Westfield Advances to State Semis with win over Hazlet

A 7 -run 4th inning keyed by patience at the plate, along with clutch pitching and solid defense added up to a 7-3 victory over Hazlet tonight for the cardiac kids from Westfield.

For the first three innings, Westfield's Chris Rinaldi kept the team in the game, allowing a run in the top of the third as Hazlet took a 1-0 lead. Rinaldi allowed only two hits and struck out 4 batters, including striking out the side in the second when he got the third batter with his fluttering knuckleball.

Westfield was not doing much at the plate the first three innings, collecting only one hit - a single by Rinaldi in the third. But they made the pitcher Tynion work hard, working deep counts and collecting 5 walks (Varakian (2), Difilippo, Boutsikaris, Varano).

In the top of the 4th Nick Mele came on to pitch for Westfield and worked out of a bases loaded, one out jam by getting a bouncer back to the mound for a force at the plate and a fly ball to left that was handled by Brett Robertshaw.

BIG BLAST BY BOUTS CAPS 7 RUN RALLY
( say that 5 times fast)

In the bottom of the 4th with one out Scott Tupper put a grounder through the right side. The Hazlet pitcher was beginning to tire and issued walks to Ethan Smith, Eric Varakian, and Chris Rinaldi, with Rinaldi's walk forcing in the tying run. Hazlet brought on a new pitcher and Vince Difilippo greeted him with a 2 run single to right to give Westfield a 3-1 lead. Nick Mele walked to once again load the bases and bring No. 5 hitter Chris Boutsikaris to the plate. Bouts hit a rocket to right center for a bases-clearing triple that gave Westfield a 6-1 lead. Bouts came in to score on a wild pitch to add another run. Devin Anderson started things up again with a single before Hazlet got out of the inning.

With one out in the 5th, Hazlet's cleanup hitter Facendo hit a long home run to left. This was followed by a walk and two singles but on the second hit, Westfield alertly got the trailing runner at third base as the lead runner scored to make it 7-3. Nick Mele then showed his toughness by striking out the next hitter to end the threat.

MR. SMITH DOES IT AGAIN!

After Westfield went quietly in the bottom of the 5th, Hazlet mounted a threat in the 6th against Scott Tupper who came on in relief. A walk, a groundout to short and a walk put runners on first and second with one out and the No 3 and 4 hitters coming up. With the possibility of the home run hitting cleanup batter representing the tying run, Scott got the 3 hitter to hit a hard grounder to third and Devin Anderson, cool as a cucumber, handled it and stepped on third for the force out.

Tupper got one up in the zone and Facendo lifted a fly to right field that looked like it might go to the wall. Then all eyes moved to see Ethan Smith back-peddling with a chance to catch it.
Mr Smith made this one a little interesting as there was some white showing in his glove, but he held on for another 6th inning catch and ended the game!

See you again Thursday night in Long Hill as Westfield returns to league play with a chance to take the lead in their division. Both squads have only 3 losses and this will be Westfield's penultimate league game and Long Hill's final regular season contest.