Pressure? What Pressure?

Westfield defeated Branchburg 4-3 tonight in a tense, well-played contest in North Jersey state tournament play. Westfield, needing a win to maintain their hopes of advancing, came in as the underdog against a powerful Branchburg team that had gone 3-0 thusfar in the tournament.

Westfield was the visitor and threatened in the top of the first on a single by Eric Varakian and a hit-by-pitch by Vince Difilippo but could not score. Chris Rinaldi took the mound and after walking the leadoff batter retired the next three hitters in order on a sac bunt, a looping liner that first baseman Chirs Boutsikaris stabbed in foul territory and a fly to left field that Devin Anderson tracked down and hauled in.

In the second Westfield got a single from Brett Robertshaw and a perfect sacrifice bunt from Scott Tupper but once again could not score. Rinaldi yielded a walk and a single in the bottom of the second and got out of the jam without any scoring.

In the top of the third Westfield broke through, With one out Chris Rinaldi walked, and Vince Difilippo was hit by a pitch for the second time to put runners at first and second. The runners advanced on a double steal and with runners at second and third the Branchburg pitcher uncorked a wild pitch. Rinaldi came on to score and as the throw back from the catcher got away, Difilippo also scampered home. Nick Mele singled but was stranded and Westfield led 2-0 heading into the bottom of the third.

Chris Rinaldi continued to hold the Branchburg squad scoreless through the bottom of the third. Westfield went quietly in the fourth getting only a walk to Chris Varano.

In the bottom of the fourth Nick Mele came on to pitch for the Blue Devils He struck out the first batter and then the No. 6 hitter for Branchburg, an excellent hitter, knocked a single. With one out and a runner on first a grounder got past second baseman Varakian to put runners at first and second. The runners moved up on a wild pitch and the next batter hit a sharp grounder to short that Rinaldi fielded but his only play was to get the out at first as the run scored from third. Mele limited the damage to one unearned run as he got the next batter on a comebacker to the mound.

With the score 2-1 heading into the top of the 5th, Westfield needed some insurance and they got it. Chris Rinaldi started the inning with a picture perfect bunt for a base hit. Then Vince Difilippo and Nick Mele hit back to back doubles and Westfield had a 4-1 lead just like that.
Mele advanced to third and with one out Anderson hit a grounder to third and Branchburg just nipped Nick trying to score. Tommy Summers worked a walk to put runners at first and second but Westfield was unable to do any further damage

The breathing room was needed as Branchburg came back for 2 runs in their half of the 5th on two singles and a double to left that skipped to the wall. Hopper Murray hustled the ball back in to keep the runner from advancing past second. This was key as once again, Nick Mele stepped it up a notch and kept the tying run from scoring with a grounder to short, a strikeout, and another grounder to short handled flawlessly by Rinaldi.

Westfield once again threatened in the top of the 6th on singles by Varakian and Rinaldi and with two outs Nick Mele hit a deep fly that the Branchburg centerfielder ran down just feet short of the wall to kill the rally.

Then the intensity turned up another notch as a sore but determined Vince Difilippo came on to try and close out the game. The leadoff batter reached on a single. This was followed by the first defensive gem of the inning as the next batter hit a line drive down the third base line and Devin Anderson snared it for the first out. The next batter walked to put runners at first and second with one out. This brought up the Branchburg leadoff hitter who Westfield had not gotten out all night. What followed was a screaming line drive to left field that had double written all over it. But leftfielder Ethan Smith was having none of that and he made a great catch and fired the ball in to third to keep the runners from advancing. They did advance during the ensuing at bat on a ball that went to the backstop. With the tying run at third and the winning run at second, the Branchburg bench screaming, and Westfield trying to stay alive in the tournament, Vince Difilippo got the No. 3 hitter for Branchburg to pop to second. Varakian squeezed it, and another exciting game in Mt Olive was in the books. Final score, Westfield 4, Branchburg 3.

With the victory, Westfield is 2-1 in the tournament and will play Hazlet on Wednesday night.
Three teams will advance to the playoff round, and the No 2 seed will play the No 3 seed Friday night, with the winner playing the No 1 seed on Saturday for the right to advance to the Mid Atlantic tournament in Troy New York next week.