With runners on second and third, and two outs, Livingston’s number two hitter lines a shot to right center. Owen Murray runs down the line drive and makes a fine catch in the gap, saving a sure two runs. Score after 3 – Westfield 0, Livingston 0.


4th Inning – Livingston sends #12 to the mound, who turns out to throw even harder than #9. Tyler greets him with a line drive single to left, but #12 retires the next three batters. Justin Lin takes the mound for Westfield in the bottom of the inning. Justin is throwing hard, but the Livingston hitters are tough. After an outstanding backhand stab by Rowan to record the first out, Livingston’s clean-up hitter launches a bomb over the left field fence. After another single and hit batter, Justin strikes out the seventh hitter, and “Big G” throws out a runner at third on an attempted steal. Score after 4 – Westfield 0, Livingston 1.

5th Inning – With some help, Westfield is able to break through in the fifth. Owen Colwell is hit by a pitch to open the inning. With one out, Justin Lin walks. With first and second, Will Stern hits a ground ball to the pitcher who throws to first base. The throw gets past the first baseman, allowing two unearned runs to score. Livingston scores one in the bottom of the inning with two hits and two walks. Justin strikes out two batters and Owen Murray catches a fly for the third out with bases loaded. Score after 5 – Westfield 2, Livingston 2.

6th Inning – Westfield threatens in the top of the inning. Tyler leads off with a single and Rowan draws a walk, but #12 is then able to retire the next three batters. After a single in the bottom of the sixth, Tyler, and Owen Colwell each convert a ground ball into a fielder’s choice. Coach Murray gets credit for the third out by “convincing” the umpires that an untouched Tyler Roth was interfered with while attempting to field a ground ball. Tie Score after 6 – onto extra innings.

7th inning - Westfield can’t get much going in the top of the inning, stranding Justin Lin at second after a single and a stolen base. Owen Murray relieves Justin in the 7th, and is throwing well, but the Livingston hitters are tough. After a single, a walk, and then an intentional walk, the bases are loaded for Livingston. Coach Murray moves in both the infield and outfield hoping to cutoff the winning run at home. Livingston’s number two batter hits a fly over a shallow right fielder to win the game. Final score – Westfield 2, Livingston 3.

Game Recap by S.Criscuolo

Westfield Blue tops Cranford 14-4 in Clark Tournament

Solid pitching along with abundant offense allowed Westfield Blue to win its first game in the Clark Tournament today in 5 innings via the 10 run “mercy” rule. Tyler Roth pitched 3 scoreless innings, striking out 6 batters along the way. Owen Colwell pitched the 4th and 5th adding 3 more Ks to the scorecard.

Roth pitching

The offense started out slow and built as the game progressed. Things got started in the 1st when Colwell and Owen Murray both beat out infield hits and used aggressive base running to score. Daniel Criscuolo, Liam Loughlin and Parker Hess all got hits in the 2nd to tack on another run. The theme continued in third with Rowan Oberman and Colwell both singling, stealing and scoring to add 2 more runs making the score Westfield 5 – Cranford 0 after 3.

With heavy storm clouds overhead and rain threatening, it looked like the game might not continue. However, the sky began to clear in a few minutes and when it did, the Westfield offense really took over. Justin Lin and Loughlin started it off with singles and were driven in by a double from Hess. Roth and Owen Brancatella also singled and one more run was added on a deep drive to left center by Colwell. Westfield 8, Cranford 2 after 4.

In the 5th, Justin Lankler started it off with a walk, followed by hits from Lin, Loughlin, Will Stern, Hess and Roth adding 4 more runs. When Oberman doubled to left to drive in 2 more, the 10 run mercy rule was invoked ending the game.

Westfield played solid defense throughout the game with several exceptional plays. In the 2nd inning, Cranford hit a sharp ground ball down the line past first base. Loughlin fielded the ball in right, quickly relayed it in to Lin at first who threw to Colwell to get the runner out at 3rd. In the 5th, a slow bouncing grounder was hit to short and Roth charged, barehanded the ball and rifled it to first to get the out.

Loughlin after fielding ball in right

Colwell catches and tags out runner

For the player’s perspective on the game, we spoke with George Devanney Murray during and after the game. George offered up a detailed and insightful analysis of the game too lengthy to be published in full here. We asked him if he could distill his thoughts down to say 20 to 25 words and he offered this response:



The shortened game allowed Westfield a little time to rest before the 2nd game of today’s double header against Livingston.