Men in Tights or Coaches in Uniforms?

Saturday, June 17, 2010

Westfield "Silver" brought its undefeated record into Saturday as it opened up play in the Cal Ripken District Tourney on Gumbert 3. The sun was shining, the sky was blue and the fields were immaculate as the Silver took on the team from neighboring Mountainside. The format was different than normal as the tournament rules required that teams bat only 9 players with limited substitution. The "Silver" lost a heartbreaker 13-11 on a walk off 2 run home run from the Mountainside bast in the bottom of the 6th.

The 'Silver" jumped out to a quick start scoring in the first inning as J Rod singled and stole 3 bases including home to get the blood flowing and to serve notice to the Mountainside "A" team that the Silver/Blue was here to play. Kyle Big Mac faced a hard swinging Mountainside team and while he gave up 2 runs, threw strikes and closed out the first stranding a runner on 3rd. Mono came on in the second and third to retire each of the 5 batters he faced before giving way to Jake F who threw 3 strong innings of relief. The Blue were off to the races again tallying 17 stolen bases highlighted by a number of swipes of the plate.

Jared, Eddie and Mono scored 2 runs a piece and JRod scored 3 on 2 hits and 3 RBI'. Big Mac roped again with 2 hits and 3 RBI's. The Blue was down 1 run entering the top of the 6th, 11-10 when Jared lead the inning off with a sharp single to left (his third hit of the game). Jared stole his way to third and with 2 down and newcomer Zack at the plate, Jared broke for the plate on a past ball and in a cloud of dust, crossed the plate with the tying run.