2010 Westfield Blue 12S Summer Travel Baseball: Blue Advances to Championship Game with 6-4 Win over Chatham

After enduring the scotching heat for most of July, the CJBA is delighted to usher in the playoff week in more moderate temperatures. On Wednesday night, Westfield Blue faces Chatham at the beloved home field Gumbert 2 in a semifinal game after enjoying a first-round bye. The players came focused and ready to play.

Justin started the game on the mound for Westfield, and promptly struck out the lead-off hitter looking. Owen B then made a nice catch at right field, affording the 2nd out of the inning. The 3rd batter was able to manage a hit to right field, but the clean-up hitter was struck out looking thus preventing any score by the opposing team. At the bottom half of the first inning, Westfield batters hit the ball hard but failed to reach base, and the game was tied scoreless after one inning of play.

At the top of 2nd inning, Chatham took advantage a walk and a hit and scored one run, but three groundouts ended any hope of a rally by the guest team. At the bottom half, Westfield put on a scoring rally which started when Justin hit a line drive resulting in a ground rule double. Owen M immediately followed by a double of his own sending Justin home and affording Westfield the first score of the game. A RBI single to the middle by Parker scored Owen M. Parker then stole his way to third, and reached home on JD’s RBI double to centerfield. Westfield led the game by a score of 3:1 after two innings.

Justin returned to the mound at the top of the third inning, and promptly struck out the first batter, but Chatham was able to tag on two runs. Outstanding defensive plays by Steven at third, and Tyler at short with assist by George at first provided the other outs and ended Chatham’s scoring. At the bottom half, a two-out rally by Westfield was on display. First, Rowan battled at the plate for a walk. Judging by the way how Steven locked in while letting off the first two pitches out of the strike zone, Coach Murray sensed that something big is about to happen, and whispered, “Watch this!” On the next pitch, a powerful swing by Steven sent the ball well over the centerfield fence, and gave Westfield a two- run lead. After the cheering settled, Cameron followed with a walk, Justin hit a single to leftfield, and Owen M collected his 2nd RBI hit of the game. After three innings, Westfield led by a score of 6:3.

Rowan came to the mound in the fourth inning relieving Justin. On the first play, Westfield catcher George displayed his quick feet by picking up a spinning ground ball and throwing to Cameron at first affording the first out. Outstanding pitching and defensive plays by Westfield continued for the next three innings. At the top of the fifth inning, after the leadoff batter reached first, Westfield infielders (Rowan at the mound, JD at third, Tyler at short, Daniel at second, and Justin at first) made flawless choices tagging out two consecutive lead-off runners of Chatham, and then retiring the third with a groundout to first.

Westfield opened the 6th inning still holding a 6:3 lead. The first two Chatham batters battled to reach first, only to see the latter batter picked off thanks to Rowan’s deceptive throw to first. The first batter would eventually reach home courtesy of an errant throw cutting Westfield’s lead to two, but a pop-up to the mound afforded the second out. Sensing the victory is in sight and his teammates cheering on, Rowan struck out the last batter and handed Westfield Blue the win and the ticket to the championship game at Long Hill on Friday.

The celebration of the semi-final win and the season continued the next day at Nomahegan Park with spicy wings and fabulous desserts, which also included heartwarming presentations of a Cooperstown Memory Book to Coach Murray, and Cooperstown ring and game DVD to parents and players. Mr. Bremer reminded us that this home win represents the last game at the historical Gumbert Baseball Complex ever played by this group of kids as they move onto a bigger field next year. Also overheard is this remark by another proud father, “And the last play at Gumbert is a strikeout.”

Go, Westfield Blue! And good luck in the championship game!

Recap by Linus Lin