2010 Westfield Blue 12S Summer Travel Baseball: Westfield Blue Defeats Summit with a Walk-off Home Run

Friday July 2

From Cooperstown to Westfield, from Baseball Dream Park to Gumpert, Westfield Blue returns home to face Summit in a league game Friday night. Although dusty and less manicured, Westfield Blue is determined to defend its home field.

Summit took a quick 2:0 lead after one and half innings of play while retiring the Westfield Blue batters in order in the first inning. At the bottom of the 2nd inning, the bats of Westfield Blue came alive. Owen Murray led off and beat the throw to reach first. After stealing second, he was caught off guard while stealing third. Two consecutive walks and a single by Justin re-loaded the bases. Then JD took one for the team, giving the home team the first run of the game. A great line drive by Cameron sent all three runners home, and Westfield Blue led by a score of 4:2 after two innings.

In the 3rd inning, Cameron took the mound relieving Tyler, who had kept Summit in check for two innings. Summit was able to score two runs in the 3rd inning. But defense plays by Parker at left field catching a line drive and by Daniel at 2nd base, and a strikeout by Cameron prevented further damage by Summit.
With the game tied at 4:4, Westfield Blue tightened up its defense even further.

At the top of 4th inning, shortstop Steven picked up two hard hit ground balls and threw out the runner at first assisted by sure-handed first baseman Rowan, while Justin caught a line drive at third. Inspired by the defense, Westfield Blue went to work with their bats. Parker led off and alertly ran and reached first after a dropped third strike. Parke then stole second and third. After two outs, JD, whose wrist was still sore from the hit by a pitch earlier in the game, hit a single driving in Parker. Cameron followed with another single. Then Owen Brancatella came to the plate, and hit a two-out clutch single driving in both JD and Cameron. He then alertly stole home giving Westfield Blue an 8:4 lead.

The feisty Summit squad refused to go down without a fight. At the top of the 5th inning, Summit scored 4 more runs with three timely hits. The rangy centerfielder Owen Murray caught the second fly ball of the game and provided the first out.

With the score tied at 8:8, two outs, and one man on second base, Rowan took the mound, and immediately struck out the last batter ending the inning. Rowan returned to the mound at the top of the 6th inning with George behind the plate, striking out two more Summit batters while Tyler catching a fly ball at shortstop to preserve the tie. The stage was set for the dramatic play.

At the bottom of the 6th inning, leadoff batter Steven came to the plate. Coach Murray said "I am feeling it. Let's end it right here and go home".After laying off the first pitch, Steven swung hard, sent the ball beyond the blue fence, and gave Westfield Blue the win in a dramatic fashion.

Game Recap by Linus Lin